Blog > SAP AIF – How to create Interface Variants

SAP AIF – How to create Interface Variants

Izabela Bogórska SAP Integration Consultant
icon__calendar 2020-11-25

In this article you will learn:

  • How to create SAP AIF Interface Variants

Reading time: 6 minutes

Introduction

During my projects, I often experience the situation when enterprise utilizes data exchange interfaces defined globally and they are expected to have the same logic for most of the situations. However, it can happen that the behavior of the interface needs to be slightly adjusted depending on some predefined parameters (like, for instance, company code).

Another example can be a situation where there is a need to slightly adjust a Standard SAP AIF Interfaces. Unfortunately, they can not  be changed directly on a customer system.

In those cases, Interface Variants come to help us!

 

How to create AIF Interface Variants?

Imagine, that you need to modify a standard SAP interface for incoming Business Partners: BUPA_IN. If the category of partner (PARTNERCATEGORY) is “Organization” then the fixed value “CORP” should be set into field PARTNERGROUP and a custom message should be added to the container.

This interface belongs to the namespace /AIF/, which was delivered by SAP That means that there is no possibility to change it directly and SAP AIF variants need to be used.

 

Step 1- Create a new variant

To create a new variant, go to transaction /AIF/CUST. Expand Interface Development->Interface Variants, then choose: Define Interface Variants:

Define variants


As you can’t use /AIF/, provide your custom Namespace (we are going to use Namespace INT4):

 

Determine Work Area


Next, create a new entry and provide the variant’s name (e.g. ZBUPA_IN_PARTNERCAT ) and description:

 

Interface Variant


Save your changes.

 

Step 2 – Variant Assigning Table

This type of table determines which variants should be assigned to an interface and which keyfields (parameters) should be used.  Please take note that one assigning table could be used for multiple interfaces.

To create a new variant assigning table, you need to copy the template table /AIF/VAR_AS_TMPL. Then, you need to add all expected parameters as the new key-fields.In our example the additional keyfield is the category of partner (PARTNERCATEGORY):

 

Parameter


As a result, I have created a table  ZBUPAIN_VAR_TMPL with additional key-field PARTNERCATEGORY.

 

Next step is to fill this table with the expected data. I’m going to use the Table Maintenance View which I’ve created for this table. Here, create the new row and provide the information, including:

  • Interface namespace, name and version
  • Variant namespace, name
  • Expected values of the parameter (PARTNERCATEGORY = Organization)

 

Template for a variant assignment table


Now, when the configuration is done, save the row and assign this interface variant table to the variant.

Go back to the /AIF/CUST and choose Interface Development->Interface Variants then choose: Define Assigning Tables:

 

Define Assigning tables


Next, choose the Namespace of the interface (here: /AIF/). You should see all interfaces belonging to this Namespace. Provide the name of the newly created Assigning Table and save:

 

Assignment of the table

 

Step 3 – Interface Key Fields

Go back to the Interface Development->Interface Variants then choose: Define Interface Key Fields:

 

Define Interface Key Fields


Provide Namespace, Interface Name and version, then create a new row.

Use 10 as a Key Field Number, Choose PARTNERCATEGORY (you can use F4) as a Interface Variant Key Field. This value corresponds to the column name in the variant assigning table.

Next, provide Field Name, which should be the  field in the raw structure to where our parameter will  be mapped. You can use F4 here as well:

 

Fields mapping


Save your changes. The customizing should now look like the following:

 

Define Interface Key Fields for Variants


This setting ensures that, every time, if the value in the PARTNERCATEGORY matches values in the interface variant table ZBUPAIN_VAR_TMPL, then the configured Interface variant is selected to process the message.

 

Step 4 – Define Variant Mapping

In this step, we are going to map the newly created interface variant to the AIF interface.

Go to the Interface Development->Interface Variants then chose: Define Variant Mappings:

 

Define Variant Mappings


Then, select the Variant’s name (ZBUPA_IN_PARTNERCAT) and it’s Namespace (INT4).

In the next screen, press the button “New Entries” and provide information about the interface that should be assigned to the variant. The result should look like below:

 

Mapping


Enter your namespace (here INT4) and create a new entry. Provide the Action’s name, Description and decide when the COMMIT WORK should be performed.

For our case, your customizing should look like the following:

 

Define Actions 2


Next, click on the Define Functions on the left and create a new entry. Use 10 as the function number and enter the new function module name, in our case ZFM_AIF_BUPA_CORPORATE . You can use the forward navigation to create the function module which is already having the correct structure but needs to be filled with the correct logic.

In our example, I created the custom Function Module ZCORPORATE_BUPA_SAVE copying and modifying the already pre-configured FM /AIF/TEST_AC_BUPA_SAVE. This module is used in a standard action BUPA_SAVE, which I’m  going to replace.

I made a small modification to replace the Success message that the BP was created to the Custom Warning with an information that the “Business Partner is an Organization”. I don’t have to put into the logic the check if the PARTNERCATEGORY = “Organization” because this validation is done on the Variant level:

 

Custom code


When the Function Module is ready, it needs to be assigned to the Action.

Come back to the Configuration of the Action ZCORPORATE_BP, Choose “Define Functions”, then Add new row. Use 10 as a Function Number and ZCORPORATE_BUPA_SAVE as a FM name. Configuration should look like on the following screen:

 

Define Functions


Now, we have to assign an action to the interface variant.

You should come back to the place we were at the end of Step 4. (Interface Development->Interface Variants->Define Variant Mappings ) and choose our custom Variant.

Press “Assign Action” from tree on the left, and then “New Entries”:

 

Assign Action


Use 10 as a  number of action and as well provide Namespace, name and version of interface

Together with Namespace and the name of the custom variant:

 

Assign Action 2


Now, your action is assigned to the interface BUPA_IN, which ends the configuration of the AIF Variant.

 

Summary

Congratulations! Right now you can create AIF Variants!

Want to learn more about SAP AIF? Check other articles about SAP AIF on Int4 blog.

 

Read also:

1. Set up interface in SAP AIF Interface Monitor (/aif/ifmon)

2. Interface monitoring in business process context with SAP AIF and Process Observer

 

 

Izabela Bogórska SAP Integration Consultant
Working with SAP technologies since 2007, including more than 10 years of SAP Development. Involved in several international projects as an ABAP developer or Team Lead. Iza is certified in ABAP development. and always eager to learn about new SAP technologies. In her job she combines both technical and interpersonal skills.

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