Solved: EDI

We have implemented EDI with vendors and I am in need of a simple step by step overview from the time of PO creation thru the transmittal of outbound IDOCS and inbound IDOCS from vendors.

Also, explanation of how IDOCS can be managed and supervised to ensure proper delivery.

Thanks,

Jaimi

Former Member · ‎2007 Aug 27

The philosophical difference between EDI and ALE can be pinned as follows: If we send data to an external partner, we generally speak of EDI, while ALE is a mechanism to reliable replicate data between trusting systems to store a redundant copy of the IDoc data. The difference is made clear, when we think of a purchase order that is sent as an IDoc. If we send the purchase order to a supplier then the supplier will store the purchase order as a sales order. However, if we send the purchase order via ALE to another R/3 system, then the receiving system will store the purchase order also as a purchase order.

This is an article posted on the site below, You Can easily check it out.

http://expertanswercenter.techtarget.com/eac/knowledgebaseAnswer/0,295199,sid63_gci983331,00.html

1) ALE = Application Link Enable: Initially developed for SAP as an abstract layer to extract master and transactional data to be sent ellectronically to other SAP systems. These days is also being used to send data no non-SAP systems. ALE is not a protocol or anything like that, it's just abstract layer composed by a set of applications which are capable of extracting aplication data on a 1-time basis or periodically, by selection criteria or incrementally by deltas.

2) In contrast, EDI = Electronic data interface, this is a comunication protocol not designed by SAP but it´s an industry standard. Of course most SAP software supports EDI, but EDI it's no software but the specification of the protocol in itself.

ALE(Application Link Enabling) refers to the losely coupled systems whereas the EDI speaks about the Electronic Document Exchange. We need to enable ALE in order to use the EDI feature. ALE builds the bridge and EDI is the means by which the data moves in and out of the SAP system just like vehicles moving over the bridge. IDOC(Intermediate Documents) are the data containers which will be moving in and out of SAP carrying data.

Thus summarising we need to establish ALE between the systems in order to use EDI between them. In case we need to use EDI between SAP and some other target system then we need a EDI subsystem which understands these IDOCs and converts into the format understood by the target system.

While IDocs have to be understood as a data exchange protocol, EDI and ALE

are typical use cases for IDocs. R/3 uses IDocs for both EDI and ALE to

deliver data to the receiving system.

Check this link for more details.

http://sapabap.iespana.es/sapabap/sap/faq/ale_idocs_bapi.htm

ALE/Idoc information

By Category

Related Content

Activity Groups

Industry Groups

Influence and Feedback Groups

Interest Groups

Location Groups

Customer Only Groups

Forums

Related Resources

Products

Learning and Support

About

My Account

My Account

EDI