General Functionality

The figure, How to Develop an Interface - Required Steps, shows the main components in AIF. This is just an overview. The single components will be explained in detail during this lesson.

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AIF also provides optional steps. These are not necessary to run an interface but they can make life easier. The recipient is very important for the business users and is explained in detail during this training.

 

Namespace

A namespace is used for the logical structuring of objects and configurations in the SAP Application Interface Framework. All interfaces, value mappings, fix values, checks, and actions have to be assigned to a namespace. Customizing activities like Define Interface, Define Value Mappings, Define Fix Values, Define Checks, and Define Actions are locked at namespace level. If one user edits the objects and configurations of a specific namespace, these are locked for other users.

 

You can set authorizations for Customizing and error handling based on the namespace.

 

AIF delivers one example namespace: /AIF/. This namespace cannot be used to develop interfaces. It is a read only namespace.

 

To create a new namespace go to AIF Customizing. The AIF Customizing can be found in the SAP menu under Cross-Application Components → SAP Application Interface Framework → Administration → Configuration → Customizing. You can go directly to Customizing via transaction /AIF/CUST. You can create a new namespace in the activity Define Namespace, which you can find in Customizing under the Interface Development topic. Create a new namespace via the New Entries button. Assign a name to the namespace and provide a short description.

 

A namespace can contain:

• Several defined interfaces
• Several defined checks
• Several defined value mappings
• Several defined actions

 

Example How To Structure Namespaces:

• Create your own namespace for generic and reusable objects.
• Objects that are explicit to an interface should be placed into the same namespace.
• Example 1: Group by Project Name and Application Component:-
• XY_FIN (Financials)
• XY_CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
• XY (Reusable objects for project XY)
• Example 2: Group Interfaces by the Type of Data:
• Inbound Interfaces are assigned to namespace INB001, INB002,..
• Outbound Interfaces are assigned to namespace OUT001, OUT002,..

 

The namespace is a 6 digit CHAR field. You are free to name your namespaces in the way you require them. There are no naming restrictions from the AIF side.

 

Example 1: You could create the namespaces with a unique abbreviation for the project together with a grouping by application component or business object:

• <ProjectName>_<ApplicationComponent>
• <ProjectName>_<BusinessObjet>

 

Interface

 

For every interface that should be monitored or processed by AIF, a corresponding AIF interface is required. It is necessary to set up the interface according to the communication technology used. After the interface is defined, you can maintain mappings and assign actions to this interface.

 

To create an interface, a namespace is required. The new interface will be assigned to this namespace. You require a RAW data structure and an SAP data structure for this interface. You require the authorization to maintain interfaces for the given namespace.

 

AIF delivers no standard interfaces, and, by default, the interface list is empty.