SAP Application Interface Framework (SAP AIF) simplifies interface management across multiple SAP technologies by providing a single framework designed for organizing different interfaces. The serialization of interfaces is the process of establishing an interface messaging sequence so that interfaces appear in the correct order.
Standardized Support for Integration Technologies
Traditionally, each interface technology — such as IDocs, services, remote function calls (RFCs), and data load by batch input or files — is, in the worst case, handled by different groups of developers with different skill sets, and maybe even different organizational assignments. In addition, other logic may be distributed through application exits and BAdIs. This scattered scenario makes the sustainable management of interfaces challenging.
AIF makes it easy for technical users to quickly add logic to interfaces, both for SAP standard interfaces and for custom interfaces, with a guided, template-based approach. Instead of performing manual ABAP coding, the technical user can configure most interface logic using predefined customizing transactions — making selections from dropdown lists and using F4 help to select values, for example. The overall implementation follows a structured approach in which the interface logic is implemented in small, configurable logic components, such as checks, mappings, and actions. This approach enables the reuse of interface components in multiple interfaces and across technologies — for example, you can use the same validation rule in IDocs, services, and so on.
Advantages
- On-premise deployment
- Monitor, analyse, and correct interface errors
- Separate technical and application integration
- Improve governance through role-based access
Licensing
To be procured separately.
Use Case
Some of the common features of SAP AIF here based on what an organisation is most likely to implement.
Error Correction
SAP AIF is a business tool that is used primarily by business users to correct interface errors.
Translation – Fix Values
Fix Values are used when a one-to-one translation is required from old to new (and new to old) field contents. In an inbound interface scenario a legacy application may continue with their old code set and pass that to the SAP system which would be based on the new code set. The reverse is also true. SAP would pass the new code set data to a legacy application and the translation from new to old will be handled by SAP AIF.
Translation – Value Mapping
Value Mapping is a complex derivation of data based on the source field contents. It may be dependent on a single or multiple interdependent data sets. Value Mapping offers a framework to configure SQL statements, Conversion Exits or a Default Value (if nothing is returned). Custom Function Modules can be configured for more complex requirements.
Data Checks
Various checks can be implemented for an interface. A check could be to allow the interface to succeed if field A = a variable or a constant, or else fail the message. This is where the business user will come in and change the contents of field A to the correct value and reprocess the interface. Of course simple (no code) and complex checks (Function Module) can be implemented.
Actions
An Action is linked to a processing step of an interface in SAP AIF. An Action results in the triggering of at least one Function Module call. An example of an Action is inserting a Balancing Line Item in an FI document (if the credits do not tally with the debit entries) prior to posting. Similarly an Action can also be used to invoke a post-processing step.
Non-Interface Scenarios
SAP AIF is not restricted to just interfaces. It can be hooked to custom built applications via APIs.
References
You may refer to the following links for more information:
https://help.sap.com/viewer/product/SAP_APPLICATION_INTERFACE_FRAMEWORK/3.0/en-US
https://blogs.sap.com/2018/03/22/how-to-create-a-simple-file-interface-in-aif/