What is the process of creating an IDOC ?

Answer

Lets understand the process of creating an IDOC with an example -

• Whenever a Purchase Order (PO) is created we want to send the IDOC to a vendor.
• The PO is sent in the form of an IDOC to the vendor (partner). That partner has to be EDI enabled in that system. SAP should realize that it could send doc to this vendor electronically.
• The PO sent as an outbound idoc by the customer will be inbound idoc for the vendor. The SAP system on the vendors side can process this to create an application document (a sales order) on their system.
• Quotation, RFQ, PO, SO, Invoice, delivery note etc are some of the commonly exchanged documents through IDOC

The process of data transfer out of your SAP system is called the Outbound process , while that of data moving into you SAP system is called Inbound process. As a developer or a consultant who will be involved in setting up theses process for your organization. Here are the steps how to set them up-

The Outbound Process

Steps Involved -

1. Create segments(WE31)
2. Create an idoc type(WE30)
3. Create a message type (WE81)
4. Associate a message type to idoc type(WE82)
5. Create a port(WE21)
6. If you are going to use the message control method to trigger idocs then create the function module for creating the idoc and associate the function module to an outbound process code
7. Otherwise create the function module or stand alone program which will create the idoc
8. Create a partner profile(WE20) with the necessary information in the outbound parameters for the partner you want to exchange the idoc with.Trigger the idoc.

The Inbound Process

Steps Involved-