Filter Objects (SAP Library - IDoc Interface/ALE)

Filter Objects

Definition

Filter objects are attributes of a message in the distribution model. A filter objects consists of a filter object type (for example, material type) and an assigned object value (for example PROD).

Use

ALE uses filter objects in outbound processing. You can use the filter objects to specify the content of a message and its receivers.

Filter objects function differently for message types and for BAPIs.

When message types are filtered, all the IDoc segments containing a field with an object type name whose value does not match the object value are suppressed. The subsegments of these IDoc segments are also suppressed.

If the suppressed segment was a mandatory segment and provided that there are no other mandatory segments of the same name on the same IDoc hierarchy level, the higher-level IDoc segment is also suppressed. This process is repeated and the final result depends on the specific IDoc structure, mandatory segments and the segments that have been repeatedly processed.

If the uppermost mandatory segment of an IDoc still exists after this process, the rest of the IDoc is distributed.

With BAPIs the filter object type corresponds to a parameter name. BAPI filter objects check whether a parameter contains the specified object value. An IDoc is created and distributed via the BAPI, only if this is the case.

The following distinction is made:

Receiver determination

When the receiver is determined, the filter objects are checked against the specified conditions and the valid receivers are reported back.

For further information see Determining the Receivers of a BAPI in the ALE Programming Guide.

Parameter filtering

The dataset of the BAPI tables is determined by filtering the BAPI table parameters, similar to filtering IDoc segments.

For further information see BAPI Parameter Filters in the ALE Programming Guide.

Structure

Filter objects comprise a filter object type and an assigned object value.

Filter object types are either field names in IDoc segments or parameter names in BAPI calls.