Downloadable Files :

• Visual Studio .NET 2003 Project Application

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In some cases, we need a system that SAP maybe a client, and our unSAP application maybe a server. Although SAP is a comprehensive solution center for all enterprise needs, sometimes SAP can not give answer for all of our needs. Think that you need to supply data to outer database that is not your application server’s database. And think that your application server’s database does not give permission to use native SQL commands. What will you do in this case?

Problems maybe more, such as you want to send SMS from SAP, or you want to send fax [I am accepting SAP has an integrated solution for sending fax, but in some firms, respect to SAP application server's version sending fax is not possible]. You can imagine more problems.

In such a case, there maybe several solutions. One of the solutions is that SAP will be client and our outer application will be server. So, when SAP wants to connect our system, this architecture will be used.

Up to now, we have mentioned about connection from VS.NET to SAP. What about connection from SAP to VS.NET? Of course, this is possible Not only from SAP to VS.NET, also connection from SAP to Java or to any other develepment tool program that SAP permitted is possible.

In this article, I want to take care attention how to connect our .NET application from SAP synchronously. So, I will do a small application in NET. This application will send mail respect to our parameters. After examining my example, I am sure, you will have lots of idea where to use this solution. Such as, if you run across a problem as I mentioned in first paragraph, you can do my solution.

Let’s look at what we need :

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Required :

• Visual Studio .NET 2003
• SAP Application Server [ Any acceptable version for RFC]
• SAP .NET Connector 2.0
• Gmail Account

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At first let’s look at SAP side. Firstly, we need to create an RFC function in SAP.

As seen above, your function should be an RFC type.

And we have declareted the import parameters of our function.

Above seen, there is one export parameter for our function. This will show the result of sending mail.

There is one table parameter of our function and that is body of our mail. The signature of this table is below.

And as seen, no need to code, we only use this function module’s signature while connection to .NET.

Next step is creating a .NET project. This project can be a library application, windows service application, windows application or console application or any another suitable application. I have just created a console application. Later on, I have created a SAPProxy class. If you don’t know the basic .NET Connector creation SAPProxy and SAP logon operations, you can find detailed information from my this article.

Then, I have defined my YSEND_MAIL function in SAPProxy1 class.

Because of we are applying this application as a server, you have to change the SAPProxy1 class property’s as I have shown.

After changing, the proxy type as Server, you will see SAPProxy1Impl.cs created under Solution Explorer. Then open SAPProxy1Impl.cs file and add an additional constructor as :

public SAPProxy1Impl(string programId, string gwhost, string sapgwxx, string codepage, SAP.Connector.SAPServer host) : base(programId, gwhost, sapgwxx, codepage, host) {}


You will also see, the YSEND_MAIL method as :

protected override void YSEND_MAIL(string IM_BCC, string IM_CC, string IM_SUBJECT, string IM_TO, out string EX_RESULT, ref ZMAIL_BODYTable T_BODY)


When SAP function has called this method will be called. We will change this method as belown.

string body = "";
System.Data.DataTable dt = T_BODY.ToADODataTable();
for (int i = 0; i < dt.Rows.Count; i++ )
{
body += dt.Rows[i][0].ToString();
}
string result;
ISMTP gMail = new GMailSMTP();
gMail.send(IM_TO, IM_CC, IM_BCC, “”,”", IM_SUBJECT, body, out result);

I have deleted the Main method of mSAPProxy1Impl class and placed the reqiured code into the Main method of Class1.

SAPServerHost host = new SAPServerHost();
SAPProxy1Impl impl = new SAPProxy1Impl("SENDING_MAIL", "", "sapgw00", "", host);

While creating SAPProxy1Impl, we are declaring the program name parameter as “SENDING MAIL”, gateway host is your application server’s ip address or name, gateway service as “sapgw00″, codepage as “” and last the host object.

And important point, if your application server has load balancing property, you should declare load balance application server’s ip address or name for gateway host parameter.

Later on, we are starting our rfc listener as:

host.Start();

Our server will be remain while .net application is live. Otherwise it will be terminated. So, you need to insert a loop code after starting server !!

At this point, we have completed the required operations in .NET side. The last operation in again SAP. Now, let’s go on SM59 t-code in SAP. You need to create a TCP/IP RFC Connection. I have shown below.

While creating the screen should be as below.

I have just taken care a point; if your application server has load balancing, you need to give load balance application server’s name into the gateway host and “sapgw00″ for gateway service. Then save this RFC connection. Later on press “Test connection” button. You should see below screen.

A general error is being done while testing the connection before .net application is not running. Firstly, run .net application and then test connection.

All of the operations are ok. But how we call .net application? How we use? Solution is very simple. In any program or function you should call the YSEND_MAIL function as belown.

As understood, the hint point is declaring DESTINATION as “ZSENDMAIL”. So, you are calling this function module in .NET Application side not in SAP side.

That’s all. You can ask question or comment for your needs.

Required :

• Visual Studio .NET 2003
• Visual Studio 2008
• SAP Application Server [ Any acceptable version for RFC]
• SAP .NET Connector 1.1 or 2.0 [ 2.0 is suggestion]

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As I promised in my previous articles, I will just explain the building stones of connection to SAP using Visual Studio 2008 development tool.

Before reading this article, I suggest my readers should firstly read my two articles. One of this article is for the basic explanation of .NET Connector in Visual Studio .NET 2003. And the second article is for explaining the logic of connection to SAP with Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008.

In this article, we will use SAP .NET Connector 2.0 version. SAP .NET Connector is an add on for Visual Studio .NET 2003.  So, we need Visual Studio .NET 2003 development tool. After installing the SAP .NET Connector add on, we will create a ‘class library’ project in Visual Studio .NET 2003. Below, I showed this operation.

Next operation is adding SAP Proxy Class to our project.

Because of we will make a connection to SAP, we have to look the SAP Servers under Server Explorer section. We will use one of BAPI of SAP’s user information. I have published the general view of the BOR objects below.

We will use ‘GetDetail’ method of USER object. Drag and drop this method onto the SAPProxy1.sapwsdl file. Later on, there is no need another class in our project. I am deleting the Class1.cs file.

Up to now, we have completed the operation in Visual Studio .NET 2003 side. You should build your project. The output of ‘SAPUserDetailComponent.dll’ file will be a reqiured file while connection to SAP in Visual Studio 2008.

Now, we will create a windows project under Visual Studio 2008.

Before adding the dll file of previous project, we should add two more dll to our project.  Firstly copy ‘SAPUserDetailComponent.dll’ file to your project folder. Then, go to “..\Program Files\SAP\SAP .NET Connector 2.0″ path and copy “SAP.Connector.dll” and “SAP.Connector.Rfc.dll” files to your project folder.

We should take an attention to another point. SAP Proxy is based on SOAP protocol. So, we need to add “System.Web.Services” dll to our references.

I have added simple controls into Form1. The logic is simple, an SAP username will be taken, and the profiles authorization of this user will be printed into a table to show. Form1’s view will as below.

Firstly, I informed to Visual Studio builder about usage of SAPUserDetailComponent assembly file as;

using SAPUserDetailComponent;

Then, I have written the code of GetProfiles button’s click event.

SAPProxy1 proxy = new SAPProxy1();

BAPIADDR3 address = new BAPIADDR3();
BAPIUSCOMP companyName = new BAPIUSCOMP();
BAPIDEFAUL defaults = new BAPIDEFAUL();
BAPILOGOND logonData = new BAPILOGOND();
BAPISNCU snc = new BAPISNCU();
BAPIAGRTable activeGroups = new BAPIAGRTable();
BAPICOMREMTable addcomrem = new BAPICOMREMTable();
BAPIADFAXTable addfax = new BAPIADFAXTable();
BAPIADPAGTable addpag = new BAPIADPAGTable();
BAPIADPRTTable addprt = new BAPIADPRTTable();
BAPIADRFCTable addrfc = new BAPIADRFCTable();
BAPIADRMLTable addrml = new BAPIADRMLTable();
BAPIADSMTPTable addsmtp = new BAPIADSMTPTable();
BAPIADSSFTable addssf = new BAPIADSSFTable();
BAPIADTELTable addtel = new BAPIADTELTable();
BAPIADTLXTable addtlx = new BAPIADTLXTable();
BAPIADTTXTable addttx = new BAPIADTTXTable();
BAPIADURITable adduri = new BAPIADURITable();
BAPIADX400Table addx400 = new BAPIADX400Table();
BAPIPARAMTable parameter = new BAPIPARAMTable();
BAPIPROFTable profiles = new BAPIPROFTable();
BAPIRET2Table return0 = new BAPIRET2Table();

SAP.Connector.Destination destination = new SAP.Connector.Destination();
destination.AppServerHost = YOUR HOST NAME OR IP
destination.Client = YOUR CLIENT NUMBER
destination.Password = USER'S PASSWORD
destination.SystemNumber = SYSTEM NUMBER
destination.Username = USER'S NAME

SAP.Connector.SAPConnection connection = new SAP.Connector.SAPConnection(destination);

proxy.Connection = connection;
proxy.Connection.Open();

proxy.Bapi_User_Get_Detail(tbUsername.Text.Trim(), out address, out companyName, out defaults, out logonData, out snc, ref activeGroups, ref addcomrem, ref addfax, ref addpag, ref addprt, ref addrfc, ref addrml, ref addsmtp, ref addssf, ref addtel, ref addtlx, ref addttx, ref adduri, ref addx400, ref parameter, ref profiles, ref return0);

proxy.Connection.Close();

DataTable dt = profiles.ToADODataTable();
dgProfiles.DataSource = dt;

And the result will be as below.

You can comment or contact me for your questions or comments.

You can not use OLE2 objects in background. While using some functions deal with OLE2 objects, there should be a connection to GUI.

OLE2 objects are very usefull while creating our localized applications. Such as you need to create an excel file with suppliying SAP data and so you can draw graphics in excel. We can diversify our examples. Think that you have a word template file. Such as a billing word document. You need to supply the required information to this template file. As a result, you can achieve your word document that was feeded with your SAP information as an output.

In our example, we will show a mail document in foreground. We will attach some documents to this mail. I have managed several document management projects in SAP. Documents are scanned and loaded into network and any document can be shown in SAP with the header information of this document. But, there is requirement that this document should be mailed easiliy. So, the fateful operation is adding the reqired documents to outlook mail message.

We will examine how to use the OLE2 objects from the beginning.

TYPE-POOLS OLE2.

DATA:

APPOUTLOOK TYPE OLE2_OBJECT,

APPITEM TYPE OLE2_OBJECT,

NAMESPACE TYPE OLE2_OBJECT,

ATTACHS TYPE OLE2_OBJECT,

At the first data declaretion, we need to declare the ole2 objects of the outlook. Don’t forget to declare the OLE2 type-pool.

BEGIN OF ITAB_PATHS OCCURS 0,

PATH(255),

END OF ITAB_PATHS,

MAIL_INDEX TYPE I.

Second data declaretion of ITAB_PATHS and MAIL_INDEX is for attaching documents.

CREATE OBJECT APPOUTLOOK 'outlook.application'.

CALL METHOD OF APPOUTLOOK 'GetNameSpace' = NAMESPACE

EXPORTING #1 = 'MAPI'.

CALL METHOD OF APPOUTLOOK 'CreateItem' = APPITEM

EXPORTING #1 = '0'.

GET PROPERTY OF APPITEM 'Attachments' = ATTACHS.

Above, we are creating outlook mail application and getting the mail attachments object.

SET PROPERTY OF APPITEM 'to' = 'xyz@zyx.com'. ” to whom we will send mail

SET PROPERTY OF APPITEM 'cc' = 'xyz@zyx.com; abc@cba.com'. ” to whom we will send mail in cc

SET PROPERTY OF APPITEM 'Subject' = 'The first mail with OLE2'. ” mail subject

MAIL_INDEX = 1.

We are now adding our attachments.

LOOP AT ITAB_PATHS.

CALL METHOD OF ATTACHS 'Add'

EXPORTING

#1 = ITAB_PATHS-PATH
#2 = '1'
#3 = MAIL_INDEX
#4 = ITAB_PATHS-PATH.

MAIL_INDEX = MAIL_INDEX + 1.

ENDLOOP.

It is time to show our mail message.

CALL METHOD OF APPITEM 'Display'.

It is important to free our ole objects.

FREE: ATTACHS, APPITEM, NAMESPACE, APPOUTLOOK.

And, what is the result?

Cool?

You can comment or contact me for your questions or comments.

I had been using Corlos Aguilar Mare’s chart controls in my ASP.NET projects because of being free. Now, I feel that I have to thank to Carlos.

I will give some basic knowledge about this control in this essay and complete this essay with a sample .

You can download this free chart control from this link. If you want to glance at some samples you can also reach them with this link.

Microsoft presents his chart controls in two different dll groups. The first dll group is for window applications and the second is for the web applications which will be implemented with ASP.NET. Install the first executable file called ‘MSChart.exe’ that I have referenced in first link. Later on installing, you will see 4 dll files under “…\Program Files\Microsoft Chart Controls\Assemblies” path. These dll files are:

• System.Web.DataVisualization.Design.dll
• System.Web.DataVisualization.dll
• System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Design.dll
• System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.dll

As I mentioned just before, there are 2 dlls for windows applications and 2 dlls for web applications and therefore, there are 2 dll groups totally. The dll files that start with ‘System.Web’ is for web group and the dll files start with ‘System.Windows’ is for windows group.

You can drag and drop these dlls into toolbox of Visual Studio or you can install another add on that is developed for Visual Studio 2008. You can download this add on via this link. When you downloaded and installed, you will see a control named ‘Chart’ underlying ‘Data’ tab of toolbox. An important point, it is not possible to use the chart control of add on without installing MSChart.exe file. But, this add on is not absolutely required. If you install MSChart.exe and if you drag and drop the dll files that I have mentioned above into toolbox is an another solution to use chart control.

Before stepping to my sample, let’s look at the examples of ‘WebSamples’ that I have mentioned above.

They are so beatiful, aren’t? You can find more examples in ‘WebSamples’.

Let’s step to my sample. This sample will be a plain sample. I intend to analyze detailed examinations in my next essays.

Simple Chart Application

I have created this web application with Visual Studio 2008. I dragged and dropped chart control from toolbox into Default.aspx. And I changed html code of chart control. Let’s look at the html code of Default.aspx file.


<asp:CHART ID=”Chart1″ runat=”server” BackColor=”243, 223, 193″


BackGradientStyle=”TopBottom” BorderColor=”#B54001″ BorderDashStyle=”Solid”

BorderWidth=”2px” Height=”296px”

ImageLocation=”~/TempImages/ChartPic_#SEQ(300,3)” Width=”590px”>

<legends>

<asp:Legend BackColor=”Transparent” Enabled=”False”

Font=”Trebuchet MS, 8.25pt, style=Bold” IsTextAutoFit=”False” Name=”Default”>

</asp:Legend>

</legends>

<borderskin SkinStyle=”Emboss” />

<chartareas>

<asp:ChartArea BackColor=”OldLace” BackGradientStyle=”TopBottom”

BackSecondaryColor=”White” BorderColor=”64, 64, 64, 64″ BorderDashStyle=”Solid”

Name=”ChartArea1″ ShadowColor=”Transparent”>

<area3dstyle Inclination=”40″ IsClustered=”False” IsRightAngleAxes=”False”

LightStyle=”Realistic” Perspective=”9″ Rotation=”25″ WallWidth=”3″ />

<axisy LineColor=”64, 64, 64, 64″>

<LabelStyle Font=”Trebuchet MS, 8.25pt, style=Bold” />

<MajorGrid LineColor=”64, 64, 64, 64″ />

</axisy>

<axisx LineColor=”64, 64, 64, 64″>

<LabelStyle Font=”Trebuchet MS, 8.25pt, style=Bold” />

<MajorGrid LineColor=”64, 64, 64, 64″ />

</axisx>

</asp:ChartArea>

</chartareas>

</asp:CHART>

Then, I changed the Page_Load method as below.

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{


Chart1.Series.Add(”Product X”);
Chart1.Series["Product X"].ChartType = SeriesChartType.Line;
Chart1.Series["Product X"].BorderWidth = 2;

Chart1.Series["Product X"].Points.AddXY(”January”, 50);
Chart1.Series["Product X"].Points.AddXY(”February”, 35);
Chart1.Series["Product X"].Points.AddXY(”March”, 30);
Chart1.Series["Product X"].Points.AddXY(”April”, 60);
Chart1.Series["Product X"].Points.AddXY(”May”, 40);
Chart1.Series["Product X"].Points.AddXY(”June”, 72);

Chart1.Series.Add(”Product Y”);
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].ChartType = SeriesChartType.Line;
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].BorderWidth = 2;

Chart1.Series["Product Y"].Points.AddXY(”January”, 40);
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].Points.AddXY(”February”, 55);
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].Points.AddXY(”March”, 90);
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].Points.AddXY(”April”, 47);
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].Points.AddXY(”May”, 80);
Chart1.Series["Product Y"].Points.AddXY(”June”, 60);

Chart1.Legends[0].Enabled = true;

}

Let’s mention about the mission of this application. The type of chart control is LineChart type. There are two products called ‘Product X’ and ‘Product Y’. This chart shows the sales amount of these products. After run this application, the screen shot will be as below.

You can comment or contact me for your questions or comments.

First of all, we need to download Google Maps API for Visual Studio.

You can download this API from this link.

Select free download and download the API. Then create a web application called GoogleMaps as I did in Visual Studio. Create a new tab called ‘Google Maps’ in toolbox of Visual Studio. You will find a dll file called ‘GMaps.dll’ under the file that you have just downloaded. Drag and drop this dll file into ‘Google Maps’ tab. The screen shot of after completing this operation will be as below.

As seen, there are several controls. GMap, GMoonMap, GEarthMap, GMarsMap, vs. Super !!!

We will use Gmap control from these several controls. We have just created a web application. Let’s open Default.aspx file and drag and drop GMap control. The last screen shot will be as below.

I want to engage your attention into a section of the html code of Default.aspx file that is registered Google Maps.

<%@ Register assembly="GMaps" namespace="Subgurim.Controles" tagprefix="cc1" %>

Also, the below code is placed into the body tags.

<cc1:GMap ID=”GMap1″ runat=”server” Height=”400px” Width=”600px” />

GMap1 represents an object that is derived from GMAP class.

Then, you should put the below code into the Default1.aspx file.

using Subgurim.Controles;

You need a key to use the Google Map control. You can supply this key from this link. I have supplied this key for my web address. You should enter your web address into the URL region and get the key as I shown below.

After generated api key, the screen shot will be as below.

Now, we will place this key into web.config file. If you don’t have a web.config, create one. Then place the code as below.

<configuration>

…

<appSettings>


<add key=”googlemaps.subgurim.net” value=”YOUR KEY” />


</appSettings>

…

</configuration>

After modifying web.config file, replace the code blocks in head tags of html as shown below.

<head runat=”server”>

<style type=”text/css”>

v\:* { behavior:url(#default#VML); }

</style>

<html xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml” xmlns:v=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml”>

</head>

Now, we can run our application. But I want to do some modification operations to make this essay more individual. Let’s change the Page_Load method as below.

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{


GMap1.enableHookMouseWheelToZoom = true;

// Zoom with scrool button of mouse


GMap1.enableDoubleClickZoom = true;

// Zoom when left double click to mouse


GLatLng latlong = new GLatLng(38.4578777778, 27.2137145163);

// Define a coordinate


GMap1.setCenter(latlong, 16);

// Point map to our coordinate

// Define zoom factor to 16X


GMap1.addControl(new GControl(GControl.preBuilt.SmallMapControl, new GControlPosition(GControlPosition.position.Top_Right)));


// Create new control to go left, go right, go up, go down,


// zoom in and zoom out


}

Now, we have just completed our application. This application only starting point for introduction to Google Map control. We will examine Google Map API in detailed in my next essays.

When we run application the screen will be as below.

Maybe you are now asking where this map shows. Here is vicinity of Ege University Computer Engineering department where I completed my master education. Here is Bornova, Izmir, campus of Bonova Metro

You can comment or contact me for your questions or comments.

It is required that a function has to be defined in SAP to get a database table’s information or to modify a database table if we are using SAP RFC(Remote Function CALL) way. In this function, input and output parameters are defined. Respect to our example, the signature of our function will be as below.

IM_MATNR (Material number) : Input
TABLE_MARD (Stock Information) : Output (Table)
EX_RESULT (Result) : Output

Let’s look at the picture below.

As seen in this picture, we named our function as ZGET_MATERIAL_STOCK_INFO. We defined ‘Remote-enabled mode’ for processing type. Selecting the processing type as ‘Remote-enabled mode’ is required information because of we have to inform SAP that we will call this function via RFC.

Let’s look at the import parameters of our function.

Respect to these parameters, there is an input parameter called ‘IM_MATNR’. The type of this parameter is MATNR reference type.

One of the important point in above picture, parameters should be called as ‘pass by value’. So, we selected ‘Pass Value’ selection. Otherwise, we will get compile error.

Let’s look at the output parameters.

There is only one paramater is returning and it’s name is ‘EX_RESULT’. ‘Pass Value’ should be selected in output paremeters like input parameters.

Let’s look at the tables which will be used in our function. The tables during function call can be both input and output.

As seen above picture, we have a table parameter called ‘TABLE_MARD’ and the type of this parameter is MARD reference type.

Let’s look at the source code of our function.

As seen in the source code, the stock information is got from MARD table respect to our material number and information is filled into our TABLE_MARD output parameter. This code is so simple to explain our subject. Of course, there may be other criterions while getting stock information.

Also, EX_RESULT parameter is set to some values respect to whether TABLE_MARD table has records or not.

Thus far stage is implementing some requirements about function defining. Now, we will look how the works are done in .NET side.

We are assuming that you have SAP .NET Connector 2.0 add on program and installed. If you don’t have, contact to your system administrator and so you can download it from SAP Marketplace.

Firstful, we are creating a windows application in Visual Studio .NET 2003. This article will explain .NET Connector with a windows application. But, it is possible to use SAP .NET connector in web projects.

Then, you need to create an SAP Connector Proxy item. This item is brought with SAP .NET Connector 2.0. Detailed screen shots are given below.

When you created proxy, SAPProxy1.sapwsdl file is also created automatically.

There can be several SAP Application Servers to be accessed from one application. You can reach SAP Application Servers under Server Explorer screen. We can see how to add an application server to Server Explorer in below picture. An important note, if you are creating SAP Application Server node for the first time, a superior menu called ‘SAP’ may not be seen. In this case, you should press refresh button. And so, the ‘SAP’ superior menu will be seen.

Now, let’s add an SAP Application Server.

As can be understood from upper picture, ‘Add Application Server’ is selected. Then, we will come across a windows as below.

Username : SAP username
Client : SAP client code
Password : SAP username’s password
AppServerHost : SAP application server’s ip number or id
SystemNumber : SAP application server’s system number

After completing the entrance of these information, out application server will be added. Now, let’s look at the Server explorer again.

We need to create a filter to inquiry a function of SAP application server. Because of I will use only one function, the filter text will be my function’s name called ‘ZGET_MATERIAL_STOCK_INFO’. Then, the next screen will be as below.

If we could reach this stage, the meaning of this our function could checked by SAP application server. Before getting the the function objects, let’s come back to the SAPProxy1.sapwsdl file that I have just created above. Right click on the form and select the ‘Properties’.

The Properties screen will be as below.

I suggest to change Beautify property to set False. Otherwise, you can get some trouble while calling function if you can not properly adjust encoding of the connector.

Now, it is the time to drag and drop function into the SAPProxy1.sapwsdl file. Then, the next screen will be as below.

These items on the form, are created by SAP Connector automatically, and these items are neccessary while connection to SAP. Now, we should look at how the connection is supplied in the background, in the source code.

I have just created a form called Form1.cs in the project scope and added an event as I showed below.

private void bExecute_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{

}

We need to create an SAP Destination object and the required information should be supplied.


SAP.Connector.Destination destination = new SAP.Connector.Destination();
destination.Username = "USERNAME"; // SAP username
destination.Password = "PASSWORD"; // SAP username's password
destination.AppServerHost = "SERVER IP/NAME"; // SAP application server's ip number or id
destination.Client = CLIENT // Client number
destination.SystemNumber = APPLICATION SERVER SYSTEM NUMBER // application server system number


Then, we need to create an SAP Connection object. While creating SAP Connection object, we are passing the destination object to the constructor of SAP Connection class.

SAP.Connector.SAPConnection sapConnection = new SAP.Connector.SAPConnection(destination);

Now, we need to create an object called ‘proxy’ that is derived from SAPProxy1 class. After creating this object, we need to assign the sapConnection object to the Connection property of proxy object.

SAPProxy1 proxy = new SAPProxy1();
proxy.Connection = sapConnection;

As I mentioned at the starting of this article, we are giving the material number as an input parameter to the function call. We’ll get the function result with a string parameter. Stock information of our material will be returned as a table. This table’s type will be MARDTable.

MARDTable resultTable = new MARDTable();
string materialNumber = tbMaterial.Text.Trim();
string resultOfFunc = "";

After all configuration and these codes, it is time to connect SAP. Firstly, we need to open SAP Connection.

proxy.Connection.Open();

Then, we can call function.

proxy.ZGET_MATERIAL_STOCK_INFO(materialNumber, out resultOfFunc, ref resultTable);

Keep eye on that materialNumber is an input parameter, resultOfFunc is an output parameter and resultTable is a reference type.

proxy.Connection.Close();

We need to close connection after calling function.

Maybe this is the most important thing that should be for developer. How to get the MARDTable type’s data into a known data type parameter? Answer is simple. Please look at the below code.

DataTable dt = resultTable.ToADODataTable();

So, we got the data into DataTable using toADODataTable method.

Think that we have a grid in Form1.cs file. We can assign DataTable to this grid’s data source. And also resultOfFunc is assigned to a label called lResult.

resultGrid.DataSource = dt;
lResult.Text = resultOfFunc;

We reached at the end of our article.

While writing this article, SAP Application Server 4.6C and Visual Studio.NET 2003 are used. You can find detailed information about how to connect SAP with Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studi0 2008 in my next articles.

You can comment or contact me for your questions or comments.

But, there is an important reality that some Visual Studio .NET 2003 projects which were developed before are connecting to SAP with SAP .NET Connector API. There is a ‘technology problem’ that has to be considered by developers if they want to migrate these projects to Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008. Respect to this technology problem, SAP firstly suggest to their customers for examining SAP Application Server version whether higher than or equal to 6.0 or not and if higher than or equal to 6.0, developing a web service in SAP Application Server and solving the required connection via this web service. Of course, this is only one solution in all of solutions to this technology problem.

But, what happen if our SAP Application Server version is lower than 6.0 or we don’t want to connect SAP with web service respect to our analyzing decisions although our application server version is higher than or equal to 6.0? SAP has already a solution to this question, too. In fact, this is not an original solution, it is possible that every software specialist can find this solution after thought a while.

In fact, we are now mentioning a solution using SAP .NET Connector in Visual Studio 2005 or in Visual Studio 2008. So, how can do this operation? We have to use Visual Studio .NET 2003 to implement this solution although we are developing our applications with Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008. Because, 2.0 version is the last version of SAP .NET Connector is produced for Visual Studio .NET 2003. The meaning of this that, SAP .NET Connector 2.0 is an add on API for only Visual Studio .NET 2003.

Alright, what is the solution method?

The solution method is so simple. We need to create a class library project using Visual Studio .NET 2003. With this project, we will define the desired SAP Application Server(s) and create connection to these servers. Then, we will choose the required functions/bapis of SAP Application servers. Finally, we will have a dll that belongs to this application, so this dll will be a reference for Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008 project. I will explain in detailed this solution method of SAP Connection methods with practises in my next essays.

We have mentioned a problem of this solution method. What happen if we don’t have Visual Studio .NET 2003? Unfortunately, you can not use this solution method. The mean of this that there is a must that SAP says; ‘If you will use this solution method, you have to use Visual Studio .NET 2003′.

There are some third party programs that can connect to SAP Application Servers with Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008. But, there is reality for enterprise firms; ‘If we are using SAP for ERP sulution, and if I need to connect to SAP via other systems, I should take care the suggestions of SAP priorly’. The mean of this that ‘if we need connector, we should use SAP connector’. I think this is the true approach. Because, if there is a problem based on third party program while our project is in live usage, you have to give a solution to this problem, and your customers will see you as person addressed who is responsible for this problem. So, now the technology problem has to have good analyzing in deep that you did not do before.

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News !!

I have published a new essay about connection to SAP via Visual Studio 2008 with an example. You can access this essay from this link.

This site will be my technical blog site that I will serve to my readers. I am waiting your assessments..