PLANTA link Modules

Infomation

• Below, the modules of the PLANTA link PLANTA role are listed as they appear in the PLANTA standard system. The PLANTA link role is contained in demo user R90, in case demo data was installed in the installation.
• General and in-depth information on PLANTA link can be found here.

PLANTA link: Universal Interface

In S 39.5.4, the former ERP interface has been replaced by the PLANTA link universal interface.

General

• The universal interface (PLANTA link) is the basis for the use of 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

• In order to use the universal interface, the PLANTA _link_ add-on must be licensed. If you have any questions, please contact your PLANTA consultant.

Other requirements

• The PLANTA link role (ID: 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
    • The use of the pool module and hence of the pool tables is not mandatory. 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 its standard system, PLANTA provides several pool data tables, e.g. DT563 Load data pool, DT566 Employee pool, DT567 Project pool. If data other than that for which PLANTA provides pool tables is imported/exported on part of the customer, the respective data tables must be created.
• 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, a 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

PLANTA link Modules

• In the PLANTA standard system, PLANTA link modules can be found in the PLANTA link role.
• Modules for setting up and editing interfaces are divided into three work areas on a topical basis:
  • Interface configuration: here, modules are grouped in which interface configurations can be created, edited, and executed.
  • Interface administration: here, modules are made available in which configurations can be managed. Open and completed configurations are managed separately here. Open configurations can be edited (e.g. the status) while completed ones can only be read.
  • Special functions: this group contains modules with further configuration options and with the option to generate and sort interface definitions.
• Furthermore the PLANTA link role contains modules for setting up and editing the web interfaces and the PLANTA Standard interface to Jira and PLANTA pulse.

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.