Configure the Direct Link output folder

On the SAP system, you need to create and configure an output folder to store the results of Direct Link Background mode queries.

Creating and configuring the folder involves several tasks:

• Create an output folder on the SAP system
• Define the location of the output folder
• Define the logical file name used by the SAP system to reference the folder location
• Optionally configure the file retention days variable (DL7_FILE_RETENTION_DAYS)
  Tip

  Although the files in the output folder are deleted after they have been downloaded to Analytics, it is recommended that you configure the DL7_FILE_RETENTION_DAYS variable to automatically delete files older than a specified number of days on a user account basis upon logon.

  Alternately, you can set up a scheduled task or daemon to delete files in the folder that are more than a week old to ensure that orphan files are not retained.

Configure the output folder

Create an output folder

• Create a folder on the SAP system to store files generated by the SAP system for Direct Link. The name and location of this folder is user defined, but you must ensure that it meets the following requirements:
  • There is sufficient storage space available in the folder (typically1 to 3 GB minimum).
  • Access to the folder is limited to the <SID>adm ID. This user account must have read/write permissions for the folder and the files in the folder.

Define the location of the output folder

1. Open the SAP Logon Pad and log in to the SAP system you want to configure Direct Link on.

   The SAP Easy Access screen is displayed.

2. In the text box in the top-left corner, enter /nFILE and press Enter.

   A message appears informing you that the change will affect all clients.

3. Click the green check mark to continue.

   The Logical file path definition screen appears.

4. Click New Entries to display the New Entries screen.
5. In the Logical File Path field, enter Z_DIRECTLINK. In the Name field, enter Direct Link Logical Path, and then click Save.

   The Enter change dialog box appears.

6. Assign the changes to a change request.
7. Select the row in the Logical File Path table that contains the Z_DIRECTLINK entry.
8. In the treeview, double-click the Assignment of Physical paths to Logical path folder.
9. Click New Entries to display the New Entries dialog box.
10. Click the Syntax group drop-down list.
11. Double-click the platform that your SAP system is running on.

    The platform you selected appears in the Syntax group text box in the New Entries dialog box.

12. In the Physical path field, enter the full physical path to the Direct Link output folder, add <FILENAME> to the end of this path, and then click Save.

    For example, if the output folder is C:\Direct_Link_output, enter C:\Direct_Link_output\<FILENAME>.

Define the logical file name

1. In the Dialog Structure, double-click the Logical file name definition, cross client folder.
2. Click New Entries to display the New Entries dialog box.
3. Enter the following information:

   In the Logical file  field, enter Z_DIRECTLINK.

   In the Name  field, type Direct Link Logical File.

   Leave the Physical file field blank.

   In the Data format  field, type DAT.

   In the Applicat. Area  field, type BC.

   In the Logical path field, enter Z_DIRECTLINK.

4. Click Save to save the logical file name entry.

Configure the file retention days variable

Optional. Complete the following steps to check and auto-delete any files older than a specified duration for individual user accounts. Each time a user logs in, the system cleans up any orphan files associated with that individual user.

1. In the text box in the top-left corner, enter STVARV and press Enter.
2. Click Change.
3. Click Create.
4. Enter /ACLDL/DL7_FILE_RETENTION_DAYS in the Name field and the appropriate number of days in the Val field and click Save.