IDocs Are SAP's Implementation of Structured Text Files
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IDocs are by no means anything special. They are physically ASCII data
streams like simple flat files with lines of text, where the lines are structured into
data fields. The typical structured file has records, where each record starts with a
leading string, which identifies the record type, eg. if it is a header record or an item
record. The only precondition for an IDoc is, that the meaning of every field must be
recognizable without interpreting the contents, so that the data can be mapped into a
database structure without semantical interpretation of the content. |
Electronic Interchange Document
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IDocs is the acronym for Interchange Document, meaning a set of
(electronic) information which builds a logical entity. Because an IDoc is meant to be
exchanged (or interchanged) between two independently existing partners, an IDoc must
adhere to a mutually accepted format or language. An IDoc is eg. all the data of a
single customer in your customer master data file. If you send data for multiple customer
at the same time, we shall regard this as sending multiple IDocs. |
Data Is Transmitted In ASCII Format, i.e. Human Readable
Form
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Idoc data is usually exchanged between systems and partners who are
completely independent. Therefore the data should be tfransmitted in a format, that can
easily be corrected by the humans who operate the computers. It is therefore mandatory to
post the data in a human readable form. Nowadays, this means that data is coded in ASCII
fomat, including number, which are sent as string of figures 0 to 9. Such data can easily
be read with any text editor on any computer, be it a PC, Macintosh a UNIX System or any
internet browser.r |