Message Interfaces (SAP Library - SAP Exchange Infrastructure (BC-XI))

Message Interfaces

Use

You use a message interface to describe an interface independent of a platform or programming language. You can then use this interface to exchange messages between application components using SAP Exchange Infrastructure. Depending on the communication parameters defined for a message interface, it can either have the task of sending a request (outbound) or receiving a request (inbound). Assigning an outbound interface to an inbound interface enables multiple communication partners to exchange messages with each other. Therefore, the following connections are possible for message interfaces:

A message interface with other message interface
A message interface with an imported interface
A message interface with an interface configured by an adapter

By using proxy generation, message interfaces enable ABAP and Java applications to be interconnected.

Prerequisites

Message interfaces reference message types and fault message types that ideally you have already created. This is not compulsory in order to save a message interface but this would mean that its definition would is incomplete.

For more information see the section Prerequisites in Introduction to Interface Development.

Features

Communication Parameters

When you create a message interface you define the communication parameters by using the attributes Mode and Direction. There are four different types of message interfaces you can create:

	Synchronous	Asynchronous
Inbound	Synchronous Inbound Message Interface	Asynchronous Inbound Message Interface
Outbound	Synchronous Outbound Message Interface	Synchronous Outbound Message Interface

Depending on the attributes you define for the message interface, you either need to reference one or two message types in Message Types. If you want to handle application-specific errors or persist them in monitoring, also assign the corresponding fault message types to the message interface. The Integration Builder restricts the input options according to the attributes selected, as follows:

	Referenced Message Types	Fault Message(s)
Synchronous Outbound Message Interface	Output Message Type Input Message Type	yes
Synchronous Inbound Message Interface	Input Message Type Output Message Type	yes
Synchronous Outbound Message Interface	Output Message Type	no
Asynchronous Inbound Message Interface	Input Message Type	yes

Therefore, the input message type defines the expected message, while the output message type defines the message sent.

Enhanced Functions

Once you have completed a message interface you can do the following:

Generate a proxy for use at runtime by using ABAP proxy generation or Java proxy generation.

Export the interface description as an XML document.

Note

The XML format complies with WSDL (Web Service Description Language). This format is subject to the standardization process of the W3C consortium.

Activities

Create a message interface in the design maintenance of the Integration Builder (see: Creating a New Object).

Enter a description for your message interface.

Define the communication parameters in the frame Attributes.

In Message Types, reference the required input or output message types either by using the search help or by entering the message types manually.

If the interface is not an asynchronous outbound message interface, you have the option of referencing fault message types in the lower table in the frame Message Types. To do so, use the following functions:

Edit References to Fault Messages

Function	Use
	Add an additional line to the table. Enter the fault message type you want either manually or by using the search help (see below)
	Call the search help to select a fault message type
	Change the sequence of the fault message types
	Delete a reference to a fault message type

Save your changes.