RFC-Interview Questions With Answers-SAP ABAP-1.
1. What Do You Mean By RFC? Explain In Detail.
RFC stands for Remote Function Call. Remote Function Call is an interface for communication between a SAP System and other SAP or third-party compatible system. Remote function calls may be associated with SAP software and ABAP programming and provide a way for an external program (written in languages such as PHP, ASP, Java, C, C++) to use data returned from the server or insert data into server records.
For business applications, sometimes it becomes necessary to communicate and exchange information (in predefined formats) with other SAP Systems or non-SAP Systems (Example Visual Basic to SAP, Java to SAP etc.). To enable this communication, SAP has provided us with a mechanism called RFC, which stands for 'Remote Function Call'.
RFC’s can be used for external integration with SAP, such as PHP/SAP, Flex/SAP, Ruby/SAP, etc.
In SAP, RFC Interface system is used for setting-up RFC connections between different SAP systems, and also between an SAP and an external (Non SAP) system.
Say for example, If you have VB system which has your company's Inventory Management & you have FICO / SD / MM / PP in you SAP system. Your VB Inventory mgmt system wants to send or receive data/update database in SAP. This can be done use RFC.
RFC’s can be created or maintained via transaction code SE37. RFC calls a function to be executed in a remote system. SM59 transaction code can be used to define and maintain the logical destination of RFC.
2. What Is An RFC Interface? What are the types of RFC Interface?
The RFC interface provides the ability to call remote functions. In SAP, RFC Interface system is used for setting-up RFC connections between different SAP systems, and also between an SAP and an external (Non SAP) system.
RFC consists of two interfaces:
a) Calling interface for ABAP Programs: Any ABAP program can call a remote function using the CALL FUNCTION...DESTINATION statement. The DESTINATION parameter tells the SAP System that the called function runs in a system other than the caller's.
Syntax:
CALL FUNCTION <‘RFC_Name’>DESTINATION <destination name="">
EXPORTING
f1 =
IMPORTING
f2 =
TABLES
t1 =
EXCEPTIONS
.
b) Calling Interface For Non-SAP programs: If either the calling program or the called partner is not an SAP program, the program in question must be programmed in such a way that it can play the role of the other partner in RFC communication. RFC-supported and GUI-supported interfaces can be used by external programs to call function modules in SAP systems, and execute them in these systems. Likewise, ABAP programs can also use these interfaces to use functions supplied by external programs. Connectors can be used to achieve the same, for example SAP Java Connector (JCo) or SAP .Net Connector.
3. What Are The Functions Of RFC Interface?
Some of the functions of the RFC interface are:
• Calling the communication routines needed to talk to the remote system.
• Converting all parameter data to the representation needed in the remote system
• Handling communications errors, and notifying the caller, if desired (using EXCEPTIONS parameter of the CALL FUNCTION).
4. Explain A Scenario Where There Will Be A Need Of Using RFC?
RFCs are not only used for external access to SAP systems but also for interconnections of SAP systems. For example, if there is a Central User Administration (CUA) installed in an SAP system landscape, then there will be need of RFC destination to all daughter systems of the CUA system.
Say we have CRM and R/3 System. In CRM we cannot know anything about delivery status of sales orders. In such cases RFC's can be used to retrieve delivery status of sales orders from R/3 Server. In This way CRM server can get information or data regarding Delivery status of Sales Orders.
An important scenario which requires RFC is Application Link Enabling (ALE). Let's assume there is a Master Data Management (MDM) system and we want to distribute the master data to all SAP systems which would require access to master data. For such scenarios, ALE can be used to distribute the master data among the different SAP systems using IDocs. ALE in turn uses RFC to establish a connection between MDM and its daughter system in this scenario.
5. What Are The Advantages Of RFC – Remote Function Call?
RFC helps to reduce the efforts of programmers, by letting them avoid the re-development of modules and methods at remote systems. It is capable enough to:
• Convert the data into the format understandable by the remote (target) system.
• Convert the data into the format understandable by the remote (target) system.
• Call up certain routines which are necessary to start communication with remote system.
• Handle errors that might occur in the process of communication.
More Questions & Answers On SAP RFC:
6. For What Purposes Can RFC’s Be Used?
7. State Whether RFC’s Are Client Dependent Or Client Independent Objects?
8. What Are The Types of RFC’s available in SAP System?
9. How Are RFC’s Executed? In Background Or Dialog Work Processes?
10. State Some Factors That Can Increase The Response Time Of An RFC Connection Between Two Systems?
11. What Is Synchronous RFC (sRFC)?
12. What Is Asynchronous RFC (aRFC)?
13. What Is Transactional RFC (tRFC)?
14. What Is Queued RFC (qRFC)?
15. What Is The Disadvantage Of Using Queued RFC (qRFC)?
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