Introduction
This section contains user documentation for Xtract Universal.
About Xtract Universal
Xtract Universal is an SAP Connector for data extraction from SAP to various target environments. The extracted data can than be further processed e.g., in the context of business intelligence, data integration and data analytics.
About Extractions
The main entities in Xtract Universal are called "extractions". An extraction is a combination of the following components:
- A defined extraction type, e.g., Table, Query, Report, etc.
- A connection to a source system, e.g., SAP S/4HANA, SAP BW, etc.
- A connection to a destination / target environment, e.g., SQL Server, Azure, etc.
The graphic on the right depicts a practical example of an extraction and its components.
For more information on how to create and maintain extractions in the Xtract Universal Designer, see create extractions.
Software Architecture
Xtract Universal consists of two components:
- A Designer to design and configure extractions.
When designing extractions in the Designer, the user can create and modify extractions, sources, destinations and alter the server settings. - A Server to execute extractions.
During the execution phase, the user can execute the extractions that were designed in the Designer. The execution of the extractions takes place on the server.
Depending on the target environment, an extraction can be executed by the Xtract Universal command line tool - xu.exe / xu.elf or by the consuming destination, see Pull and Push Destinations.
Extraction Types
Xtract Universal offers the following extraction types to cover a wide range of data extraction scenarios.
The Xtract Universal HelpCenter is designed to introduce users to the main functions of Xtract Universal. It provides comprehensive information about the product, including installation guides, user manuals, and best practices.
Theobald Software's claim is to keep the HelpCenter content up to date according to the latest product version. Information concerning older versions is removed gradually from the documentation content. It is generally recommended to always install the latest version of the product. Theobald Software's claim is to always update all used screenshots of other software vendors, nevertheless this cannot be guaranteed.
©2026 Theobald Software GmbH. All rights reserved.
Target Group and Audience
This HelpCenter is for all users of Xtract Universal. The main sections of the HelpCenter address the following user needs:
- Getting Started guides users through the initial setup and basic functionality.
- User documentation explains interface elements, navigation, and core workflows for new or occasional users.
- Knowledge base articles cover advanced topics and details for experienced users.
Typographical Conventions
| Convention | Used for marking: | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bold & square brackets | Buttons | [Edit] |
| bold | URL buttons | Subscriptions |
| bold | Fields within a window, tab names | Name |
| italics | Input values | MATNR |
| italics | Drop-down menu options | TextAndCode |
Notes and Warnings
There are three main types of warning messages with the corresponding colors.
| Signal word | Color | Severity and meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Note | Blue | Additional information |
| Warning | Yellow | Information that is important for executing an error free procedure |
| Tip | Green | Tips |
| Recommendation | Green | Theobald Software recommendations and best practices advice |
Example:
Warning
RFC_ERROR_SYSTEM_FAILURE - No more storage space available for extending an internal table
To avoid a memory overflow on the SAP source system and to avoid huge overheads, choose a package size that suits your memory capacity.
Note
The corresponding SQL command is generated dynamically and executed on the SAP server.
Last update: May 21, 2026