Working with SAP PI is about finding the best wooden figures and for the box

[DG]

I just had an epiphany today. I was working with an interface for posting FI (financial) documents for a client. The FB01 transaction does not have a good BAPI or IDOC to be used to update it. All updates should be done using Batch Input.

I had to use an old batch input to create a finance document from a previous integration project. The more reuse we have, the better. But, the batch input is a black box for me. Well, I could try to debug it and see what is going on.

I can post a FI document using TCODE FB01, with some guidance for how to fill in the content. All FI postings are different, and sometimes you want SAP to calculate tax and or to use another currency. That is the reason while there has to be created batch inputs to update the documents.

A PI developer really needs to have the business consultants in the game. If they are not part of the game, it’s like a kid trying to  put wooden bricks into a box without knowing what they’re doing. 

I recorded this video about some of my thoughts about the process.

I would really hope there was a standard interface I could use for this process. I doubt that I’ll find an interface that will work. So, I probably have to update the batch input.

I created SAP PI for Everybody to help those in the business setting become better at talking with PI developers. I know developers also have to move towards the business. Communication is an area that both parties need to focus more on.