In this article, we’ll look at how to handle attachments in incoming messages in PI/PO interfaces. We will go through use cases that involve attachments; Java class used for processing the attachments; and methods of the Java class that can be used to process attachments.

Then, we will build a Java Mapping to read and copy the attachment payload from XI message to the target. Moreover, we’ll check step-by-step how to develop and configure the end-to-end interface in ESR and ID.

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Use cases of Attachments in Integration Scenarios

When it comes to system integration, a lot of protocols have the capability of sending attachments with the main message payload. Therefore, when building SAP integration scenarios via SAP PI/PO, you will come across interfaces where attachments should be processed.

Here are some examples where attachments in the messages should be managed in SAP PI/PO. Additionally, you can read about attachment handling for SAP documents using GOS in the linked article.

Attachments in SOAP messages

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) has the capability to exchange attachments with the main message payload. When integrating SAP with SOAP services, the interface should be able to read attachment data from SOAP message or write attachments to the SOAP message.

Zip File Processing

Usually, zipped or compressed files contain multiple files inside. For example, a zip file can contain one XML as the main payload and multiple PDFs. In such cases, the PDFs will be assigned to XI payload as attachments.

This article goes hand-in-hand with my previous post on how to process zip files in PI/PO.

Mails with Attachments

In most instances, email messages contain one or more attachments. When integrating email messages via Mail adapter, the interface should be built to handle attachments in the email.

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Java Class InputAttachments

We can use the Java class interface InputAttachments and its methods to read attachments in XI message. Java class can be used in User-Defined Functions (UDF) or Java Mapping programs. This class is included in source path com.sap.aii.mapping.api.

The class has three methods to handle attachments in the XI payload. They are, getAllContentIds, areAttachmentsAvailable and getAttachment.

Method getAllContentIds

This method returns all the attachment IDs of the source payload as a collection of string. Each attachment in a source payload has a unique ID called content ID. Using this method, you fetch the content IDs of all the attachments in the XI message as a collection.

Method areAttachmentsAvailable

As the method name indicates, we can use this method to check if there are attachments in the XI payload. Further, attachments in the payload can be accessed from the message mapping program.

The mapping program can access the attachments in the payload only if the option “Read Attachment” is activated in the Operation Mapping.

Method getAttachment

This method returns the Attachment object of a specific content ID.

Syntax: Attachment getAttachment(String contentID)

The attachment object consists of a set of methods that can read the content of the attachment in different formats. Furthermore, it contains methods to identify the type of attachment.

Method Name	Syntax	Purpose	Return Type
getContent	byte[] getContent()	Returns the actual content of the attachment as a byte array.	byte[]
getContentType	String getContentType()	Returns the type of attachment. For example, pdf, txt, jpg, etc.	String
getBase64EncodedContent	String getBase64EncodedContent()	Returns the actual content of the attachment as base64 encoded format.	String

Base64 schema is a great way to handle attachments.

For more information about base64, you can read previous articles,

• Base64 encoding/decoding in SAP ABAP
• Java Mappings to decode Base64 and encode base64 schema
• UDF to encode and decode Base64

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Integration Scenario Overview

To illustrate attachment handling, let’s assume we have an SFTP server where zip files are stored. Each zip file contains an Invoice XML and the corresponding PDF file of the invoice. We want to extract the zip files and transfer the Invoice XML and PDF to two different locations in the receiver SFTP server.

Sender SFTP adapter reads the zip file and unzips it using the adapter module AF_Modules/PayloadZipBean. After the zip file is unzipped, the source message will include both Invoice XML and PDF.

Let’s make use of two mapping programs to handle the zip file content.

• A graphical message mapping program to map the source invoice XML to receiver invoice XML format.
• A Java Mapping program to read the PDF attachment data from the source message and copy the content to the output stream.

If you want to send the PDF to an SAP back-end system as a proxy message, one possible method is to convert the attachment content to base64 format using getBase64EncodedContent.

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Java Mapping to Handle Attachments in the Source Message

Using the Java interface InputAttachment we discussed earlier in the article, the Java Mapping program reads the content of the PDF attachment and copies it to the output stream.

First, the handler for attachment is generated from the method getInputAttachments. Second, the attachment handler is looped to get content IDs of the attachments. In our scenario, there is only one attachment in the payload. Finally, the content of the attachment is read by applying the method getContent and assigned to the output.

package readAttachment;

import java.io.*;
import com.sap.aii.mapping.api.*;

public class CopyPDFtoPayload extends AbstractTransformation{

	@Override
    public void transform(TransformationInput transformationInput, TransformationOutput transformationOutput) throws StreamTransformationException {
        try {
        	//Get the handler for processing the attachments of source message
        	InputAttachments attachment = transformationInput.getInputAttachments();
        	
            InputStream inputstream = transformationInput.getInputPayload().getInputStream();
            OutputStream outputstream = transformationOutput.getOutputPayload().getOutputStream();

            //Fetch the collection of attachments in the source message
        	for (String id : attachment.getAllContentIds(false)) {
        	//Read the content of the attachment and assign the content to output
        		outputstream.write((attachment.getAttachment(id)).getContent());                                                                   
    		}
        	
        } catch (Exception exception) {
            getTrace().addDebugMessage(exception.getMessage());
            throw new StreamTransformationException(exception.toString());
        }
    }
	
}

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Configuration in Enterprise Service Repository

Now let’s look at the step-by-step configuration in ESR.

Create a Source Message Type

We are representing the format of the invoice XML in the sender message type.

For the source Message Type of the main payload refer to this article on zip file handing integration scenario.

Build an Outbound Service Interface

Using the sender Message Type created in the previous step, develop the sender Service Interface.

Define Target Message Types

We will create two target message types: one for invoice XML receiver and the other one for the PDF. But the actual message format with the elements/attributes of the Message type used for PDF receiver is irrelevant as we are copying the content of the PDF to the output stream. Since a message mapping program in SAP PI/PO requires a Message Type, we have to create one.

Message Type for PDF: PDFPayload

Configure Two Inbound Service Interfaces

We will build two Inbound Service interfaces: one for invoice XML receiver and the other one for the PDF receiver.

Inbound Service Interface for PDF attachment: PDFPayload_Inb_Async

Check the post about zip file processing in SAP PI/PO for invoice XML service interface development steps.

Message Mapping and Operation Mapping

We will build a graphical mapping program in the usual way to map the sender invoice XML format to the target invoice XML format. In this example, the message formats at the sender and receiver are exactly the same, therefore, the mapping is one-to-one.

Build the Imported Archives for Attachment Handling

Using the Java code provided in the article, configure Imported Archives. We will name the Imported Archive or the Java Mapping as copyPDFAttachment.

If you are new to Java Mapping, check out my article where I have described how to create a Java Mapping step-by-step using NWDS Eclipse.

Configure the Operation Mapping for PDF Attachment Handling

Using the Java Mapping developed in the step above, create an Operation Mapping between sender Outbound Service Interface and PDF receiver Inbound Service Interface. Let’s name the Operation Mapping PDFAttachment_to_Payload.

The target data structure “PDFPayload” is obsolete as we are using a Java Mapping to copy the PDF content.

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iFlow and Integrated Configuration Development Steps

Now that we have designed all the necessary objects in ESR, let’s configure the end-to-end iFlow in NWDS Eclipse.

Attachment Handling iFlow

Here we have the end-to-end attachment handling interface implemented as an iFlow via Eclipse NWDS.

Sender System and Sender Service Interface

The sender system is BC_TEST_SENDER and the Inbound Service Interface name is InvoiceXMLwithAttachment_Out_Async.

Attachment Sender sFTP Adapter

Sender Communication Channel is of adapter type SFTP and its name is SFTP_s_ZIP. This Channel picks up zip files from SFTP server.

How to configure the adapter module of the sender SFTP Communication Channel to unzip the input message is provided in this post.

Attachment Receiver Service Interfaces

Attachment receiver Inbound Service Interface is PDFPayload_Inb_Async and the receiver component is BC_TEST_RECEIVER.

Attachment PDF Receiver Communication Channel

SFTP_r_PDF Communication channel writes the PDF files to the specified folder.

Attachment Handling Operation Mapping

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Testing the Integration Scenario

Let’s place a zip file with invoice XML and PDF in zip file sender SFTP folder.

First, invoice.zip will be unzipped by the sender SFTP adapter using the adapter module PayloadZipBean. Invoice.xml will be assigned as the main payload of the XI message and PDF will be assigned to the message as the first attachment.

Attachment Handling Interface Processing Steps

Let’s look at the processing pipeline of the interface in the PI/PO message monitor.

Message Processing Overview in Message Monitor

File Unzipped from Sender Adapter

Main Payload and Attachment in XI Message Content

Inbound Message Split into Two

Attachment Processed by Java Mapping

PDF Payload Delivered to Attachment Receiver Communication Channel

Attachment PDF Saved in Receiver SFTP Location

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Tips and Tricks:

Since the XI message holds two payloads and we use two separate receiver channels to send them to the target we need to deactivate the attachment storing option in the Receiver Communication Channel. If the option “Store Attachment” is activated at the receiver, each receiver Communication Channel will receive both payloads.

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I hope you learned something new and now you know how to handle attachments in SAP PI/PO when building interfaces. It is important to understand the functionality of Java class “InputAttachments” and its methods to develop your own Java Mapping programs.

Have you tried any other integration strategies to process messages with attachments? Please, leave a comment below if you have. Also, if you have any questions, leave a comment below.