Format Tree Definition 

Purpose

This process describes the steps involved in defining a format tree in the DME Engine.

Process Flow

There are three main steps:

  1. Data selection
  2. After you specify the application for which you wish to create a file format (such as the payment program) and assign a unique format tree ID, the system executes a selection step. It selects all R/3 fields that are predefined for the particular application. These fields form the source field inventory and are made available to you when you do the data mapping in step 3.

  3. Definition of tree structure
  4. In this step, you define the layout of the format tree in a hierarchical structure. This tree stores all data that is relevant to describe this file structure: here you maintain the level structure of the file, the field structure, and the mapping and conversion of SAP source fields to file target fields.

  5. Data mapping

When you define your structure, you must link the fields in your file format to the corresponding fields in the R/3 System. This enables the DME Engine to extract the required data from the appropriate fields when you later generate a file. There are several mapping procedures; the most common ones are direct reference to R/3 fields or specification of a constant. You can also define more complicated mapping rules by including conditions, aggregation, or user exits.

After the above steps have been completed, you activate your format tree and it can then be used for generating DME files from the defined applications.

See also:

Creating Nodes

Data Mapping