Base64 Function Modules in SAP ABAP

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The base64 algorithm is an efficient way to transfer data via the Internet. In SAP, you can use Base64 when you are implementing file-based interfaces between your SAP system and third-party applications via SAP Process Orchestration or SAP Cloud Platform Integration. Instead of sending the file as an attachment in a message you can send file data as a Base64 string. For example, for outbound interfaces, you first need to encode the file in Base64 format and transmit it to the target system as a Base64 string. In the target system, you need to decode the Base64 string back to actual data.

This method comes in handy if you want to implement file-based interfaces via the Application Integration Framework (AIF) as AIF is not able to handle file attachments.

 

This article goes into detail on Function Modules (FM) in SAP that we can use to encode and decode Base64 string. Use encoding FMs for outbound interface messages and decoding FMs for inbound interface messages.

Function Modules for Base64 Encoding:

 

There are two function modules to encode a string to Base64 format. First, convert string to Xstring using 'SCMS_STRING_TO_XSTRING'. Then use 'SCMS_BASE64_ENCODE_STR' to convert Xstring to Base64.

Function Modules for Base64 Decoding:

 

Decoding is a three-step procedure. Convert Base64 string to Xstring using 'SCMS_BASE64_DECODE_STR'. Next, transform the Xstring to Binary using function module 'SCMS_XSTRING_TO_BINARY'. Finally, turn the Binary format to String via 'SCMS_BINARY_TO_STRING'.

How to Decode and Encode Base64 in SAP PI/PO and CPI

 

In most instances, you will use SAP Process Orchestration (PO) to interface between SAP and third-party applications. In these instances, we can use mapping techniques such as User Defined Functions (UDFs), Java Mappings or Adapter Modules to decode and encode Base64.

However, CPI of SAP Integration Suite has standard converter modules to encode and decode Base64.

I have also developed a sample program to decode/encode base64 in ABAP.

To summarize, you can use Base64 string to transfer data such as files, PDFs, images, etc. between SAP and external APIs. Using this method you can avoid sending files as attachments in the message payload. Use the FMs listed above to Encode and Decode Base64 in your SAP application or interface program.

Thank you for reading, hope this information will help you design interfaces.

 

Cheers!