Direct Link installation technical reference
Installations of the SAP GUI for Windows and the Direct Link client involve several key files and environment variables, which are listed below as an aid to any required troubleshooting:
| SAP GUI application files | Default location | |
|---|---|---|
| SAPgui.exe | C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP\FrontEnd\SAPgui | |
| saplgpad.exe | ||
| saplogon.exe | ||
| SAPnwrfc.dll | C:\Windows\SysWOW64 | |
| SAP GUI configuration files | Default location | Environment variable with file path |
| SAPUILandscape.xml | C:\Users\<username>\AppData\ Roaming\SAP\Common |
|
| saplogon.ini | SAPLOGON_INI_FILE (user-created) |
|
| SAP RFC library file | Default location | Environment variable with file path |
| sapnwrfc.ini | C:\Program Files (x86)\ACL Software\Direct Link | RFC_INI |
| Direct Link application file | Default location | Environment variable with file path |
| SAPAgent.dll | C:\Program Files (x86)\ACL Software\Direct Link | PATH |
The Direct Link installer replicates SAP system information
When you install the Direct Link client, the installer acquires SAP system information, including connection information, from the SAP configuration file used by the SAP GUI. The SAP GUI could be using the traditional .ini configuration file, or the more recent .xml file:
- saplogon.ini
- SAPUILandscape.xml
Regardless of which SAP configuration file is in use, the Direct Link installer replicates SAP system information and stores it in the SAP RFC library file: sapnwrfc.ini.
SAP system information from sapnwrfc.ini populates the Direct Link Logon dialog box, allowing users to connect to specific SAP systems.
Note
In earlier versions of SAP, sapnwrfc.ini was named saprfc.ini.
Format of the SAP RFC library file (sapnwrfc.ini)
The SAP RFC library file (sapnwrfc.ini) must follow these format rules:
- Parameter names must be uppercase. For example: DEST
- Parameter names must be immediately followed by the equal sign. For example: DEST=
- Parameter values must immediately follow the equal sign. For example: DEST=IDES_ECC_6.0
- Each parameter name-value pair must be immediately followed by a CRLF line break
Here is an example of correctly formatted information for an SAP system in sapnwrfc.ini:
DEST=IDES_ECC_6.0
TYPE=A
ASHOST=54.200.154.154
SYSNR=01
ABAP_DEBUG=0
USE_SAPGUI=2
RFC_TRACE=0
The Direct Link installer search sequence
The Direct Link installer replicates information from the first SAP configuration file it finds based on the following search sequence:
| File | Location searched | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAPUILandscape.xml | C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\SAP\Common |
| 2 | saplogon.ini | C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\SAP\Common |
| 3 | saplogon.ini | The path specified in the SAPLOGON_INI_FILE environment variable (user-created) |
| 4 | File not found | The Direct Link installation fails with an error message.
|
What if both SAP configuration files are present?
If both saplogon.ini and SAPUILandscape.xml are present in default locations on the computer where you are installing the Direct Link client, the SAP system information in SAPUILandscape.xml is replicated and stored in sapnwrfc.ini.
Connection information from saplogon.ini is also replicated, and stored in a non-functional backup file: saprfc_from.ini.
