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Use

Changes to the contents or functionality of a BAPI often result in the introduction of new parameters without which the interface can no longer function. Often, these changes also cause existing parameters to lose their original meaning. Such modifications are considered to be incompatible enhancements, because they no longer enable the BAPI to be downward compatible.

Syntactically incompatible enhancements are:

  • Changes to the field length

  • Changes to the field type

  • Renaming parameters in the function module or in the method

  • Inserting a field within a structure

  • Deleting parameters and fields

  • Inserting new mandatory parameters and fields Parameters can be flagged as mandatory in the BOR. However, this is not the case with fields. Fields can only be categorized as mandatory at a semantic level and not at a technical level. This is why the documentation for each parameter must specify which fields can be filled.

The table below lists the incompatible changes to function modules. We cannot guarantee that this list is exhaustive.

Incompatible Changes to Function Modules

In interface

New mandatory Parameter

Adding new fields between existing fields in the structure

Adding new fields between existing fields in the table

Adding new mandatory fields to the structure

Adding new mandatory fields to the table

Incompatible changes to field types (in the ABAP Dictionary)

Changing optional fields to mandatory fields

Renaming parameters

In program code

New additional source code that involves changes to the interpretation/processing logic

Changes to the existing source code that involve changing to the interpretation/processing logic

Adding or removing COMMIT WORK commands in the program
Process

In cases of incompatible changes to a BAPI, you should work through the following three steps: Create an additional BAPI , Support and label the expiring BAPI and Delete the replaced BAPI .

Create an Additional BAPI

To ensure that the interface stability of an existing BAPI is not impaired, you must not make any incompatible changes to the existing BAPI. Instead, create one or, if necessary, several additional BAPIs to replace the existing one.

The new BAPI must retain the same name as the BAPI to be replaced. A numeric suffix is simply added to it. This suffix changes if further incompatible changes are made.

Example

A number of incompatible changes must be made to the BAPI FixedAsset.Create() . To implement these changes, a new BAPI, BAPIFixedAsset.Create1() , is created, in order to maintain the interface integrity of the BAPI FixedAsset.Create() .

If further incompatible modifications must be made to the BAPI at a later date, yet another BAPI, FixedAsset.Create2() , must be created.

When creating the additional BAPIs, you must follow the guidelines in the BAPI Programming Guide .

Support and Label the Expiring BAPI

After the BAPI has been superseded by a new BAPI, you should not remove the replaced BAPI from the Business Object Repository (BOR). Instead, you first label this BAPI as expired, and continue its support in the release in which you have introduced the new BAPI as well as in the next functional release.

During this time the original BAPI must remain fully functional and executable.

  • Select the relevant SAP business object type in the Business Object Builder, and open the node Methods . Position the cursor on the BAPI, and choose Start of the navigation path Edit Next navigation step Change Status to Next navigation step Obsolete End of the navigation path.

  • In the BOR, document which method(s) are to replace the expiring BAPI.

  • Record the BAPIs that have been set to "obsolete in a particular release in SAP Note number 0107644, "Collective Note for Obsolete BAPIs from Release 4.5A.

  • Inform your users about the relevant successor BAPIs in Release Notes.

The graphic below illustrates the expiry phase of a BAPI. In this example the new BAPI is introduced into Release 4.0. The replaced BAPI is supported in Release 4.0 (the correction release in which the new BAPI was introduced) and in the next functional Release 'F1'. The BAPI can then no longer be used in the following functional Release 'F2'.

BAPI Expiry Phase

Delete the Replaced BAPI

If the expiry phase of a BAPI set to obsolete has come to an end, you can remove the BAPI from the BOR. You should delete an obsolete BAPI as close to the beginning of a new release as possible, so that developers have time to adjust to its successor.

To delete a BAPI, follow the steps below:

  • Delete the method from the BOR.

    To do this display the relevant SAP business object type in the Business Object Builder. Expand the node Methods. Place the cursor on the appropriate BAPI, and delete it by choosing Start of the navigation path Edit Next navigation step Delete End of the navigation path.

  • Delete the function module that implements the BAPI.

    In the Function Builder enter the name of the function module in the Function Module field and choose Start of the navigation path Function Module Next navigation step Other Functions Next navigation step Delete End of the navigation path.

  • Record the BAPIs that have been set to "obsolete in a particular release in SAP Note number 0107644, "Collective Note for Obsolete BAPIs from Release 4.5A.