Webhook like functionality

[kjyothiraditya]

Hi Experts,

Is there any functionality similar to webhooks or can sap provide such functionality.

[Sandra_Rossi]

webhooks in what context?

[rudramani]

A Webhook is nothing but an HTTP/HTTPS call. In ABAP too, we can do HTTP calls, find an example below:

 "setting request method
      lo_http_client->request->set_method('GET').
 "adding headers
      lo_http_client->request->set_header_field( name = 'Accept' value = 'application/json' ).
      lo_http_client->request->set_header_field( name = 'Authorization' value = lv_auth ).
      "Available Security Schemes for productive API Endpoints
      "OAuth 2.0
      CALL METHOD lo_http_client->send
        EXCEPTIONS
          http_communication_failure = 1
          http_invalid_state         = 2
          http_processing_failed     = 3
          http_invalid_timeout       = 4
          OTHERS                     = 5.
      IF sy-subrc = 0.
        CALL METHOD lo_http_client->receive
          EXCEPTIONS
            http_communication_failure = 1
            http_invalid_state         = 2
            http_processing_failed     = 3
            OTHERS                     = 5.
      ENDIF.
      IF sy-subrc = 1.
        "error handling
        ev_response = 'http_communication_failure'.
      ELSEIF sy-subrc = 2.
        ev_response = 'http_invalid_state'.
      ELSEIF sy-subrc = 3.
        ev_response = 'http_processing_failed'.
      ELSEIF sy-subrc = 0.
        response = lo_http_client->response->get_cdata( ).
*WRITE: 'response: ', response.
        ev_response = response.
      ELSE.
        ev_response = 'Unknown Error'.
      ENDIF.

Still, ABAP provides other Webhooks functionality. Read ABAP Webhook documentation for more: https://help.sap.com/viewer/u_collaboration_dev_help/2e53b94ae1af43ca97c343a2bba684eb.html

[Sandra_Rossi]

How are SAP Jam webhooks related to ABAP.?

[rudramani]

Hi Sandra,

SAP Jam provides its webhooks and the same can be either implemented either in ABAP, MTA application or UI5 directly.

[Sandra_Rossi]

oh ok, but no need to overcomplexify your answer then 😉

[rudramani]

Hi Sandra,

User to User the complexity level differs. I believe the one who is asking Webhooks must get to know the code to implement it too.

Thanks!

[kjyothiraditya]

Thanks for your responses. However I would like to suggest SAP to provide a hook or enhancement after every transaction to be able to communicate the change to external system. Also I understand that we are not changing a single table, but a number of tables data gets changed in a transaction. But we have to do an implicit enhancement or something similar to achieve the same. Instead of SAP could provide this functionality, it would be better is what I am thinking. Also yes again we have challenges as data could be changed from tcode or a bapi which may have different implementation.

[kjyothiraditya]

Yes this is in the context of web application. Buti am thinking if any similar thing exists for on premise application/tcode

[Sandra_Rossi]

I just know IDocs via XML HTTP. But maybe there are more recent technologies in S/4HANA...

[kjyothiraditya]

Yes with 7.5+ versions, we have json classes and rest classes. But I am talking about the BAdi/exit so that it would be easier like before, commit work and after rather than writing implicit enhancement.

[Sandra_Rossi]

Okay, but why don't you use IDocs, it's the way that SAP transfers the changes to external systems. Use the HTTP port, and that's done. Isn't it like "webhooks or [...] such functionality"?

[kjyothiraditya]

Yes, We are using IDocs only. But if we have to transfer only part of the data rather than full data, it becomes somewhat tedious. Also in IDoc, i think it is asynchronous when communicating with non-SAP system

[Sandra_Rossi]

The action of sending IDocs is a one-way interface, so it can be asynchronous. If you need a synchronous communication, it means that you want to interact and so you have to choose a BAdI or an Enhancement Option. Doing a custom web call is then not an issue anymore (be careful, there's an implicit database commit).