As a rule, one of the first things you should carry out during the Apparel & Footwear Solution start-up is the transfer of grid data from a legacy system. This step is required because it is usually not possible to manually create initial data in the SAP system due to the multitude of grids used. If you are using a distributed system, you must exchange data within this system as well.

You can transfer grids from legacy systems via ALE. The grid data is transferred here in an IDoc. This is valid for the transfer from a non-SAP system as well as for the transfer from an SAP system. The SMD tool is available for the distribution between SAP systems.

Here are some typical application examples:

• Transfer of grid data from a non-SAP System
• Distribution of changed and/or newly created grid data between SAP systems (in which, for example, a system can be located on another computer)
• Providing legacy or external systems with changes and/or newly created grid data
• Transfer of data from data pools
• Targeted distribution of grids (sending data manually)

You can use the AFS IDoc type to send AFS grids. Functions for both the receipt and issue of IDocs have been implemented. The reduction and the connection to the SMD tool have been implemented.

Grid values are mapped using ALE in the same way as the mapping of the online transaction. The maintenance of the dimension IDs and of the valid grid values in Customizing is decisive for the grids because the validity of the sent IDs and grid values is checked using check tables.