Idoc

IDoc is an SAP format for transferring the data for a business transaction. [ [http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005vp/helpdata/en/35/26b594afab52b9e10000009b38f974/content.htm SAP Help IDoc Types] ] Different IDoc types are available to handle different types of message. For example, the IDoc format ORDERS01 may be used for both purchase orders and order confirmations.

IDoc technology offers many tools for automation, monitoring an error handling. For example, if the IDocs are customised that way on particular server, then a user of SAP R/3 system creates a purchase order, this is automatically sent via an IDoc and a sales order is immediately created on the vendor's system.

When this order cannot be created because of an application error (for example: The price per piece is lower than allowed for this material), then the administrator on the vendor's system sees this IDoc among the errorneous ones and can solve the situation. If the error is in the master data at the vendor's system, he can correct them and order the IDoc to be processed again.

Because of the flexibility and transparency of IDoc technology, some non-Sap technologies use them as well.

Structure of the IDoc

An IDoc consists of
* Control record (it contains the type of IDoc, port of the partner, release of SAP R/3 which produced the IDoc etc.)
* Status records containing messages like 'IDoc created', 'The recipient exists', 'IDoc was succesfuly passed to the port', 'Could not book the invoice because...'
* Data records of different types. The number and type of segments is mostly fixed for each IDoc type, but there is some flexibility (for example an SD order can have any number of items).

References

External links

* [https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/nw-processmodeling?rid=/webcontent/uuid/0082e169-0c37-2b10-49ac-ab422af20c9a Introduction into IDoc + references at sdn.sap.com]

* [http://www.thespot4sap.com/Articles/SAP_ALE_Introduction.asp A tutorial on ALE / IDoc technology at www.thespot4sap.com]