What is SAP LSMW?
LSMW is a tool that supports the transfer of data from non-SAP systems
("Legacy Systems") to SAP R/3 systems. This can be a one-time transfer as
well as a periodic one.
LSMW also supports conversion of data of the legacy system in a numerous
way. The data can then be imported into the SAP R/3 system via batch input,
direct input, BAPIs or IDocs.
Furthermore, the LSM Workbench provides a recording function that allows
generating a "data migration object" to enable migration from any required
transaction.
LSMW can be used for following 3 functions -
The main functions of the LSM Workbench are:
1. Import data (legacy data in spreadsheet tables and/or sequential files)
2. Convert data (from source format to target format)
3. Import data (into the database of the R/3 application)
To start the LSMW workbench use transaction LSMW
Also, check out next tutorial on executing LSMW Step by Step
Enter Transaction LSMW in SAP, to start the workbench.
LSMW workbench shows the following information-
Project: An ID with a maximum of 10 characters to name your data
transfer project. If you want to transfer data from several legacy
systems, you may create a project e.g. for every legacy system.
Subproject: An ID with a maximum of 10 characters that is used as a
further structuring attribute.
Object: An ID with a maximum of 10 characters to name the business
object.
Enter Project ID, Subproject ID, Object ID. Click Execute The next screen
gives the STEPS in your LSMW data Migration
You can select the desired step and click execute. Let's look into each step in
details
Step 1- Maintain Object Attributes.
There are four Modes of Data Transfer:
1. Standard/ Batch Input: Standard upload Programs
2. Batch Input Recording: Here you can create a recording of your own
and use it to upload/change data
3. BAPIs: Standard BAPIs are used to upload Data
4. IDOCs: Any Inbound IDOC function modules can be used to process
the data
Based on the requirement we try to find a suitable method to be processed. If
it is a standard Master we can find it in the first method. Otherwise, we try to
use BAPIs or Idocs. If the requirement is a very custom one we use a
recording to process the data.
Step 2 - Maintain Source Structures
The source structures can be used to design the hierarchy of the files to be
uploaded.
Step 3- Maintain Source Fields
In this screen, the Fields which will be uploaded from the text file can be
maintained here. The fields with identical names are taken as the Key
Source Filed is used to identify whether a certain record should go to the
specified structure. Eg: Suppose a file contains header rows and item rows,
we can specify the first field as the indicator say 'H' for a header and 'I' for
Item. Thus when the file is being read, it checks the first field, if it is 'H' then it
is read into the Header source structure else it is written to the item source
structure.
The Source fields can be easily maintained in the form of a table
maintenance.
Step 4 - Maintain Structure Relationships
The Structures which are needed for the processing of the data need to be
assigned here. The Object may contain many structures and many source
structures. The Mapping between the source and the target structures should
be done after careful checking.
Step 5- Maintain Field Mapping and Conversion
Rules
In this step, you assign source fields to target fields and define how the field
contents will be converted.
All fields of all target structures, which you selected in the previous step, will
be displayed. For each target field the following information is displayed:
Field description
Assigned source fields (if any)
Rule type (fixed value, translation etc.)
Coding.
Note: Some fields are preset by the system. These fields are called "technical
fields" are marked with "Default setting". The coding for these fields is not
displayed when first entering the field mapping; it can be displayed via the
display variant. Changing the default setting may seriously affect the flow of
the data conversion. If you erroneously changed the default setting, you can
restore it by choosing Extras -> Restore to default.
Step 6- Maintain Fixed Values, Translations and
User-written Routines
Here the 3 reusable functions are maintained:
1. Fixed Values: Fixed values are values which are fixed across the
project eg: Company Code. We can assign a fixed value to BUKRS and
this fixed value can be used in all the objects in this project. So if the
value changes we can only change at one place i.e. in the fixed values
instead of changing in each and every object.
2. Translations: Here you can maintain the fixed translation for any legacy
field and the translation can be assigned to the filed, in Field Mapping
and Conversion Rules. Translation can be 1:1 or many: 1 etc.
3. User Defined Routines: These are user defined subroutines that are
used in the object for processing the data.
All the Three functions mentioned above are reusable Rules which are valid
for all objects in one Project.
Step7- Specify Files
Here we define the Files that we use to upload the data. The File can be on
the Front end or in the application server.
Step 8- Assign Files
Here we define which file we are going to use for current upload i.e. whether
the file is on Presentation server or application server.
Step 9- Read Data
Reading the data from the file gives us an option to read only a few records
and not the entire chunk in order to enable Testing of first few records. This
also provides the user defined selection parameter which can be used to
restrict the read data based on the condition specified.
Step 10- Display Read Data
In this step, you can display all or a part of the read data in table form.
Clicking on a line displays all information for this line in a clear way. The
same happens when you click on Field contents.
Change display allows selecting either a one-line or multi-line view.
Display color palette displays the colors for the individual hierarchy
levels.
Step 11- Convert Data
Converting the data is the transfer of data from source to target structures
based on the conversion routines written in maintain Field Mapping and
conversion routines.
Step 12- Import Data
The steps displayed by the program depend on the selected object type:
Standard batch input or recording:
1. Generate batch input session
2. Run batch input session
Standard direct input:
1. Start direct input session
BAPI or IDoc:
1. Start IDoc creation
2. Start IDoc processing
3. Create IDoc overview
4. Start IDoc post processing
This completes a detailed overview of steps to transfer your data using
LSMW in SAP.
