SAP Business Workflow - Business Object


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Business Object in SAP Business Workflow is defined as a collection of methods or events for an entity in business process. Few common Business Objects in SAP system include: Customer, Material, and Vendor. With the use of Business Objects, all services are provided in the form of executable methods.

An object in the Workflow represents a Business entity in SAP system. Common entity example includes: Purchase Order, Material, Vendor, etc.

An Object in SAP system performs the following functions −

  • A Business Object reduces the complexity of SAP system by dividing it in small units.

  • With the use of Business Objects, different components in SAP system can communicate with each other.

  • Business Objects can be used in RFCs and Workflows.

  • With the use of BAPI’s and Business Objects, SAP system can communicate with non-SAP system.

Components of Business Object in SAP System

Each Business Object in SAP system contains the following five components −

  • Key Fields

    • Specification of a unique object key - to access a specific instance of a BO

    • Key field is represented as a combination of one or more fields

    • Shows a reference to underlying application table

    • Character based

    • You can read a Business Object from other non-SAP system

    • You can’t change a Business Object from outside

    • Maximum length of concatenated key field can be 70 characters

  • Attribute

    • Two types of attributes - Virtual (Set by a BO program) and DB Field (Loaded by database)

    • An attribute can be read from out of SAP system but it can’t be changed

    • An attribute of a BO shows properties and characteristics of the object

    • An attribute can be shown as one line or multi-line

    • You can have an attribute which is instance independent or instance dependent

  • Events

    • Events contain listener outside the BO like SAP Workflow

    • It is used to trigger or terminate a SAP Workflow

    • It also shows change in occurrence of a Business Object

  • Methods

    • Method can be of two types - synchronous (result is returned to calling program) and asynchronous (result can be returned to calling program using an event)

    • Method can be instance dependent or instance independent

    • Method consists of exceptions and parameters such as single/multiline, optional/mandatory, etc.

  • Interface Types

    • A Business Object in SAP system can inherit one or more interfaces

    • You can have methods defined in an interface that can be redefined in Business Object type in the Workflow

Status of Business Object Component

A BO in development can have different development statuses −

  • Modeled − This status shows a BO as only defined - i.e. method and its signature

  • Implemented − This status shows that ABAP implementation is done and you can use BO for testing purposes

  • Released − This shows that the method is ready to use

  • Obsolete − This shows that the method/event shouldn’t be used anymore

Create a Business Object

Step 1 − To create a Business Object, use the Business Object Builder (T-Code − SWO1). The following screenshot pops up.

Initial Screen

Step 2 − Click Create. The following window opens. Define the object Supertype.

Supertype

Step 3 − Fill in all the other details. Select the application from the search list as shown in the following screenshot.

Application

Step 4 − Next, save the package. Save package in “Z” package as shown in the following screenshot.

Save Package

Step 5 − To change the release status of object type, go to Edit → Change Release Status → Object Type → To Implemented.

Release Status

Step 6 − Click the Object type and go to Edit. Again to change the release status, go to Change Release Status → Object Type → To released.

Object Type

Step 7 − In the following window, click Methods → Create button. A pop-up will open, select 'No'. Pass the method name and description as in the following screenshot and click the Tick button.

Click Method

Step 8 − Now, select the method created. Go to Edit → Change Release Status. Here, first implement the object type component and then release it.

Change Release Status

To Released

Step 9 − Note that a tick mark in front of the method and BO shows that it is created successfully. Add parameters to the method by clicking the Create button.

BO

Step 10 − Navigate to “Program” tab for adding code to the method as shown in the following screenshot. Click the Save button to save a created object.

Program

Delegate a Business Object

You can also delegate this object to its subtype. Delegation is used to replace an original Business Object by its subtype to which you can add additional events/methods.

To delegate a Business Object, navigate to SWO1 T-code. Setting → Delegate as shown in the following screenshot.

Delegate a Business Object
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