The Open Data Protocol (OData in the following) is a standardized web protocol.
It supports the simple integration and manipulation of data and is significantly more conveniently
designed than previous web services for developing web and mobile applications.
OData is based on open web standards like HTTP, Atom Publishing Protocol and JSON, and like the World Wide Web,
is constructed based on the REST (Representational State Transfer) architectural style. Complex database requests can be
accomplished with OData using the URL alone. Consequently, OData is also known as "ODBC for the web".
Functionalities of the OData Business Adapter
The Intrexx OData Business Adapter allows data to be consumed and served.
Provide Data
When you provide data with the Intrexx OData Business Adapter, the following features are available to serve OData services using Intrexx:
Creation of OData services based on Intrexx applications and data groups.
Publication and editing of data from Intrexx portals using OData services.
Read and write access to data in real time.
Execution of Groovy scripts and starting Intrexx processes.
Access to binary files (documents, images, etc.).
Data exchange between Intrexx portals.
Various authentication methods that adhere to the users and permissions concept set by the portal.
Consume Data
When you consume data with the Intrexx OData Business Adapter, the following features are available to integrate OData services into Intrexx:
Creation of applications (web/mobile) with the Intrexx Portal Manager based on the functionalities of the service.
Integration of OData services into Intrexx processes.
Read and write access to data in real time.
Navigation to related data records.
Service function calls.
Access to binary files (documents, images, etc.).
Various authentication methods that adhere to the users and permissions concept set by the service.
System requirements
The OData Business Adapter supports version 2.0 of the OData specification. Some characteristics specified in version 3.0
and later may already be available, but are not officially supported.
Provide Data
To ensure friction-free communication between the Provider and an OData client, depending on the type of connection (HTTP / HTTPS), the corresponding ports must be opened on both.
Furthermore, at least one Intrexx user is required for configuration and service creation. This user must also possess all
required rights to create OData services in the Integration module of the Intrexx Portal Manager.
Consume Data
In order to create applications in Intrexx, OData services can only be used that provide a corresponding service metadata document.
The connection test in the Intrexx service configuration checks this condition and returns a corresponding error message if no metadata is available.
To ensure friction-free communication between the Intrexx portal server and the OData server,
depending on the type of connection (HTTP / HTTPS), the corresponding ports must be opened on both.
Further, for configuration and application creation with the adapter, at least one service user is required
that possesses the required rights to access the metadata for the OData service.
Further information on this topic can be found in the Intrexx handbook
OData Business Adapter.
SAP NetWeaver Gateway and the OData Protocol
The Open Data Protocol (hereinafter OData) is a standardized Web Protocol, that is used by SAP NetWeaver Gateway.
It supports easy integration and manipulation of data, and is specifically designed to be far more convenient
for the development of web and mobile applications than traditional web services.
OData is based on open Web standards including HTTP, Atom Publishing Protocol and JSON, and, like the World Wide Web,
is built on the REST architecture style (Representational State Transfer).
Complex database queries can be entered using OData via the URL alone. Accordingly, OData is also known as "ODBC for the Web".
Functionality of the Business Adapter
The Intrexx Business Adapter for SAP NetWeaver Gateway offers the following key features for the integration of SAP systems in Intrexx:
Creation of applications (Web/Mobile) with the Intrexx Portal Manager on the basis of the functionality of the Service.
Integration of SAP Systems in Intrexx processes.
Read and write access to SAP data in real time.
Navigation through records in standing relationships.
Calling service functions.
Access to binary files (documents, images, etc.).
Various authentication methods, including compliance with the user and permissions concept specified by the SAP system.
System requirements
To use the Intrexx Business Adapter for SAP NetWeaver Gateway successfully, at least SAP NetWeaver
Gateway 2.0 Service Pack 2 is required. United Planet recommends Service Pack 3 or higher.
The Adapter itself supports the OData Specification Version 2.0. Functions, which are specified in Version 3.0
or higher, may in some cases already be available, but are not supported officially.
For the creation of applications in Intrexx, only OData Services that provide a corresponding
Service Metadata Document can be used. The connection test in the Intrexx service configuration
checks for this condition, and issues an appropriate error message if no metadata is available.
To ensure smooth communication between the Intrexx Portal Server and the SAP NetWeaver server,
the appropriate ports must be released, dependent on the connection type (HTTP / HTTPS).
Furthermore, for configuring and building applications with the SAP Adapter, at least one
user with the necessary privileges to access the metadata of the OData Services is required.