Introduction

In our previous article, we have already discussed what an OData is. In this article we will go through step by step process to create a SAP OData service. Later on, we will register our service and also test if it is working fine. In this article, we will not write any code related to CRUD (create, write, update and delete). To learn CRUD in OData, click here.

Step by Step Process to create SAP OData service

In this section we will follow multiple predefined steps to create an OData, these are:

We will use SAP Service Gateway Builder (SEGW) to create a new project
We will Import DDIC/CDS or other Structure to create an OData Model
We will Generate our OData
We will Register and test our Service

Create a new Service Builder project

To create a new project, follow the given steps:

Go to transaction code SEGW, it will start the Gateway Service Builder.
Click on the Create Project button, as shown below:
Enter the given information

Field	Description	Example
Project	It is the name of your SAP OData Service. It will start with Z or Y	ZPROJECT_NAME
Description	Enter a description for your OData	Demo OData Project
Project Type	SAP Provides given four Project Options: 1. Service with SAP Annotations 2. Service with Vocabulary-Based Annotations 3. Annotation Model for Referenced Service 4. OData 4.0 Service We will learn about them in details, later.	Service with SAP Annotations
Generation Strategy	It will be preloaded as Standard which means, it has all standard configurations.	Standard
Package	Enter your project package or temporary package i.e. $TMP	$TMP
Person Responsible	It will be preloaded with your User ID/ User Name	barryAllen

OData creation

Press Continue and Save.

Import a DDIC structure

To use an OData Service, it should be designed in such way that it will read/update one or more table. Therefore, we need to import any table, structure or view. These are part of DDIC structure. We can also import Data model from file, RFC/ BOR Interface or a search help. But in this section, we will learn how to import a DDIC structure:

Click on the Data Model under the project we have recently created to expand it.
Right Click on Data Model and click Import and then click DDIC Structure
Now, a Wizard will open. Enter the following details, there:

Field	Description	Example
Name	Enter a name of Model. It should be explanatory.	CustomerData
Type	We have two options here: 1. Entity Type: This means a simple DDIC structure/table/view will be imported 2. Complex Type: This means a complex DDIC structure/table/view will be imported	Choose Entity Type
ABAP Structure	Choose your required table or structure name. Just copy and paste the name of your DDIC table/structure/view	zcustomer_data
Create Default Entity Set	It will create an Entity Type with the same fields as of Entity. Also, the name will remain same. We recommend you to leave it check marked.	Leave it check marked

The above details are shown below:
OData Entity Set Creation

In the next step, the wizard will show all the fields of the imported table. Just select them all and click next as shown below:
In the next step, the wizard will show all the checked fields. Here you need to check the primary keys and finish, as shown below:

Generate OData Service

Now, we have created an OData object with a model. Now to use this Object we need to generate all the required classes. To generate, press the Generate Runtime Objects button, as shown below:

OData Generate Runtime Objects

Note: The Generate Runtime Objects button automatically saves the project before generating classes.

Pressing the above button, will open a dialog box as shown below:

OData Class Generation

Just press Continue, as shown above. The above process will generate following classes:

Class Name	Description
MPC Class	MPC stands for Model Provider Class. This is generated and refreshed every time, we generate a class. It is not recommended to extend this class for Model Annotations, because all the methods are deleted whenever the OData is generated.
MPC EXT Class	This is the Extended MPC class, and all the methods are conserved even the OData is generated.
DPC Class	DPC stands for Data Provider Class. This is generated and refreshed every time, we generate a class. It is not recommended to extend this class for CRUD operation, because all the methods are deleted whenever the OData is generated.
DPC EXT Class	This is the Extended DPC class, and all the methods are conserved even the OData is generated.
MDL Class	The is the Model Class.
SRV Class	This is the Service Class.

Just click on Lock Object to generate the classes, as shown below:

OData Service Generation

Register SAP OData using the Gateway client

Once the OData is generated, now it is the time to register the service. Once the service is registered, then only it can be used anywhere.

To generate an OData, follow the given steps:

Double click the node Service Maintenance
Select any System and click Register as shown below:
Enter an Alias, if asked as shown below:
Now, in the next screen you get following options:

Field	Description
Technical Service Name	This is auto generated service name
Service Version	It is auto generated service version
Description	It is the Description of the OData you have mention earlier
External Service Name	It is same to the auto generated service name
Namespace	It is by default bank
External Mapping ID	It is by default Empty
External Data Source Type	It is by Default set to source type C
Technical Model Name	It is auto generated Model Name
Model Version	It is auto generated Model Version
Package Assignment	Assign your package name here, or just choose Local Object from the button below. It will be then $TMP
ICF Node	It is by default “Standard Mode”
oAuth Enablement	It provides option to add extra authentication, in case you need oAuth2 enablement choose it, else leave it blank