Searching data from the different system in SAP.

You need to create a search help with custom data selection by defining a search help exit. This is particularly useful when you need to fetch data from external systems or apply complex filtering logic that cannot be achieved through standard selection methods.

Creating Custom Search Help with Exit Function

To implement custom data selection, follow these steps −

Step 1: Navigate to the Definition tab of your search help in transaction SE11.

Step 2: Remove all content from the Selection method input field to disable standard data selection.

Step 3: Enter your custom function module name in the Search help exit field.

Function Module Implementation

The signature of your custom function module should be identical to F4IF_SHLP_EXIT_EXAMPLE. You can examine the documentation inside this standard function module to understand the required interface −

FUNCTION Z_CUSTOM_SEARCH_HELP_EXIT.
*"----------------------------------------------------------------------
*"*"Local Interface:
*"  IMPORTING
*"     VALUE(CALLCONTROL) LIKE  SHLP_DESCR_T-INTERFACE
*"  CHANGING
*"     VALUE(SHLP) TYPE  SHLP_DESCR_T
*"     VALUE(CALLCONTROL) LIKE  SHLP_DESCR_T-INTERFACE  
*"  TABLES
*"      RECORD_TAB STRUCTURE  SEAHLPRES OPTIONAL
*"----------------------------------------------------------------------

  CASE callcontrol-step.
    WHEN shlp_step_select.
      " Custom data selection logic
      " Call RFC to fetch data from remote system
      CALL FUNCTION 'Z_REMOTE_DATA_FETCH'
        DESTINATION 'REMOTE_SYSTEM'
        TABLES
          data_tab = lt_remote_data.
      
      " Process and populate RECORD_TAB
      
    WHEN shlp_step_selone.
      " Handle single record selection
      
  ENDCASE.

ENDFUNCTION.

Fetching Data from Remote Systems

Data from external systems can be retrieved using Remote Function Calls (RFC). The RFC connection allows your search help to access data from different SAP systems or external databases in real-time.

Configure the RFC destination in transaction SM59 before implementing the remote function call in your search help exit. This ensures secure and reliable communication between systems.

This approach provides flexibility to implement complex search logic and integrate data from multiple sources into a single search help interface.