What are the types of IDocs we use in ALE configuration?  And its purpose and its structure.

Basically Idocs are data containers, which are having particular structure for that specific purpose.  For example to transfer material master data to some other application, there we use MATMAS idoc.  Same like we have many Idoc structures( Aprx around 2000).  If you want to see each individual structure you can find it using
T-Code WE60 we can find Idoc name, purpose and also Structure.

There are basically two types of IDOCs:

• Basic IDOCs 
• Extended IDOCs 

- Extension Idoc 
Extending the functionality by adding more segments to existing Basic IDOCs. 

- Creation of IDoc 
To Create Idoc we need to follow these steps: 

• Create Segment ( WE31) 
• Create Idoc Type ( WE30) 
• Create Message Type ( WE81) 
• Assign Idoc Type to Message Type ( WE82) 
• Creating a Segment 
• Go to transaction code WE31 
• Enter the name for your segment type and click on the Create icon 
• Type the short text 
• Enter the variable names and data elements 
• Save it and go back 
• Go to Edit -> Set Release 

• Create IDOC Type 
• Go to transaction code WE30 
• Enter the Object Name, select Basic type and click Create icon 
• Select the create new option and enter a description for your basic IDOC type and press enter 
• Select the IDOC Name and click Create icon 
• The system prompts us to enter a segment type and its attributes 
• Choose the appropriate values and press Enter 

- Create IDOC Type 
Follow these steps to add more number of segments to Parent or as Parent-child relation :

• Save it and go back 
• Go to Edit -> Set release 

• Go to transaction code WE81 
• Change the details from Display mode to Change mode 
• After selection, the system will give this message “The table is cross-client (see Help for further info)”. Press Enter 
• Click New Entries to create new Message Type 
• Fill details 
• Save it and go back 

• Go to transaction code WE82 
• Change the details from Display mode to Change mode 
• After selection, the system will give this message “The table is cross-client (see Help for further info)”. Press Enter. 
• Click New Entries to create new Message Type. 
• Fill details 
• Save it and go back

Get help for your Basis problems
Do you have a SAP Basis Question?

SAP Basis Admin Books
SAP System Administration, Security, Authorization, ALE, Performance Tuning Reference Books

SAP Basis Tips

• SAP BC Tips and Basis Components Discussion Forum
• Administration In SAP - Sapgui, Unix, SAP ITS, Router, Idoc, Client Copy and IDES