Unicode support

The JBAPI adapter is based on JCo, the SAP Java API that enables communication with SAP systems. The JBAPI adapter is fully backward-compatible with the native BAPI adapter; however the JBAPI adapter provides full Unicode support.

The JBAPI adapter supports Unicode directly and provides unified access to both Unicode and non-Unicode systems.

The JALE adapter includes Unicode character set data support inbound to, and outbound from, SAP. To enable Unicode support maps that use the JALE adapter you must use the IDoc schemas generated by the IDoc importer with the data character set option defined as Unicode.

Sending Unicode data inbound to SAP from the JALE adapter

The JALE adapter is able to communicate Unicode data to an SAP R/3 system. The Unicode data format supported by the JALE adapter is UTF-16BE, Unicode big-endian. For mapping purposes it is strongly recommended you use the schemas generated by the IDoc schema importer. Using IDoc Unicode schema guarantees that data passed to the JALE adapter has the correct syntax, recognizable by the JALE adapter. To send Unicode data to the JALE adapter use the ALE schema for the Unicode character set. The SAP R/3 system must be Unicode compliant to be able to process the Unicode data sent to it from the JALE adapter.

Sending Unicode data outbound from SAP to the JALE adapter

The JALE adapter is able to receive and process Unicode data from an SAP R/3 system. The Unicode data format supported by the adapter is UTF-16BE, Unicode big-endian. Before sending Unicode data from an SAP R/3 system to an external system, the SAP RFC destination assigned to the external system must be configured correctly.

To enable the Unicode options:
  1. Enter SAP transaction /nsm59.
  2. Click the Special Options tab.
  3. Select the Unicode option under the Character Width in Target System section.
  4. Save the changes.
After saving, you will be able to send Unicode data to the selected RFC Destination. The IDoc schema that will be used to parse the JALE data source must also support Unicode data.

Use the IDoc schema importer to generate the IDoc schema. Using the IDoc Unicode schema guarantees that data passed to the JALE adapter has the correct syntax, recognizable by the JALE adapter. To send Unicode data to the JALE adapter, use the ALE schema for Unicode character set.