Preprocessing

Use

In scenarios where SAP Application Interface Framework supports IDoc and Proxy technology, preprocessing can be required, for example, in the following cases:

You have a standard inbound proxy or existing custom inbound proxy where you want to be able to use the mapping functionalities of SAP Application Interface Framework but you do not want to change the existing proxy class implementation.
You have a standard or existing custom-specific IDoc where you want to use some mapping functionalities of SAP Application Interface Framework.

Additionally, you only want to modify or check some data before the existing function is executed.

In the preprocessing mode, SAP Application Interface Framework executes the mapping logic on top of IDoc or Proxy raw message data. Therefore, there is limited maintenance effort in Customizing.

Prerequisites

You have defined interfaces in Customizing for SAP Application Interface Framework under Start of the navigation path Interface Development Next navigation step Define Interfaces End of the navigation path .

In order to be able to use preprocessing for proxy interfaces, you have to implement note 1828776.

Features

If you have an existing interface (IDoc or proxy), you often only have some fields that you want to modify or check in SAP Application Interface Framework before the standard logic is called. The mappings and checks defined in SAP Application Interface Framework are executed on top of the raw structure. Therefore, you only need to define, for example, value mappings, checks, conditions, and fix values for those fields that you want to change. Simple 1 to 1 field mappings, for example, are not needed.

Proxies

SAP Application Interface Framework is called implicitly before the proxy method is called. The only thing that is needed here is an AIF interface and the required mappings and checks. Once the mapping in SAP Application Interface Framework is successful, the proxy method is automatically called.

IDocs

You have to configure the ALE runtime to call the generic inbound process function of SAP Application Interface Framework. You need to create the mappings and checks you want to perform. You also need an action that calls the standard IDoc process function.

Activities

To activate preprocessing, select the Preprocessing checkbox in Customizing for SAP Application Interface Framework under Start of the navigation path Interface Development Next navigation step Define Interfaces End of the navigation path .