Connecting scale to ECC using PCo

[janbuchmann]

Hi folks

I am trying to connect an Ethernet-enabled Mettler Toledo scale using SAP PCo 15.1, but I can’t seem to get this right and need some help.

I have successfully created a socket agent & agent instance following the instructions given in http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-61503 and was able to start the agent instance. RFC connection from the SAP system which I had defined as destination was also successful. I tried to execute RPCO_BS_INT_TEST, which lead to error "No Read Access Implemented for Agent". But I then learned (http://scn.sap.com/thread/3501838) that RPCO_BS_INT_TEST is not designed to work for socket agents and I implemented & executed Z_PCO_AGENT_COMMANDS instead, using the following:

1. “Get Custom Commands” returns
   • GET_AGENT_STATE
   • START
   • SEND
   • STOP
2. "Get Parameters" for GET_AGENT_STATE returns an error in SAPgui: “Found no results for selection criteria”. What should the result(s) look like?
3. "Call Custom Command" SEND with the following

• Parameter Name 1 MESSAGE
• Parameter Value 1 SI
• SQL Data Type 12

This does not return an error in SAPgui, but does not return a value either. The log in PCo shows:

Date	Time	Process Name	Event Type	Source	Message
09.09.2016	15:57:47	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Verbose	AgentBase	IsConnected returned TRUE
09.09.2016	15:57:47	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Verbose	SocketAgent	Checking server [ICS469 [10.2.17.85:82]] status
09.09.2016	15:57:47	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Verbose	AgentBase	connection check
09.09.2016	15:57:17	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Verbose	SocketAgent	Checking server [ICS469 [10.2.17.85:82]] status
09.09.2016	15:57:17	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Verbose	AgentBase	IsConnected returned TRUE
09.09.2016	15:57:17	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Verbose	AgentBase	connection check
09.09.2016	15:57:16	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Error	SocketAgent	Exception executing SendMessage
09.09.2016	15:57:16	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Information	AgentBase	Query:  <pco:tag xmlns:pco="uri:sap-pco-request"><![CDATA[CALL 'SEND' ( MESSAGE = 'SI' );]]></pco:tag>
09.09.2016	15:57:16	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Information	PCoRfcNwServerFunctionHandler	Query Processing Time: 0 milliseconds
09.09.2016	15:57:16	Socket_Agent_ICS469	Information	AgentBase	Tag Query:  CALL 'SEND' ( MESSAGE = 'SI' );

With the error being:

"FormatException: Input string was not in a correct format. at System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)    at System.Number.ParseInt32(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info) at System.String.System.IConvertible.ToInt32(IFormatProvider provider)    at System.Convert.ToInt32(Object value) at SAP.Manufacturing.Connectivity.SocketAgent.SendMessage(Dictionary`2 inputParams)"

The command I am trying to send should actually be in line with Mettler-Toledo’s SICS and should just return the weighing result. I also used SocketTest to do a basic communication test to and from the scale, which was successful.

What am I missing? Do I have to custom develop a suitable agent (http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/10c5ed65-bcf9-2f10-a995-dce2cad64...)?

Thanks & regards

Jan

[pushkar_ranjan]

For my personal education, Jan.

What is the business scenario that you are trying to enable via this technical solution?

Thank you.

[janbuchmann]

Hi Pushkar

In my specific scenario, I intend to pull the weighing result of a sample directly into QM results recording. But I could also think of other scenarios, such as recording the case weight of packed finished products.

Hope hat helps?

Regards

Jan