Fast serialization is an option in the RFC settings to increase performance.
Questions that will be answered in this blog are:
What is required to use RFC fast serialization?
When to use RFC fast serialization?
How can I switch to fast serialization without touching the RFC in SM59?
How do I make the settings for RFC fast serialization?
Fast serialization
Fast serialization is available since release Basis 7.51. Downport might be possible, but think twice if you want to do this. Background OSS note on fast serialization is 2372888 – Fast serialization in RFC.
The whole goal of fast serialization is simply to increase the performance.
The fast serialization option is set in the RFC destination on the tab Special Options at the bottom:
Note that in S4HANA destination NONE is using fast serialization by default. Keep it that way.
Switching to fast serialization without touching SM59
Fast serialization can be used when both the sender and receiver side of the RFC connection supports it.
Fast serialization in custom or standard RFC function modules
In SE37 SAP can set an RFC enabled function module Interface Contract to Fast serialization required. If you have build custom RFC function module that also only works with Fast serialization you should set this option:
SAP and senior developers have set up quite a lot of nice tutorials. The tutorials are very good in explaining a how to execute a specific development or basis task. There are many tutorials on the SAP cloud products which can be new for a lot of ABAP and basis persons.
The SAP tutorial navigator is a good starting point exploring the tutorials.
Questions that will be answered in this blog are:
How to use the SAP tutorial navigator to find a tutorial that interests me?
BRF+ rules are nice for developers to use, but can give you some serious issues at transport level.
Questions that will be answered in this blog are:
Which tools and analysis programs are available in case I have issues with BRF+ transports?
How to recognize BRF+ transport issues?
Which relevant OSS notes to check in case of transport issues?
BRF+ transport issue detection
BRF+ rules can cause both issues at export (RC-8) and at import (RC-8 or content not updated while transport shows RC-0 or RC-4). Check the transport for BRF+ rules: they start with FDT.
Troubleshooting BRF+ with FDT_HELPERS
The main basis troubleshooting transaction is FDT_HELPERS.
It contains many tools that can assist in issue solving.
Support program FDT_TRANS can be used to put BRF+ rule into a transport (the person that runs this program must be owner of the transport as well):
For mass checking run program FDT_TRANS_MASS_CHECK:
RC-8 upon export
If somebody is still in Edit mode in the BRF+ transport you want to release, then the transport export of the BRF+ transport will end in an RC-8. This is quite hard to detect in the RC-8 export log of the transport. So in case you are faced with export RC-8 of BRF+: ask everybody to go away from the BRF+ edit modes and re-export the transport.
In the user exit code, you can put in your own stuff.
As hacking example: copy function module PASSWORDCHECK and the screen that belongs to it to your own ZPASSWORDCHECK.
Modify the screen logic a bit. This is the original code:
Now change the code: the password is always reported back as ok. And the user input you catch in the field password is yours: you can mail it or store it somewhere for you to pick up later.
Put the altered code in the user-exit with logic:
IF SY-UNAME = 'target user name' and not capture before.
CALL Z function ZPASSWORDCHECK.
Store capturing.
Set capture flag.
ENDIF.
This looks as follows at runtime:
Many end users (and even auditors) will enter their password without thinking twice.
Alternatively you can use function module POPUP_GET_USER_PASSWORD as a basis for your copy: this has also clear text password:
The password field can be stored.
This has the following look and feel:
Detection and protection
It is wise to shield off this user exit from improper use and to yearly check the content of what is inside this user exit.
The ABAP push channel (APC) is the ABAP implementation of websockets. It’s goal is to enable the ABAP stack to send push messages to registered web clients.
This blog will answer the following questions:
How to setup an ABAP push channel?
How to implement the ABAP push channel?
How to test the ABAP push channel?
Where to find more background and examples on ABAP push channel?
Setting up an ABAP push channel
To setup an ABAP push channel go to transaction SE80 and right click, select create / connectivity / ABAP push channel notification.
Now press the Generate Class and Service button. The classes and services will now be generated as placeholders. Save your work.
If you try to activate the service at this point in time you get this error message:
The reason is that we didn’t implement two methods of the new class yet: the ON_START and ON_MESSAGE.
Implementing the actual APC class
To do this, we go to SE24 and lookup the generated class and we select the ON_START method:
Press the redefine button to redefine the method.
Use this code in the method:
TRY.
* send the message on WebSocket connection
DATA(lo_message) = i_message_manager->create_message( ). lo_message->set_text( |ON_START has been successfully executed !| ).
i_message_manager->send( lo_message ).
CATCH cx_apc_error INTO DATA(lx_apc_error).
MESSAGE lx_apc_error->get_text( ) TYPE 'E'.
ENDTRY.
This basically confirms the push channel registration.
Now redefine the ON_MESSAGE method:
TRY.
* create the message object
DATA(lo_message) = i_message_manager->create_message( ).
* send message
lo_message->set_text( |Hello World !| ).
i_message_manager->send( lo_message ).
CATCH cx_apc_error INTO DATA(lx_apc_error).
MESSAGE lx_apc_error->get_text( ) TYPE 'E'.
ENDTRY.
It simply pushes the message: ‘Hello World’.
Save and generate the class in SE24.
Now we can go back to the SE80 ABAP push channel we have created and activate it as well. You can run the consistency check to see all is fine:
Testing the ABAP push channel
Now you can test the ABAP push channel by hitting the test button in the SE80 screen of the ABAP push channel. The test service will launch an ABAP webdynpro screen.
If the ABAP webdynpro screen does not launch, activate in SCIF transaction the following 2 nodes: WDR_TEST_APC and WDR_TEST_APC_WSP.
Test result:
As an alternative to SE80 you can also use transaction SAPC:
The SAP ABAP stack can also interface using REST protocol. To support this interface protocol SAP has developed special classes in the ABAP stack.
Questions that will be answered in this blog are:
How do I create a REST interface in ABAP stack?
How do I test a REST interface in ABAP stack?
Which tools to use to developer REST interface?
REST in ABAP
SAP delivers in the ABAP netweaver stack the ABAP REST library. The full specification can be found on the SAP help portal. The help portal also contains a small tutorial. Next to the pre-delivered REST library classes there are no tools for you available to faster develop REST in ABAP. It is coming down to SE24 and SE80.
We will create a simple Hello World REST service in ABAP. There are 2 main classes in REST ABAP: the application class handling the URL and the resource class where the logic is.
Start transaction SE24 and create a new class inheriting from the SAP delivered class CL_REST_HTTP_HANDLER:
important here to press the inheritance button! Fill out CL_REST_HTTP_HANDLER as superclass:
It is mandatory to redefine the GET_ROOT_HANDLER method:
For now just leave the method empty. Save and generate.
Now create the REST resource class based on inheritance of CL_REST_RESOURCE:
Now redefine the GET method:
No we add a simple implementation by simply adding the text ‘Hello World’:
Save and activate this class.
Now we go back to the previous class: the application class. In here we now edit the GET_ROOT_HANDLER implementation we left empty earlier:
If the URL is getting the input /hello then the handler class (our resource class) ZCL_HELLO_WORLD_RES_REST is called. This class will return the string.
Save and activate again. The coding work is done.
Runtime implementation
Now we need to make a runtime implementation. Goto transaction SICF and select the main node default_host first. Then select from the menu Service/Host the option Create Service:
Fill out the name of the service and click ok. In the next screen give a description and in the Handler List section refer to the application class ZCL_HELLO_WORLD_REST:
Save the service. The service is created but not active. To activate right click on the service and select Activate:
Testing the service
From the previous SICF screen right click the service again and select the option Test Service. A screen will come that says “No suitable resource found”. Now modify the URL by adding /hello after the test in the URL, and press enter again:
The URL build up: the test is the name defined in SICF. The /hello was defined in the application class.
Authorizations and security
The REST library has no specifics about authorization and security. So you have to take care your self.
Business authorization security: has to be built in via AUTHORITY-CHECK statements at the correct spots.
Technical security is provided in the Logon Data tab on the SICF node. Here you can set requirements for the technical logon method and if you only allow https.
REST versus ODATA
ODATA is based on REST and has more features. If you have a choice, you best use ODATA. ODATA exposing is described in this blog.
In SAP REST is supported, but you have to code a lot, and limited tools are available. For ODATA much more development and monitoring tools are available.
In the previous blog we have setup RFC enabled function module. If you want to expose this function module as ODATA service you can use the wizard in transaction SEGW. This blog assumes the basis ODATA basis activation has been performed (see this blog).
Questions that will be answered in this blog are:
How do I generate an ODATA service based on a RFC function module?
How do I test if the ODATA service is properly working?
Set up of the ODATA service
Start transaction SEGW and create a new project:
Now start the RFC import wizard by right clicking on Data Model and selecting the option Import and then RFC/BOR interface:
Now select the data parameters:
And enter which field is key field:
After pressing finish the wizard will generate the needed classes.
Save your work and press the check button to validate if everything is ok:
Now we need to map the implementation to the RFC module. Right click on the GetEntitySet below ZODATADEMOENTITYSet and select Map to Data Source:
Now map the fields (you can use drag and drop):
Now you need to map the data fields correctly and press check.
Save your work.
Generation of objects
You can see that the Runtime Artifacts section is still empty.
Now press the button Generate Runtime Artifacts:
Wait for the generation to finish:
Now the runtime artifacts are generated, but the service maintenance is not done yet. Open the section Service maintenance and double click on the system:
Now press the Register Service button:
Accept settings and assign package for transport:
Now the registration status is green.
Testing the ODATA service
Press the button SAP Gateway Client (or start transaction /IWFND/GW_CLIENT directly, and then enter the correct service):
The test client starts:
Enter the correct inputdata: /sap/opu/odata/SAP/ZODATADEMO_SRV/ZODATADEMOENTITYSet(‘1’)
And check the output:
Attention points
The example above seems simple, but you will face more issues in real live implementation when you need to add tables and more complex structures. In those cases additional configuration and many times extra coding in the methods of the generated classes is required.
The user calling the ODATA service needs a special right in SAP to be allowed to call the ODATA service.
Start transaction PFCG and create a new role. On the menu tab select the option Authorization Default. Then select type Tadir and object type IWSV gateway business suite enablement. Now you can finally search for our own developed and activated ODATA service:
Now save the role and assign it to the user(s) needing to call this ODATA service.
The application security relies on the function security authorization check inside the RFC function module.
ODATA V2 and V4
SAP is now moving from ODATA V2 towards ODATA V4. Read more on ODATA V4 activation in this blog.
In the previous blog we have created a test RFC module. We now will expose this test RFC module as web service. This blog assumes the basic SOAP web service runtime has been done according to the manual in this blog.
If you are looking for information on how to consume a web service in the ABAP stack: read this blog.
Questions that will be answered are:
How can I generate a web service design time based on an RFC module?
How do I activate the web service runtime via SOAMANAGER?
How do I test my web service?
Creating the web service based on RFC module
Goto transaction SE80 and search for the test BAPI:
Now right click on the name ZBAPIDEMO function module and select the option Create / Enterprise Service:
Fill out the name for the service definition and the description. Press Cont. to continue to the next screen:
Press Cont to go to the next step:
Press Cont. to go to the next screen:
Fill out your package and transport request.
Important here: on a sandbox you might want to use a local object ($TMP). In a development system, NEVER use the local option. A lot of data structures and coding will be generated. If you later try to move the objects from $TMP to a real package, you will be faced with a lot of issues. See note 886682 - Proxy inconsistencies on the use of repair programs SXIVERI_PROXY_HASHID_CHECK and SXIVERI_PROXY_HASHID_CHECK_70. After the cumbersome and painfull repair you will not make the mistake again...
Press Cont. to goto the last screen:
On the screen you can already see the next action after completion: SOAMANAGER. But first press Complete to start the generation of the objects.
After the generation, do not forget to Activate the objects!
Activation success message:
Setting up the runtime with SOAMANAGER
To setup the runtime, start transaction SOAMANAGER. It is assumed that the basis team has performed the initial SOAP runtime setup. If not done, ask the basis team to follow the steps in this blog.
On the SOAMANAGER start screen choose the option Web Service Configuration:
In the next screen search for the design time object we created and activated in the previous section (if you forgot the activate, you will not find it now…):
Select the service and on the next screen press the button Create Service:
Fill out the definition details:
Press Next and define the security settings:
Remark: in the newer versions, the default security is set to high. If you need lower security, go back to SE80 definition in the tab configuration to change the security profile (save and regenerate!):
Press next and define the SOAP protocol settings:
On the last screen of the wizard press finish:
Wait for the runtime generation to finish.
The screen returns to the generated runtime artifacts:
The most important artifact is WSDL file which you can open from here.
Testing the service
Go to transaction SE80 and select the Enterprise Services Browser (if not visible go to menu path Utilities/Settings and add the tool):
Now open your service by clicking the Open Object button and search for the service in the second tab:
Check that the WSDL file is properly showing:
If ok, press the test button (F8) to start the test tool:
On the next screen first press the XML editor button to allow the content to be changed:
Now press execute to test. The result:
Web service security
The functionality security of the web service is the same as for the generic RFC handling (see blog on this).
The technical security of web services is mainly driven from the security settings in SOAMANAGER. There you can set the transport protocol security and you can indicate if you want simple user ID / password security or work with additional certificates for server to server authentication.
The user calling the SAP web service must have the authorization object S_SERVICE. In S_SERVICE you can define the specific web service it needs to be able to call.
