In some business scenarios, there is need to attach/store external file to standard object like Material/ Purchase Order or to custom application like Loan Application; in such case we can use SAP standard methodology like SAP Office, BDS (Business Document Service), DMS (Document Management Service), GDS (Generic Document Services) to store actual files in system with logical relation to an object or Application – these documents can be retrieved later.
All these methodologies provide basic functionality which includes:
- Attachment Creation for Object
This functionality will create logical relationship between attached object and actual SAP business object- Retrieving stored attachment and Display
BDS (Business Document Service)
- Maintain Assignment of Business Objects to Document Classes – Tcode – SBDSV
As basic configuration, you need to create class (for Business Object) for your application e.g. Student Admission Application.- Maintain Storage Categories – Tcode – SBDSV2
Once you are done with creation of BDS Application Class, assign required document type such as BDS_ATTACH –Attachment, BDS_HTMLT- HTML template, BDS_IMAGE –Screen, BDS_SHEET         Table template, BDS_SLIDE Presentation, BDS_TEXT Text to BDS Application class name. You can create new Document class and document Type through SPRO configuration if needed.BDN (Business Document Navigator)
BDN (Business Document Navigator) is a tool provided by SAP for mediating Documents.Basic functions provided by BDN includes:
- Store Document
- Display Detail information about stored document
- Display Documents
- Display Version, Keyword for documents
- Copy, Edit, Delete Documents
- Store WWW address
These are some functionality examples provided by BDN.
These documents are stored in SAP Database Table (default for existing classes defined by SAP), but we can change this storage location, like if we want to store these documents in any external server. To achieve this we can create Content Repository, Content Category and assign it to Physical Document class.
Standard Function modules and BAPI’s are available to do all these functionality through ABAP code so we can use BDS to store documents for external applications. Below are some useful Function modules for BDS.
BDS_BUSINESSDOCUMENT_CREATEF
BDS_ALL_CONNECTIONS_GET
BDS_BUSINESSDOCUMENT_GET_INFO
BDS_BUSINESSDOCUMENT_GET_TAB
Class – CL_BDS_DOCUMENT_SET
Please send us your questions, comments or assistance, and our team would be glad to assist you.
By Abhishek Khandelwal (on behalf of SAP Consulting Team)
Apprisia
SAP :: Streamlined
We offer variety of services including SAP ECC ,SAP HR,SAP BW,SAP CRM, SAP SCM,SAP BPM, Business Objects, SAP ABAP Development, SAP BASIS and SAP NetWeaver consulting. We have expertise in providing implementation,development, SAP Migration and SAP support services to SAP customers across diverse industries at a global level.
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