R/3 System ABAP Workbench

Transcription

1 R/3 System ABAP Workbench Professional Development of Client/Server Applications 1

2 Investments that pay off: faster and more productive development As companies worldwide embrace client/server technology, the demand for application development tools is rapidly growing. In fact, surveys conducted with information services (IS) departments indicate the application backlog for many corporations is as long as 36 months. This backlog is unacceptable for corporations seeking to maintain a competitive business advantage. Companies have three options to address this problem: purchase packaged software applications, modify packaged applications to meet specific company requirements, or use robust client/server application development tools to develop their own business solutions. Paradoxically, the surveys note IS professionals feel there are few development tools available that truly meet their needs for power, openness, and flexibility. That s why SAP is offering the ABAP Workbench, a powerful, integrated set of fourthgeneration (4GL) client/server de-velopment tools. Consisting of the same tools used to develop SAP s R/3 System, the world s leading client/server business application software, the ABAP Workbench enables developers to quickly and easily customize and extend existing SAP applications, or create unique new applications to meet their needs. ABAP Contents Investments that pay off: faster and 2 more productive development Benefits of the ABAP 3 Workbench Power and flexibility 5 The tools at a glance 7 Hihglights 10 SAP Profile Facts, Figures, Activities 11 2

3 Components of the ABAP Workbench: 4GL programming language ABAP Benefits of the ABAP Workbench R/3 Repository Integrated Data Modeler Reusable Business Objects Active, integrated ABAP Dictionary Reporting GUI Tools/GUI Design Support of Team development Version management Change management A good development environment pays off in many ways; yielding increased productivity, making applications available faster, and reducing costs and labor. The ABAP Workbench is a proven software tool that offers the power, versatility and flexibility needed to develop diverse client/server applications. Debugging Test Tools Performance optimization Rapid Application Development The ABAP Workbench is a repository-driven development platform for client/server applications. SAP delivers a completely open development environment. No matter what systems are used for the actual programming work, applications designed with the ABAP Workbench can be used with a broad range of database systems, networks, operating systems, hardware platforms, and graphical user interfaces. Frontend applications can communicate and exchange data with ABAP programs. The entire development process is supported by team management and promotion facilities that are required for sophisticated client/server development projects. In the heterogeneous world of client/server, the ABAP Workbench not only ensures that programs can be easily ported to a variety of different platforms, but frees programmers from concerns about specific database or hardware system quirks, allowing them to concentrate on the application at hand. 3

4 external applications. With the aid of a Remote Function Call (RFC), ABAP function modules can be accessed from appli-cations such as MS- Excel, MS-Access, or LOTUS In this way, data can be taken from the R/3 System and integrated, for example, into a spreadsheet, enabling PC application users to take advantage of R/3 functions without ever having to venture outside of the familiar PC interface. Developers can create their own modules and store them in the library for future use. Teamwork Integration into Client/Server Architectures The ABAP Workbench consistently supports distribution of computing power and resources on various levels. Instead of being tied to a single host computer, all developed applications can be distributed to run on multiple applications servers. The advantages of this architecture are: Flexibility to distribute applications among various servers results in optimization of hardware utilization Hardware scalability Portability of applications across different platforms and operating systems Support for all popular graphical user interfaces Productivity The ABAP Workbench s tools support the whole development cycle, resulting in more effective use of development talent. The ABAP Dictionary ensures that critical information about development objects is always available. Extensive prototyping capabilities help ensure that the finished product is the right pro-duct. A library of reusable program and business function modules helps speed and streamline the work of developers. In addition, the modules and programming aids managed and documented in the library are easy to identify and incorporate into other programming projects. They can be used in homogeneous SAP environments, or they can be called by Application development is carefully coordinated and documented to ensure a successful collaborative development effort. The Workbench Organizer supports the project s systematic procedure. A version manager administers all development objects and associated corrections and changes. All versions can be reactivated at any time. The promotion system takes care of moving development objects and applications into test or productive operation. Easy to learn ABAP is easy to learn and read. With ABAP, developers do not need to be familiar with the details of a specific technological environment to write applications. ABAP is keyword-oriented, making it easy to read through and understand program code. Most important, ABAP supports prototyping-based program development. Integration of desktop applications using Open RFCs (Remote Function Calls) and OLE2 (Object Linking and Embedding). 4

5 Power and flexibility The ABAP Workbench facilitates programming by furnishing powerful navigation and organization tools and standardizing access to all development objects and tools. Methods and utilities for accessing data, programming communications, and implementing GUIs as well as an extensive library of reusable ABAP modules are all contained in the ABAP Workbench. ABAP Fourth Generation Language ABAP is a high-level 4GL, especially well-suited for developing business applications (ABAP stands for Advanced Business Application Programming). It supports structured program-ming, and the syntax of the language enables programmers to quickly and easily address missioncritical client/server application needs. The ABAP Workbench is used daily by experienced professionals looking after issues such as tool integration and ergonomics. User Interface Builder Screen Painter creates graphical user interfaces by supporting a broad range of graphical user interface control. The Menu Painter works in tan- dem with the Screen Painter to create a graphical interface by allowing the user to make menus and function key assignments for applications. Standardized Access to Databases One of the greatest advantages of the ABAP Workbench is that it allows standardized access to different database systems. As a result, programs can be developed and maintained independently of the underlying relational database. The specific features and attributes of the database system are no longer a main concern for developers. Transfer of data records between application programs and the database is coordinated by the database interface on the basis of definitions stored in the ABAP Dictionary. Database access operations are based on SQL. 5

6 ABAP Program Editor Integrated into the overall environment of the ABAP Workbench, the program editor enables text operations such as syntax check with automatic correction facility. The structured outline view of the editor allows to collapse or expand syntactical blocks. The user gains a good overview on the overall application structure. Navigation and Browser The ABAP Workbench is a set of sophisticated development tools. The Browser tool lists all development objects in accordance with a comfortable project management model. The Navigator launches any development object and activates the associated tool. With these two facilities, the development process is supported and the programmer can comfortably organize his work. R/3 Repository The R/3 Repository is a central storage facility for all development objects such as ABAP modules, screens, ABAP Dictionary objects, data models and authorizations. Developers can use the R/3 Repository Information System to evaluate this data and find out where it is used. Teams of developers working on development objects can use the R/3 Repository at the same time. An open repository interface guaranties that even with non-sap tools, users can process all repository objects. Active integrated ABAP Dictionary The ABAP Dictionary is an integrated component of the ABAP Workbench. It is a central reference point for developers and manages all applicationrelated metadata, including table definitions internal structures foreign key relationships views conversion rules online help information The integration of the ABAP Dictionary with other development tools ensures that all tools can access common metadata and retain global consistency. Any changes made in the ABAP Dictionary are immediately effective in all applications concerned. Enhancements to the ABAP Dictionary enable users to attach fields to tables and structures in the customer system without changing the original. 6

7 The tools at a glance In the ABAP Workbench the tools fit together to form an integrated system for creating enterprise client/server solutions Remote Function Calls Browser / Navigation Data Modeler ABAP Editor ABAP Dictionary Screen Painter / Menu Painter R/3 Repository Testing / Tuning Function Modules Workbench organizer Reporting Open Programming Interfaces 7

8 The Repository Infosystem shows the systemwide use of all development objects. Team Development Support Today s development projects are group efforts. An integrated correction and transfer system and the version manager help meet the requirements of both centralized and distributed development. Due to automatic version management, all changes and newly developed objects are coordinated and can be accessed at any time. Complete information can be called up about all corrections and transfers made. Additionally, all versions and releases are administered so that developed applications can be easily revised. Debugger The Debugger helps locate and correct errors in application logic or data handling. It also provides insights into the application runtime patterns and performance of individual modules and helps keep track of the use of program parts, variables and type conversions. Report Builder The Report Builder consists of a powerful interactive list processing and reporting tool, and a graphical query product. The list processing facility makes reporting simple. Reports can be stored hierarchically in a tree structure. ABAP Query is a graphical tool that enables users to carry out quick and simple database evoluations, freeing development staff to concentrate on other tasks. Even the most complex data query can be handled by this full-featured tool. International Capabilities The ABAP Workbench can be used to devise applications and user interfaces in a number of different languages. Of course multi-byte code pages are supported like Kanji and Mandarin. Communications Using Remote Function Calls and OLE SAP makes use of two mechanisms for interprogram communications. In addition to OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), the standard for desktop integration, open Remote Function Calls (RFCs) are used to control calling of function modules and programs across system boundaries and for communicating with external systems. RFCs can be used to set up asynchronous communication links. In addition, it is possible to run user dialogs within modules called by RFC. 8

9 CLIENT/SERVER EXPERTISE SAP is one of the world s largest software companies and a recognized leader in the development of client/server applications. With the ABAP Workbench, SAP is offering the same development tools as it uses to create what industry leaders call the best client/server applications software in the world. performance of single statements to improve, for example, data selections. Uniform Standards Uniform standards, program norms and design guidelines are incorporated into the tools, encourage which a systematic, coordinated approach to project implementation, and guarantee a consistent quality and complete documentation. Each definition of a development object is only communicated to the ABAP Workbench once, after which it is stored in the R/3 Repository. It then becomes immediately available in all applications. Test Tool: CATT CATT (Computer Aided Test Tool) is an integrated facility of the ABAP Workbench that allows comprehensive testing of software quality. It creates and automates business processer in test procedures which you can repeat as often as you like. Each test procedure generates a detailed log. Function Library The ABAP Workbench contains a library of reusable program modules. Business function modules and programming aids, managed and documented in the library, are easy to identify and incorporate into new development projects. Developers can create and store their own modules for future use. Also, an interactive test tool is included for checking the functions and runtime requirements of modules. This can save years of programming time. Performance Monitor The monitoring tools in the ABAP Workbench generate precise resource and performance data. Applications are optimized as a result of extensive runtime analyses and evaluations. Utilities like SQL Trace and ABAP Trace assist in performance optimization. It is even possible to check Graphical ScreenPainter on Windows NT / Windows 95 9

10 Highlights Workflow enabling Component integration via RFC and full dialog capabilities Business Object repository with OCX integration from Visual Basic-clients Workload balancing of enterprise applications User defined nested data types with persistent object store If you have any comments or questions about the ABAP Workbench, call us or drop us a line. We look forward to hearing from you. 10

11 SAP Profile Informations-Service Annual Report R/3 Overview Brochure SAP Business Workflow SAP AG, with sales of DM 3.7 billion (in the 1996 fiscal year) ranks among the world s ten largest software companies. We employ about 10,000 persons. SAP is represented in a total of 40 countries across the world. Factsheet SAP GUI ABAP Query Call or write us if you would like any of these brochures. SAP AG Marketing Neurottstrasse 16 D Walldorf, Germany Tel. 0180/ Fax 0180/ SAP s software offerings cover the entire range of business applications for industry, commerce, services, and the public sector. The R/2 and R/3 Systems excel by virtue of their broad functionality and integrated handling of all business routines in accounting, logistics, and human resources management. Their high level of integration is particularly well-suited for supporting optimization of business processes. The R/2 System meets the needs of companies with mainframe-oriented structures. R/3 is, with its open concept, geared to use in client/server architectures, offering the possibility of distributing applications among multiple computer levels. With the ABAP Workbench, SAP makes available the same tools that we use in-house to develop the R/3 System: the world s leading integrated business software for open system environments. The ABAP Workbench can be used both to extend and enhance the R/3 System and to develop new client/server applications. Introduction of the ABAP Workbench is accompanied by service measures ranging from consulting through technical support to training and instruction. For support of users, SAP offers an online service for solving problems and the possibility of exchanging information via a hotline or personally consulting with SAP experts. SAP invests 16% of its revenues in research and development. These considerable investments in the future enable the company not only to maintain its technological lead, but also to streng then further the business performance of SAP users by supplying new and enhanced applications and products, like the ABAP Workbench by SAP AG Published by: SAP AG Neurottstrasse Walldorf, Germany Tel.: (+49) (0) 180/ Fax: (+49) (0) 180/ Internet: Responsible for contents: SAP Marketing Department ABAP, R/3, R/2 and SAP Business Workflow are registered trademarks of SAP AG. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.. AIX, DB2/6000 and Presentation Manager are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. Informix is a registered trademark of Informix Software, Inc.. Lotus is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. Windows NT, Windows 3.x and OLE are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. OSF/1 and OSF/Motif are registered trademarks of Open Software Foundation. ORACLE is a registered trademark of ORACLE Corporation. Sinix is a registered trademark of SNI. ADABAS is a registered trademark of Software AG. Solaris is a registered trademark of SUN. Unix is a registered trademark of USL. The paper used to print this brochure has been manufactured using environment-friendly processes. 11