diff b/w Function Modules & BAPI's

[Former Member]

can any one explain the diff b/w Function Modules & BAPI's?

[Former Member]

Hi,

I searched the forum using

"difference between function modules bapi"

and found loads of answers. You may want to do the same.

Regards,

Nick

[Former Member]

Hi,

BAPIs are basically to allow programmer to integrate 3rd party system into SAP. BAPI are object oriented RFC enabled FM. Function modules are developed to perform a particular function, some of which is very specific to the program which calls it. A lot of the standard SAP function modules. Major difference is BAPI returns internal table for status of execution while function module raises exceptions or return code.

Regards,

Pranjali.

[Former Member]

Hi,

BAPIs are basically to allow programmer to integrate 3rd party system into SAP. BAPI are object oriented RFC enabled FM. Function modules are developed to perform a particular function, some of which is very specific to the program which calls it. A lot of the standard SAP function modules. Major difference is BAPI returns internal table for status of execution while function module raises exceptions or return code.

Regards,

Pranjali.

[Former Member]

Function Modules:

Function modules are ABAP routines that are stored in a central function library. They are not application-specific, and available systemwide. The ABAP Workbench comes with a large number of standard function modules.

Some Busniess Logic thats needs repeated execution in System are developed into FM. So Reusibility is the major advantage and no repeated programming.

All related FMs are grouped in Function Groups..Normally used with the SAP system .

Business API(Application Program Interface).

BAPI enable access to SAP functions across formal, stable and dialog-free interfaces. These interfaces can be used by external applications developed by customers and complementary software partners as well as by other SAP applications.

BAPIs are defined as API methods of SAP Business Object Types. These object types are used to enable object-based communication between components. Business objects and their BAPIs enable object orientation to be used in central information processing in companies. For example, you can reuse existing functions and data, achieve trouble-free technical interoperability, and implement non-SAP components.

Applications can use BAPIs to directly access the application layer of the SAP System and, as clients, applications can use the business logic of the SAP System. BAPIs provide the client with an object-oriented view of the application objects, without needing to know the implementation details.

Reusibility is the major advantage

Even non-SAP application can access SAP system using BAPI for executing certain Business Functionality

Basically BAPI are designed for the 3rd Software to communicate with SAP system for accessing,creating or modifying some business data lying on the SAP system !

[Former Member]

hi,

BAPIs are RFC enabled funtion modules and are published in transaction BAPI. They usually do an end-to-end business transaction, such as "Create a PO". Also BAPIs will not RAISE exceptsion like other FM, the errors are pass baced via the RETURN parameter. This is because they are designed to be called outside the system as well as internally.

[Former Member]

BAPI stands for Business Application Programming Interface. It is a library of functions that are released to the public as an interface into an existing SAP system from an external system.

RFC is the protocol used to call functions in an R/3 system by a caller external to R/3 or to call programs external to R/3 from an R/3 system.

Functions can only be called via RFC, if they are tagged as RFC functions in the SAP development workbench. They are then called RFC function modules. BAPIs are complete sets of (BAPI) function modules that model a business application.

When you are familiar with web developments: RFC can be compared to HTTP and BAPIs are CGI applications.

In other words: A BAPI function is a function module that can be called remotely using the RFC technology.

BAPI's are RFC enabled API's where as FM's are not.

Regards

[Former Member]

Hi,

BAPI's allow programmer to integrate 3rd party system into SAP where as with function module we can not integrate with other third party systems. BAPI are object oriented RFC enabled FM. Function modules are developed to perform a particular function, some of which is very specific to the program which calls it. Major difference is BAPI returns internal table for status of execution while function module raises exceptions or return code.Using bapi's we can get the fetched data.