Entering content frameProcedure documentationStarting External Data Transfer Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

Prerequisites

Before you start the external data transfer you must first have selected the required data from your source system. You also need to make the relevant system settings in Customizing.

Ensure that no data records are updated using external data transfer and changed online at the same time.

Check the current level of the number assignment. Once the system has assigned the last number in a number range it starts with the first number again. This can lead to runtime errors and result in data inconsistencies.

Note

The system assigns numbers even for test runs. These numbers cannot therefore be assigned again for a subsequent update run.

To be able to use the restart and postprocessing function fully, you must leave the default entry 4 in the log counter field

Procedure

  1. Choose the appropriate menu path. The screen External Data Transfer: Start Transfer appears.
  2. Enter the name of the transfer program that is identical to that of the sender structure.
  3. Enter the physical or logical name (including the path) of the (sequential) input file from which the data is to be read.

    4. Assign a physical or logical name (including path) to the output file. The name may not exceed 50 characters. We recommend that you use the name of the input file and add the suffix ".err".

    The output file is stored on the application server.

  4. Enter the file system where the file with the data you want to import is located.

    5. If you are importing a UNIX file, you have to choose application server, if you are importing an Excel file from a floppy disc, you have to choose presentation server.

    If you want to transfer compressed data (type P), you cannot import the file from the presentation server.

    In background processing, files can be imported from the application server only.

  5. Under Editing, choose the options you require.
  6. Decide which File type most closely matches that of your input file. If you are importing UNIX files, use file type Text file. For Excel files, use file type CSV format.

    7. Note that for TXT/CSV and MC formats, fields of type C that are not text fields will automatically be converted to uppercase letters.

  7. Under Number format, select the checkbox if the length given applies to the data in your input file. Do not use this indicator if you created the file using the test data editor.

    8. Choose how decimals are to be displayed.

  8. Specify the Date format (for TXT/CSV/MC formats only) of the data.
  9. Under Settings for repeat fields enter definitions for data records that occur more than once.
  10. Under Other settings, you can choose EBCDIC as the data format, and make other settings (by default, the system assumes your data is in ASCII format).
  11. You do not have to make an entry for the Check field.
  12. To change the size of the blocks or to change the log output, choose Expert mode.

    13. Note

    Before you start external data transfer, we recommend that you save your settings as a variant. This will make it easier if you need to repeat the transfer, or if you want to check your settings to find the cause for any errors that might have occurred.

  13. Choose Execute.

Result

In the online mode of external data transfer, the system tells you whether the transfer was successfully completed or whether there were errors. Regardless of whether the data transfer was successful, check the detail log, as it could contain warnings.

In the background operations of the external data transfer, you can check the log to see whether the transfer was successfully completed or whether there were errors.

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