Getting Started with Dell Boomi | How to Retrieve Multiple Column Data from SAP Tables in Boomi
Introduction
Dell BOOMI is a cloud-based integration platform as a service (iPaaS) that enables organizations to connect applications, data, and various devices across on-premises and cloud environments. It streamlines data integration processes by leveraging an extensive array of connectors, including but not limited to SAP, databases, Shopify, NetSuite, and others.
Key features of Dell BOOMI include:
INTEGRATION
Dell BOOMI provides a visual development environment for building, deploying, and managing integration processes, also known as “Atom or Atmosphere”. These atoms represent integration components that connect different systems.
CONNECTIVITY
The platform supports a wide range of connectors and pre-built components to facilitate the integration of various applications, whether they are on the cloud or on-premises. This includes connectors for popular enterprise applications (SAP, Shopify, etc.), databases or local disk connector, and other services.
API MANAGEMENT
Dell BOOMI includes API management capabilities, allowing organizations to design, publish, and manage APIs. The two most widely used API architectural styles are REST and SOAP. This is crucial for creating standardized interfaces and enabling interoperability between different applications and systems.
MASTER DATA HUB
Dell BOOMI offers a Master Data Hub for managing and consolidating master data across the enterprise. This helps ensure consistency and accuracy of data across different systems.
WORKFLOW AUTOMATION
The platform supports the design and automation of workflows, enabling organizations to streamline business processes by orchestrating the flow of data and tasks between different applications.
MONITORING AND ANALYTICS
Dell BOOMI provides tools for monitoring the performance of integrations and analysing data flows. This helps organizations identify bottlenecks, troubleshoot issues, and optimize their integration processes.
SECURITY
The platform includes security features such as role-based access control, data encryption (PGP), and compliance with industry standards to ensure the protection of sensitive information.
What is SAP?
SAP, which stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing, is a German multinational software corporation that develops enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. SAP is best known for its ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software, which is a suite of integrated applications that help organizations manage various aspects of their business processes.
SAP JCO V2 Connector:
SAP JCo V2 connector (classified as an Enterprise connector) enables you to connect to your SAP systems via SAP’s RFC protocol. You can execute BAPIs, Remote Function Modules (RFMs) and send/receive IDocs asynchronously.
How to Connect to SAP from BOOMI Platform?
BOOMI Platform provides a wide range of connector in order to connect to SAP database, but for this blog, we will look forward for SAP JCo V2 Connector.
Let’s begin our journey by login into the BOOMI account (You can use trial account, BOOMI gives you 90 days of free trials with limited but most of features to use).
After logging into the BOOMI account, you will land into the Homepage of it, you have to navigate to “INTEGRATION” under the “SERVICES” which will look like this.
We are able to see three tabs beside Dashboard i.e. Build, Deploy and Manage.
Build
Build tab serves as the environment for designing integration processes and data transformations, facilitating the implementation of operational logic. This section empowers users to construct comprehensive pipelines and articulate intricate data processing workflows, contributing significantly to the realization of functional business logic within the integration solution.
Deploy
Following the formulation of your logic within the Build tab, the Deploy tab provides a streamlined environment for packaging and deploying these constructed integration processes. This section offers efficiency in the preparation and dissemination of your logic, ensuring a smooth transition from development to operational deployment in your target environment.
Manage
Manage tab serves as a comprehensive suite for handling various management tasks associated with your integration solutions. This includes but is not limited to scheduling, reporting, and library management. The Manage tab provides a centralized space for orchestrating the operational aspects of your integration processes, enhancing control, and facilitating efficient monitoring, reporting, and governance throughout the entire integration lifecycle.
Let’s deep drive step wise into the process of retrieval of multiple data columns through BOOMI from scratch.
- Create a new folder under our training account where we will save all our work.
2. We will “create new process” under our created folder (in my case Test_connection).
3. Simply click on the down arrow and select “New Component” and give process/display a name and hit create button.
4. We need to configure Connector, click on the dropdown menu of Connector and select SAP JCo V2.
5. Click on the “+” icon for Connection, where we have to provide the necessary detail to establish the connection between SAP and BOOMI and after that simply click “Save and Close”. We need to provide below following details:
- Connection — Application Server Host
- Application Server — URL for the SAP Connection
- SAP System Number
- SAP SID
- SAP Logon Group Name
- SAP Client
- Username for SAP account
- Password for SAP account
Keep “Action” as “Execute” only.
6. Click on the “+” icon for the Operation (where we can call various BAPI i.e. Business APIs or Functional module, which helps to retrieve the data from various tables present in SAP) and click on the “Import Operation”.
NOTE: Here we have used BAPI as “RFC_READ_TABLE” this is particular BAPI which is used to retrieve data by giving the table names and column names.
7. The tricky part comes, after configuring with the connection and operation, we need to add the parameter or data which we want to retrieve from the SAP. Under the parameters, click on the “+” icon and enter the parameter values.
- Firstly, give the value to “Query_Table” — Add the table name here.
- Add Delimiter as “;” in order to bifurcate the output for different columns, since output will generate into a single line.
- Under FIELDS > item > FIELDNAME — enter the column name that want to retrieve from that table.
NOTE: We are able to see only one item under the FIELDS, this means that we are able to retrieve only single column from the SAP Table (SALES ORDER). To overcome this, we need to add multiple items to retrieve the multiple columns.
8. To add the multiple items to retrieve multiple columns from the SAP tables, click on “✎” for “New SAP JCo V2 Connector Operation” to edit. Under which, we will see the Request & Response Profiles, we need to click on to “✎” for “SAP JCo V2 RFC_READ_TABLE EXECUTE Request”, we will land to the below page. Click on “+” icon beside the “FIELDS” and click on the dropdown arrow and select “Copy Element”, this will copy the structure of item and finally, paste the copy element on the “FIELDS” by dropdown arrow.
9. By following the above steps, you can add as much item, you want to retrieve the columns from the table. Now, as we have added only one item, so we are able to see the two items under the Parameter Values, as below.
The above outlined process involves a systematic approach to validating the integration solution within the Dell Boomi platform. By saving the configured steps and parameters, the next crucial step is to test the integration process. This can be achieved by clicking on the “Test” button situated in the upper right-hand corner of the Boomi interface. During the testing phase, you can select a designated “atom” to execute the integration process. This allows for the retrieval of multiple columns of data from SAP tables, leveraging various BAPIs (Business Application Programming Interfaces) or Functional Modules within the Boomi platform. This testing procedure ensures the robustness and effectiveness of the integration logic, verifying its capability to interact seamlessly with SAP systems and retrieve the required data.
