PLANTA link: Universal Interface

In S 39.5.4, the former ERP interface has been replaced by the PLANTA link universal interface.

General

Information

• The universal interface (PLANTA link) is the basis for using arbitrary interfaces in PLANTA.
  • On this basis, individual solutions can be realized that meet the specific demands of each customer in terms of data transfer extent and structure. Some predefined interface templates are already contained in the scope of supply of the PLANTA software (provided that the PLANTA link component has been licensed).
  • The graphical interface of PLANTA link permits the simple creation, configuration, and visualization of interfaces. Intermediate steps for data conversion, checkup, or processing can be considered in this.
  • PLANTA link supports different types of import/export data provision and reception, a.o. file formats (.csv, …), web service, and SAP RFC calls. As a result, both the mapping of the interface as well as the way in which data is made available can be adjusted independent of one another.
  • The interfaces can be parameterized and automated.
• The following description provides you with an overview of the functions of the Universal Interface. For detailed information, please consider the links that will lead you to further topics of the table of contents of the complete interface documentation, which can be found at the bottom of this topic.

Prerequisites

Attention

• In order to use the Universal Interface, you have to license the PLANTA link add-on.
  • If you have any questions, please contact your PLANTA consultant.

Other requirements

• PLANTA link role 01100028 must be assigned to the respective user.
• You do not need customizer rights to run this transfer and to adapt parameters. However, you do need customizer rights to create new transfer modules.
  • Several modules that guarantee access to customizing records are only available in read mode if you do not have customizer rights.
• When exporting the files in PLANTA link, you have to note the following:
  • Linux: Every user of the "others" group has read and write rights for the export files.
  • Windows: The export files inherit the security settings from the folder in which they have been stored (files).

Terminology

Information

• Source
  • is a source module in which records are provided for the transfer
• Target
  • is a target module that receives the records
• Pool
  • is a pool module in which data can be saved temporarily
    • It is not necessary to use the pool module and the pool tables. This is only required if either data in the pool is to be re-edited or the data set at the time of export is to be traceable in the future. Pool tables can also be used to prepare data from an external system before it will finally be written in PLANTA. In the Standard, PLANTA provides three pool tables: DT563 Load data pool, DT566 Employee pool, NEW DT567 Project pool. If other data is imported/export by the customer via pools, you have to create the corresponding data tables.
• Configuration
  • contains the key data of an interface and represents the parent interface object.
• Mapping
  • Specifies which columns in the source correspond to which columns in the target
  • Additionally, the mapping allows to check, convert, and adapt values before they are sent to the target module.
  • A mapping always leads from a source to a target. Between source and target, various mapping functions can be interposed.

Procedure

Schematic display

Relevant Modules

• Interface Configuration
  • Configuration
    
    Interfaces are configured here: a.o. a source, a target (possibly a pool) are defined and the mapping is generated.
    
    PLANTA provides some predefined interface configuration templates.
  • Execution
    
    Here a configuration is carried out, i.e. the data is transfered from source to target and all defined mapping functions are executed.
    
    Simultaneously, there is a report to the source module on whether records could have been processed (in the form of log entries in the Logging module).
• Interface Administration
  • Open Configurations
    Here, configurations are listed which have not been run yet. Here, they can be set to Completed, be deleted, opened manually, and run.
  • Completed Configurations
    Here, the archived configurations can be looked at.
• Special Functions
  • Generate Interface Definition
    The module provides a means to transfer the interface mapping elements to an Excel file in order to check the properties of individual elements, e.g. DF length, formats, etc.
  • Systems
    The module enables you to define the interface behavior for different systems.
  • Extended Configuration Options
    This module provides an overview of all existing interface configurations with the option to define for each configuration whether it is to be hidden or locked.
  • Fast Creation of Employee Data
    The module enables you to create employee data centrally and to subsequently import it to all relevant data tables.

go to the complete overview of all PLANTA link modules

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an interface with/without pool?

• In the interface pool, transfer data is cached before it is sent to its target.
• In direct transfer without pool, the source must always be cleaned up directly for invalid records that could not be received. This can be, e.g., the adjustment of lines of a csv file, or the direct editing of the lines in an ERP system. For large source files, it may make sense to remove already transferred records from the data volume of the source.
• The pool enables you to load the data without larger validation steps, which results in the data being directly available in PLANTA and the original source no longer being required for further processing.
• In the pool, data can be edited directly with the help of a direct module if necessary, which is often more comfortable than editing the data in the CSV file or in ERP itself.
• The pool also serves as a type of archive for the data that has been sent initially from the source before they were received via transformation rules.
• The pool table can be used to customize overview modules that show which records could not be processed by the interface with possible direct editing function for correcting the data and initiating the interface again.

---

See also: