Simple and Complex Data Structures

Returning data from a SAP BAPI is highly dependent on how the BAPI allows data to be returned, or what the BAPI allows to be returned when query criteria are passed into it. For example a data table, IDRange, can be used to return record instances from a BAPI as shown below from the K2 connect test cockpit.

Returning and writing single record instances is simple and can be handled easily by the service broker. A data record range i.e. an IDRange of records can also return as the result of a query and this is a complex type. The complex type is a data table or structure that is returned from SAP when a query is run against the BAPI and more than one record is returned. The returning query can be flattened, or converted to an XML data structure for use by the K2 connect Service Object.

Sending data to a SAP BAPI is dependent on how the BAPI reads the data sent or what the BAPI allows as input. Using the data table IDRange as an example, to send complex types to a BAPI, setting the IDRange XML property creates a complex type serialization object for the table.

Executing the Serialize Add Item to Array method allows for complex types. The complex type is a data table or structure that is sent to a BAPI when a query is run and more than one record needs to be sent.

Complex data structures can easily be sent to SAP or received using Serialization or Deserialization methods. These methods are created for specified fields of a BAPI when the data structure is selected as an XML property.

To select the data structure as an XML property, locate a suitable BAPI service method. Select the field that requires the XML property and click on Show Structure as per the image below. The Show Structure UI will enable the developer to select the properties required.

The XML Property option is circled in red below. By default all items in the structure declaration are enabled and it's up to the developer to exclude items that are not required by disabling them.