Invoice data - IDoc and PDF in one single message

[rosiesasidharan]

Hello,

We have a requirement to send invoice data from SAP ECC as a single XML to external partner. This XML should contain the IDoc XML data along with the base-64 encoded PDF data.

We are aware that the IDoc can be sent through the ABAP connection and the PDF through ABAP proxy connection from SAP ECC to SAP PI. SAP PI receives these 2 messages and uses a cc-BPM to co-relate these messages and formulate a single output XML.

However, due to performance issues of cc-BPM threads waiting to be co-related, we would like this to be done from SAP ECC itself. Wanted to know if anyone you had the experience of generating an ABAP proxy message from SAP ECC containing both the IDoc and encoded PDF data?

Posting this here, since I thought of getting an opinion from SAP PI experts before reaching out to ABAP folks.

Thanks in advance for your replies,

Rosie Sasidharan

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I see the following alternatives...

• Instead of an IDoc, use an existing enterprise service (e.g. Notify of Customer Invoice_V1, check on http://esworkplace.sap.com/ > Business Objects > ERP > Customer Invoice) for export of billing documents and enhance it to send the PDF data as well.
• Provide a service (SOAP/HTTP or via SAP Content Server) for retrieving the PDF, e.g. by billing document number. Send the IDoc as usual to PI. In a java mapping step, do a SOAP lookup to fetch the PDF.

Regards, Martin

[rosiesasidharan]

Thanks Udo and Martin for your responses.

We have decided to go for the 2nd option mentioned by Martin.

• Provide a service (SOAP/HTTP or via SAP Content Server) for retrieving the PDF, e.g. by billing document number. Send the IDoc as usual to PI. In a java mapping step, do a SOAP lookup to fetch the PDF.

Thanks,

Rosie Sasidharan.

[udo_martens]

Hi Rosie,

you can send via proxy a proxy message in an idoc similar structure but of course not an idoc. Proxy technology supports attachments, right. You will have some ABAP developing effort in that case.

ccBPM is not sooo bad. I created the described scenario serveral times and did not experience issues. It depends a bit how much messages you expect for a certain time interval (?).

/Udo