Load External Supplier Invoice File
Explanation
This activity is used to read an external input file, unpack the file data
and call a dedicated interface (API) that will continue with the further
processing of data.
The wizard can handle any file type and file template defined in External
Files. This means that this is a multi-purpose wizard that can handle the same
actions as existing interfaces.
Prerequisites
- An external supplier invoice file must exist.
- A parameter set must be available if it should be possible to supply
parameter values during the input phase.
- A valid and active file template with template definitions for input
files that are associated with the file type must be available.
- If an input file is specified then it must exist on the network path if
the Online Process option is selected. If the Batch Process
option is selected, the file path and name is essential, but can not be
validated before starting the process.
- If you want to load invoices with more than one invoice line using
external file templates with the record type A, a detail line with the MULTIPLE_LINES_ALLOWED
column ID must be defined for the external file template used, in the External File Template/Detail tab. (Note: Only user-defined
templates are editable. It is recommended that a user-defined template
created by copying STDSIN2 is used for this purpose.)
System Effects
As a result of this activity, the following system effects would take place.
- The file will be read and unpacked. A call would be made to the
interface (API) that would handle the further processing of the unpacked
data.
- The state of the load will be Transferred.
Window
External File Assistant
Related Window Descriptions
External File Assistant
Procedure
- Open the External File Assistant
- Select either Online Process option or the Batch Process
option to specify whether you want the loading to be performed instantly or
as a background job.
- Click Next.
- Supply file options on this page, i.e. external file type, parameter
set, external file template and the file name. The file direction is set
automatically according to the following.
- If the referenced parameter set has the parameter FILE_DIRECTION_DB
defined then the direction according to the value for this parameter
will be used.
- Else if the file template has definitions for either input files or
output files then the existing definition will decide the direction.
- If the file template has definitions for both input and output files
then output will be the suggested direction.
Make sure that the Input File check box is selected.
- Click Next.
- If a parameter set was supplied that has associated parameters then
these parameters will be displayed along with defined default values. Modify
the values for each parameter if necessary. Click List, if available,
to get valid values for each parameter. The field might also support a drop
down list with valid values.
- If the processing mode is Online then click Finish to
start the process, else click Next.
- If the processing mode is Batch then define the scheduling of the
batch job and start the process by clicking Finish.