Fetching data from Oracle

[Former Member]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right column to post this question, but do assist:

I have a requirement to extract data from an external system running on Oracle into SAP (SAP 4.0b running on DB2).

What is best way to fetch data via interface? I looked into DBCON but it says that SAP 4.0b does not support connection with Oracle. Please advice!

[Former Member]

Hi,

I guess DBCON is telling that you can not use Oracle as 'database' for SAP 4.0b system. But not sure.

Basically, direct access to external databases is not recommanded/ supported by SAP. To connect to non-SAP systems at ABAP level is through RFC..

One idea would be to create some layer like java application using SAP JCo libraries which whould get requied data from oracle database/ external application running on 'any' database. These 'JCo methods' would simulate RFC and you can access them in ABAP after you create RFC destination to this JCo application..

But you go beyond then you might think about using XI (SAP middleware solution) which is part of SAP Netweaver. It supports verious SAP/ Non SAP 'adapters' to get information directly from external systems and vice versa...

[Former Member]

Hi

Check this out...

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/508eb198-0701-0010-288f-a67db3e53a84 ">https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/508eb198-0701-0010-288f-a67db3e53a84</a>

Regards

Raj

[Former Member]

Hi,

If the external system is another R/3 system, then yes, you can use a BAPI or RFC function call.

Another way is to have the external system provide the data to some directory on the application server, then SAP can read these files and do what it needs with them.

Depending on the external system, you can make BAPI calls using jCo or the .net connector to call the BAPI or RFC from the external system to the R/3 system.

while using DBCON Follow the steps

1. I don't think its directly possible.

2. BCOS the operating systems

will be different on both servers.

3. However,

If there is a converter/driver

available for AIX/UNIX OS

which will connect to Windows MSSQL,

only then it can be possible.

(Moreover, this driver has to

provided by SAP only)

<b>

Reward points</b>

Regards

[Former Member]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the constructive suggestions.

The external system is not R/3, so based on the feedback; I guess RFC/BAPI is not possible?

And based on client restrictions, no amendments should be made to the external Oracle based application, so we can't have it to export data files into directories for SAP to pickup.

And DBCON is not gonna work as well? So what other choices I have left?

[Former Member]

Hi,

consulte SAP note 25383

SAP Note 323151, 339092 and 178949 .

<b>Reward points</b>

Regards

[Former Member]

You can write new java application which used 'Jco libraries' provided by SAP. Basically these libraries are provided to help connect SAP system to non_SAP system.

You can write java application (or .net application) which gets the required data from your non-SAP system (no need to change existing non-SAP application) using APIs provided by non-SAP system. When you use JCo, your java methods confirms to the RFC standards and you can call them in ABAP as any other RFC! In this case you will need to create RFC destination pointing to the Java application you created..

[Former Member]

Thanks Abhijit,

So can I summarize the solutions as follow?

[External System] <-> Java App <-> JCo <-> RFC <-> ABAP

So the Java App created to extract data will sit on the external server where JCo is used to call it.

Am I right on this?

Thanks!

[Former Member]

That's correct. You can visit SAP marketplace and download JCo libraries..zip file also contains documentation with sample programs.. very easy to use..