SAP IDoc Definition

An IDoc ("Intermediate Document") is a container for standardized data exchange. IDocs can be used to exchange data between two processes, between SAP systems, or between SAP and non-SAP systems.

 

IDocs are identified by an IDoc ID or Number that is unique within a client. This is important - the IDoc number on one system does not uniquely identify the same IDoc on another system!

IDocs are used to exchange data between two places that need it. You can think of IDocs simply as a standardized interface format, just like a REST API response that is consumed by a frontend. IDocs are created when an outbound ALE or EDI Process is executed. Both systems must be able to understand the semantics and syntax of the IDoc.

Some other important facts about IDocs:

• IDocs are based on EDI standards, ANSI ASC X12 and EDIFACT.
• IDocs can be used independently from the technical architecture of sending and receiving systems. This means that you could, in theory, use IDocs for data exchange between non-SAP systems - however this is never done in the real world.
• IDocs are not encoded in a binary format - instead, they can be viewed in a text editor and even exported as XML.
• IDocs are characterized by IDoc types which define the data they can hold. The same IDoc type is used for inbound and outbound data exchange. There is no difference in the data coming in and going out.

SAP IDoc Blog Post Series

I have written a comprehensive series of blog posts about IDocs:

• SAP IDoc Tutorial - Part 1: What is an IDoc?
• More to come...