Programming Jabber

Getting the notification out of R/3

As we’ve already mentioned, there are many ways of getting data in and out of SAP. We’re going to use a generic, lowest common denominator feature of the R/3 Basis system to invoke a script and pass it parameters.

Note

At this stage, if you’re squeamish about R/3 Basis or SAP’s ABAP language or are of another ERP persuasion, it’s time to look away. What we’re going to do here is not rocket science, nor is the general process specific to R/3. We’re just going to call a script, at the operating system level, from within an application inside R/3.

The function group SXPT encompasses a number of function modules related to the definition, management, and execution of operating system commands. Each of these commands is described within sets of configuration parameters that define how and where they can be invoked. Using the program RSLOGCOM, you can create definitions for these operating system commands manually.

We need to define such a command that refers to the approv script. Figure 10-15 shows the RSLOGCOM definition of approv as an external command that is called ZNOTIFY.

Figure 10-15. Defining approv as an external command with RSLOGCM

Once approv has been defined this way, it can be invoked by passing parameters with a call to a function module in the SXPT function group (SXPG_EXECUTE_COMMAND). Example 10-19 shows how the script might be invoked ...