Load External Supplier Invoice File

Explanation

This activity is used to read an external input file, unpack the file data and call a dedicated interface (API) that will continue with the further processing of data.

The wizard can handle any file type and file template defined in External Files. This means that this is a multi-purpose wizard that can handle the same actions as existing interfaces.

Prerequisites

• An external supplier invoice file must exist.
• A parameter set must be available if it should be possible to supply parameter values during the input phase.
• A valid and active file template with template definitions for input files that are associated with the file type must be available.
• If an input file is specified then it must exist on the network path if the Online Process option is selected. If the Batch Process option is selected, the file path and name is essential, but can not be validated before starting the process.
• If you want to load invoices with more than one invoice line using external file templates with the record type A, a detail line with the MULTIPLE_LINES_ALLOWED column ID must be defined for the external file template used, in the External File Template/Detail tab. (Note: Only user-defined templates are editable. It is recommended that a user-defined template created by copying STDSIN2 is used for this purpose.)

System Effects

As a result of this activity, the following system effects would take place.

• The file will be read and unpacked. A call would be made to the interface (API) that would handle the further processing of the unpacked data.
• The state of the load will be Transferred.

Window

External File Assistant

Related Window Descriptions

External File Assistant

Procedure

1. Open the External File Assistant
2. Select either Online Process option or the Batch Process option to specify whether you want the loading to be performed instantly or as a background job.
3. Click Next.
4. Supply file options on this page, i.e. external file type, parameter set, external file template and the file name. The file direction is set automatically according to the following.
    
   • If the referenced parameter set has the parameter FILE_DIRECTION_DB defined then the direction according to the value for this parameter will be used.
   • Else if the file template has definitions for either input files or output files then the existing definition will decide the direction.
   • If the file template has definitions for both input and output files then output will be the suggested direction.
     
     Make sure that the Input File check box is selected.
      
5. Click Next.
6. If a parameter set was supplied that has associated parameters then these parameters will be displayed along with defined default values. Modify the values for each parameter if necessary. Click List, if available, to get valid values for each parameter.  The field might also support a drop down list with valid values.
7. If the processing mode is Online then click Finish to start the process, else click  Next.
8. If the processing mode is Batch then define the scheduling of the batch job and start the process by clicking Finish.