Testing With Message Client

Target Audience

• Test expert
• Technology consultant

Overview

Message Client is a console program that allows you to use the global charging services of SAP CC via the Message TCP technical interface. The console program runs in interactive mode to get values and to give you results or prompts for new values.

Used only for test, demo, or training purposes, this user interface allows you to:

• Charge a chargeable item simulating a usage event related to the consumption of a customer service
• Refresh the rater instances of the SAP CC system for updating the data caches
• Force the triggering of the bulk loading process for posting billable items to SAP Convergent Invoicing (SAP CI) in SAP ERP

You can:

• Prepare and work with chargeable items (see the commands: cic, ausi, asi, nb)
• Charge, blank charge, get an estimated price, and check limits (see the commands: rate, blank, inverse, estimate)
• Trigger the activation of periodic fees (see the activate command)
• Trigger the refreshing of the rater instances of the SAP CC system for updating the data caches (see the rri command)

The use of all the commands is detailed in this documentation.

Message Client is included in the SAP CC Core Tool software unit, but it is not available in the SAP CC Core Server software unit.

Getting Started

Executing the Program

The launch scripts are in the installation folder of SAP CC Core Tool software unit. Open one of the following directories:

• MS Windows operating system: <DRIVE>:\<INSTALL_DIR>\bin\
• UNIX and Linux and other operating systems: /<INSTALL_DIR>/bin/

Execute the launch script with the correct arguments, and then type in a system console:

• message_client.bat (MS Windows)
• ./message_client.sh (UNIX and Linux)

Connecting and Logging on

An SAP CC user logon and password must authenticate each command. Message Client communicates directly with the SAP CC system via the Message TCP and the HTTP Communication Interface (HCI) technical interfaces.

Once you have started Message Client, enter the command auth to specify the remote SAP CC system and to authenticate:

• Enter the host name where a dispatcher instance of the SAP CC system is running
• Enter the communication port number used by this instance
• Enter the communication protocol (HTTP or HTTPS)
• Enter your user name. The user name must correspond to an individual user.
• Enter your password

You can prepare the chargeable items to be sent or use the other commands.

Usage

To start the program for test, demo, or training purposes:

message_client

To trigger the execution of a set of instructions stored in a text file (see the template) command:

message_client -file <FILE_PATH>

You can specify a text file including relevant instructions that the program will execute. At the end of the file execution, you will be in the interactive mode if the last instruction of the file is not the exit command. To send HCI administrative operation requests to a dispatcher instance of the SAP CC system, you type the following::

message_client [-dh <HOST> -dhp <PORT> -dii <DISPATCHER_INSTANCE> -https false -login <USR_LOGON> -password <USR_PASSWORD> -[rri|bl]

Tasks

Preparing the Chargeable Items to Send

• Set up the chargeable item class defined in your charge (command "cic")
• Set up your access user service identifier (command "ausi")
• Set up your access service identifier (command "asi")
• Set up the consumption date (command "cd")
• Set up the user properties defined in your charge (commands "add", "mod", "rem")
• Set up the number of CDRs you want to rate (command "nb")

Operating

Getting Help

Before launching the user interface, you can use the -help launch option to list the commands and get help.

In Message Client, you use the help and the doc commands to list the commands and get help on a particular command.

Commands

Basic Commands

Command	Description
auth	To authenticate the SAP CC user
exit	To stop the program
debug	To activate the debug mode of the program
help	To view the list of commands
doc	To view the documentation
shortcuts	To view the list of command shortcuts
status	To view the current status of chargeable items
template	To view the model of an input file
normal	To reactivate the normal mode of the program
file	To manage an input file

Preparation Commands

Command	Description
add	To add a new property to the generated chargeable items
ausi	To define a user identifier for the service
asi	To define the service identifier
cd	To define the consumption date
cic	To specify the ID of the chargeable item class included in the generated chargeable items
mod	To modify a property value
nb	To define the number of chargeable items
rem	To remove a property

Operation Commands

Command	Description
activate	To trigger the activation of the periodic fees of all the subscriptions/contracts belonging to a subscriber account
blank	To request an advice of charge
estimate	To request a price estimation
inverse	To request an Inverse Charging
rate	To charge chargeable items online

Miscellaneous Commands

Command	Description
bl	To trigger the bulk loading of pending charged item files
rri	To trigger the refreshing of all the rater instances of the SAP CC system

Related Documentation

For more information, see the related product documentation of SAP Convergent Charging in SAP Help Portal:

• SAP CC Java/XML API Reference (Core Library) (SAP site) about the implementation of notification services via the Message TCP technical interface. See the Java API specifications of Message TCP.

• SAP CC Application Help (aka SAP CC Library)
• SAP CC Configuration Guide about customizing activities and system configuration (notification policy)
• SAP CC Installation Guide