SAP Application Interface Framework-Specific Terms

SAPTerm Definitions

action

An interface building block that handles the execution of the interface logic in the SAP application system by calling standard functions, customer functions, or BAPIs.

application engine

A class that is responsible for handling the application-specific parts of a data message which differs for different interface technologies. For example, it is responsible for restarting and canceling data messages. In addition, it connects the Monitoring and Error Handling transaction with the other engines.

custom function

A hotspot to call a transaction, a report, or a URL for one or more log messages.

data message

A message that is transferred between systems and that carries the actual business content.

enabler

A class that lets you use your standard processing and not have to use the SAP Application Interface Framework for processing; Use the enabler to write SAP Application Interface Framework-specific data for a message to the data storage of the SAP Application Interface Framework so that the SAP Application Interface Framework can monitor and display data.

field mapping

The process of mapping the value or values of up to five fields of a source structure to the value of a single field of a destination structure.

fix value

An attribute used in structure mappings to assign a constant value to a field in the destination structure. Fix values that are assigned to a namespace can be reused in different structure mappings.

hierarchy mapping

A structure mapping that is nested over multiple levels of a structure. An example is a table that includes a table: The mapping for the first table is done on the first level, while the mapping for the second table is done on a subordinated level.

interface

The connecting point between the application data and data in an external format.

An interface consists of one or more of the following reusable building blocks:

interface determination engine

A class that is responsible for determining the correct SAP Application Interface Framework interface. Interface determination depends on the interface technology that is used.

Interface Monitor

A transaction that provides personalized access to interface monitoring and error handling.

interface variant

An option used to change the behavior of an interface.

Interface variants are used for specific data messages where some adaptations to the interface processing logic are required.

log message

A message that is displayed in the application log. Log messages can be error, warning, success, or information messages that are saved during data message processing.

logging engine

A class that is responsible for retrieving the log messages data for monitoring and error handling.

namespace

A concept used for the logical structuring of objects, for example, interfaces and interface building blocks.

payload

The content (business data) of a message.

persistence engine

A class that is used to handle the content a data message transfers. It is responsible for everything that is related to the persistence layer of a data message, for example, retrieving and updating message content.

raw data structure

The structure used for communication with external systems.

In structure mapping, the raw data structure is the source structure for inbound interfaces and the destination structure for outbound interfaces.

recipient

An entity that defines which interfaces a user or a group of users is responsible for. The recipient defines in which cases the users assigned to it receive an alert.

record type

The characterization of information in the record type screen of the error handling transaction of the SAP Application Interface Framework. The record types are used to display the multilevel object structure of the interface data to select the data level to be displayed in the source data screen.

reprocessing action

A configuration name for automatic reprocessing. The configuration contains a function module and a runtime configuration group and defines how a message should be reprocessed automatically.

runtime configuration group

A configuration that defines the processing of a set of messages by the SAP AIF runtime environment.

runtime queue

The set of messages to be processed by the SAP AIF runtime environment.

SAP Application Interface Framework

A tool for the implementation of interfaces between SAP systems and external systems. It provides business users with the functionality of interface monitoring and error handling.

SAP data structure

The structure used to process data in the application system.

In structure mapping, the SAP data structure is the destination structure for inbound interfaces and the source structure for outbound interfaces.

selection engine

A class that is responsible for selecting the data messages for Monitoring and Error Handling.

structure mapping

The process of mapping the data of a source structure to a destination structure.

trace level

An option for defining the level of detail for tracing the steps that the system performs when processing data messages.

tracking variant

A template for analyzing the performance of SAP Application Interface Framework interfaces that is used for selected interfaces, users, or time ranges.

value mapping

The process of mapping at field value level between up to five source values and a particular destination value.

variant mapping

The process of defining alternative value mappings, actions, structure mappings, and fix values that are used in an interface variant.

XML runtime

A lean runtime environment that enables the storage, maintenance, and scheduling of runs for message processing. A runtime configuration group allows you to configure the processing of a set of messages.

General Terms

eCATT

eCATT is the abbreviation for “Extended Computer Aided Test Tool”. It is a tool to perform automatic test cases.

Error and Conflict Handler

The Error and Conflict Handler supports forward resolution of asynchronous messages. It enables clients to register errors and creates post processing orders accordingly.

Service Implementation Workbench

A tool for automatic or semi-automatic generation of the implementation of Enterprise Services. It facilitates and accelerates the creation of uniform and standardized service implementations by usage of code generation techniques.