Difference between BAPI and RFC?

[Former Member]

Difference between BAPI and RFC?

also where to use BAPI and where to use RFC?

[Former Member]

Hi purushottam,

1. BOTH are FMs Only

2. Both are REMOTE Enabled FMs.

3. BAPI is based upon Object,

which is registred in BOR, thats all.

regards,

amit m.

[Former Member]

Hi ,

Technically, not much at all. They are both remote enabled functions that can be accessed from outside of SAP (to be more technically correct, from outside of the ABAP stack).

From a usage/functional perspective however, BAPIs are a little bit more special from RFCs.

Bapis:

- are designed as the methods of business objects in the business object repository (accessable using transaction BAPI or SWO1)

- have non-technical parameter names (the technical field names in SAP are mapped)

- have a fixed interface and functionality across all SAP releases (this is probably the key point as it means you can develop integrations with them which do not need to be changed when you upgrade)

Generally, if you are trying to find a function for a particular requirement you should look for a BAPI first, then for a RFC function which has a released status (check the function attributes in SE37), and then just a normal RFC last.

The benefit of an RFC function with released status means that it also has a fixed interface which will not change with new SAP releases.

Regards

Ashok P

[Former Member]

Hi,

BAPI are RFC enabled function modules. the difference between RFc and BAPI are business objects. You create business objects and those are then registered in your BOR (Business Object Repository) which can be accessed outside the SAP system by using some other applications (Non-SAP) such as VB or JAVA. in this case u only specify the business object and its method from external system in BAPI there is no direct system call. while RFC are direct system call Some BAPIs provide basic functions and can be used for most SAP business object types. These BAPIs should be implemented the same for all business object types. Standardized BAPIs are easier to use and prevent users having to deal with a number of different BAPIs. Whenever possible, a standardized BAPI must be used in preference to an individual BAPI.

The following standardized BAPIs are provided:

Reading instances of SAP business objects

GetList ( ) With the BAPI GetList you can select a range of object key values, for example, company codes and material numbers.

The BAPI GetList() is a class method.

GetDetail() With the BAPI GetDetail() the details of an instance of a business object type are retrieved and returned to the calling program. The instance is identified via its key. The BAPI GetDetail() is an instance method. BAPIs that can create, change or delete instances of a business object type

The following BAPIs of the same object type have to be programmed so that they can be called several times within one transaction. For example, if, after sales order 1 has been created, a second sales order 2 is created in the same transaction, the second BAPI call must not affect the consistency of the sales order 2. After completing the transaction with a COMMIT WORK, both the orders are saved consistently in the database.

Create( ) and CreateFromData! ( )

The BAPIs Create() and CreateFromData() create an instance of an SAP business object type, for example, a purchase order. These BAPIs are class methods.

Change( )

The BAPI Change() changes an existing instance of an SAP business object type, for example, a purchase order. The BAPI Change () is an instance method.

Delete( ) and Undelete( ) The BAPI Delete() deletes an instance of an SAP business object type from the database or sets a deletion flag.

The BAPI Undelete() removes a deletion flag. These BAPIs are instance methods.

Cancel ( ) Unlike the BAPI Delete(), the BAPI Cancel() cancels an instance of a business object type. The instance to be cancelled remains in the database and an additional instance is created and this is the one that is actually canceled. The Cancel() BAPI is an instance method.

Add<subobject> ( ) and Remove<subobject> ( ) The BAPI Add<subobject> adds a subobject to an existing object inst! ance and the BAPI and Remove<subobject> removes a subobject from an object instance. These BAPIs are instance methods.

Regards,

Prakash

[Former Member]

/community [original link is broken]

Refer this link

[Former Member]

Hi Purushottam,

From the implementation( I meen FM) there is no difference. The BAPI's are realisation of "Methods" of Busines Objects.

BAPI are RFC enabled function modules. the difference between RFC and BAPI are business objects. You create business objects and those are then registered in your BOR (Business Object Repository) which can be accessed outside the SAP system by using some other applications (Non-SAP) such as VB or JAVA. in this case u only specify the business object and its method from external system is BAPI there is no direct system call. while RFC's are direct system calls.

Also go through these links and get more info,

http://www.sap-img.com/abap/interview-question-on-bapi-rfc-abap-objects-tables.htm

http://searchsap.techtarget.com/ateQuestionNResponse/0,289625,sid21_cid558752_tax293481,00.html

http://www.sap-img.com/abap/interview-question-on-bapi-rfc-abap-objects-tables.htm

http://www.sap-img.com/fu033.htm

http://www.sap-img.com/abap/ale-bapi.htm

I hope it helps.....

Regards,

Abhy