RFC Connector: Delphi Example (Client and TableReader)

This example demonstrates how to connect SAP with Delphi using RfcConnector. It shows how to call Function Modules (BAPIs) and how to read table data from an SAP server/backend.

Importing the Type Library

To be able to access the Rfc Connector components in Delphi, you need to import the Type Library first.

To import the Type Library, select "Component"->"Import Component" from the menu.

Then, in the wizard, select "Import a Type Library" in the first screen

Press "Next", then select "secept Rfc Connector" from the list:

Skip the third screen by pressing "Next"

Then select "Add unit to projectname" in the last screen.

After the wizard is complete, Delphi will create a unit which contains the necessary components for Rfc Connector.

Connecting to the SAP system

Rfc Connector supports three session classes:

• NWRfcSession (recommended with SAP GUI 7.50+)
• RfcSession (legacy, use only if you cannot upgrade)
• SoapSession (http(s) connection, use if you don't want to install additional libraries. Does not support SSO and Visual RFC.)

To create a session, just create the COM instance:

// create an NWRFC session instance
session:= CreateComObject(CLASS_NWRfcSession) as IRfcSession;

After creating the session instance, add the destination and the credentials:

// configure the connection (using connection data from SAPLogon entry)
session.RfcSystemData.ConnectString := 'SAPLOGON_ID=xyz';

// fill in credentials
session.LogonData.Client := '001';
session.LogonData.User := 'DEVELOPER';
session.LogonData.Password := '***';
session.LogonData.Language := 'EN';

Finally, connect to the system:

// connect to the SAP system
session.Connect();

Calling a function module/BAPI

To call a function module or BAPI, import the function prototype, set the parameters, then call it and process the result:

// import the function call definition
fn := session.ImportCall('BAPI_FLIGHT_GETLIST', True);

// set IMPORTING parameter (=sent to SAP)
fn.Importing['AIRLINE'].value := 'LH';

// call the function
session.CallFunction(fn, True);

// read out the data returned from the SAP system
for I := 1 to fn.Tables['FLIGHT_LIST'].Rows.Count do begin
   row := fn.Tables['FLIGHT_LIST'].Rows[I];
   writeln(string(row['AIRLINEID'].value) + ' ' + string(row['FLIGHTDATE'].value));
end;

Reading database tables

To read data from a database table, just create an instance of TableReader, call read() and process the result:

// create `TableReader` instance
TableReader tr = session.GetTableReader("SFLIGHT");

// set up query parameters
tr.Query.Add("CARRID EQ 'LH'");

// read rows
tr.Read(0, 0);

// process the result
  for I := 1 to tr.Rows.Count do begin
    row := tr.Rows[I];
    writeln(string(row['FLDATE'].value) + ' ' + string(row['PRICE'].value));
  end;

Note: For limitations of this approach and possible workarounds, please refer to the knowledgebase entry