Wiley SAP netweaver for dummies may 2004 ISBN 0764568833

SAPNetWeaverForDummies
byDanWoodsandJeffreyWord ISBN:0764568833
JohnWiley&Sons©2004
ThisguidebookwillleadyouthroughSAP
NetWeaver,theWebservices-basedbusiness
integrationandapplicationplatformthat
enablesportals,collaboration,data
management,developmentenvironments,and
more.

TableofContents
SAPNetWeaverForDummies
Introduction
PartI-EnterpriseSoftwareBasics

SAPNetWeaver:TheNewFoundationof
IT
PrimordialAcronymSoup:TheOriginsof
Enterprise
- MeetSAPNetWeaver
- TheBirthofaSolution
- ABlueprintfortheFuture
- TheEvolutionofmySAPBusinessSuite
CompositeApplicationsandSAPxApps:
FlexibleandReusableInnovation

Chapter1 Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6

Chapter7

PartII-TheCastofComponents

Chapter8 -

SAPEnterprisePortal:Somethingfor
Everyone
SAPMobileInfrastructure:Information


Chapter9 - HitstheRoad
Chapter10 - SAPGivesBusinessIntelligence
Chapter11 - MasteringSAPMasterDataManagement
Chapter12 - ExchangingData
SAPWebApplicationServer:The
Chapter13 CornerstoneofSAPNetWeaver
PartIII-ANiftyDevelopmentToolkit

Chapter14 - SAPNetWeaverDeveloperStudio
Chapter15 - VisualComposer:GoingCodeless
Chapter16 - CompositeSolutions
TyingItAllTogether:SAPSolution
Chapter17 Manager
PartIV-SAPNetWeaverinAction

Chapter18 - TheWorldofInternalPortals
Chapter19 - DeployingWebServices
Chapter20 - SAPR/3andThenSome
MakingSenseofData:Analyticsand

Chapter21 Reporting
DoingtheApplication-to-Application
Chapter22 Thing
Chapter23 - CustomMade:CompositeApplications
PartV-RollingOutSAPNetWeaver

Chapter24 - PlansandPeople
Chapter25 - InformationStation
NiftyImplementationProcessesandSwell
Chapter26 Software
PartVI-ThePartofTens

Chapter27 -

Ten(orso)WaystoGetStartedwithSAP
NetWeaver


Appendix
Index

- AbouttheCD

ListofFigures
ListofSidebars
CDContent


BackCover
Soyou’veheardaboutSAPNetWeaverandyouthinkit

mightbegreatforyourbusiness,ifonlyyouweresure
exactlywhatitis?Relax—we’vegotyoucovered.
Here’syourguidebooktoSAPNetWeaver,theWeb
services-basedbusinessintegrationandapplication
platformthatenablesportals,collaboration,data
management,developmentenvironments,andmore.
AbouttheAuthors
DanWoodshasabackgroundintechnologyand
journalismandnowrunstheEvolvedMediaNetwork,a
firmfocusedontechnologycommunications.Hewas
CTOofTheStreet.com,andCapitalThinking,led
developmentatTimeInc.Pathfinder,andcreated
applicationsforNandO.net,oneofthefirstnewspaper
Websites.DanhasanM.S.fromColumbiaUniversity’s
GraduateSchoolofJournalismandaB.A.inComputer
SciencefromtheUniversityofMichigan.Hecovered
bankingforthreeyearsatTheRecordofHackensack,
wasdatabaseeditorforthreeyearsattheRaleigh
News&Observer,andhaswrittensixbookson
technologytopics,inadditiontonumerouswhite
papersandmagazinearticles.
JeffreyWordistheDirectorofTechnologyStrategyfor
SAP,basedinPaloAlto,California.Jeffreyhasworked
atSAPsince2000inavarietyofrolesinbusiness
development,strategicconsulting,andmarket
strategy.JeffreypreviouslyworkedforseveralIT
hardwareandsoftwarecompaniesintheU.S.,Europe,


andLatinAmerica.HeearnedanMBAinInternational

BusinessfromThunderbird,theAmericanGraduate
SchoolofInternationalManagement.Healsoearneda
B.A.inEuropeanStudiesandSpanishfromthe
UniversityofOklahoma.


SAPNetWeaverForDummies
byDanWoods
andJeffWord
Publishedby
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AbouttheAuthors


DanWoodshasabackgroundintechnologyandjournalismandnow
runstheEvolvedMediaNetwork,afirmfocusedontechnology
communications.HewasCTOofTheStreet.com,andCapitalThinking,
leddevelopmentatTimeInc.Pathfinder,andcreatedapplicationsfor
NandO.net,oneofthefirstnewspaperWebsites.DanhasanM.S.from
ColumbiaUniversity’sGraduateSchoolofJournalismandaB.A.in
ComputerSciencefromtheUniversityofMichigan.Hecoveredbanking
forthreeyearsatTheRecordofHackensack,wasdatabaseeditorfor
threeyearsattheRaleighNews&Observer,andhaswrittensixbooks
ontechnologytopics,inadditiontonumerouswhitepapersand
magazinearticles.Hethankshiswife,DanieleGerard,andhischildren,
FionaandEamon,fortheirindulgenceandsupportduringthisproject.
JeffreyWordistheDirectorofTechnologyStrategyforSAP,basedin
PaloAlto,California.JeffreyhasworkedatSAPsince2000inavarietyof
rolesinbusinessdevelopment,strategicconsulting,andmarketstrategy.
JeffreypreviouslyworkedforseveralIThardwareandsoftware
companiesintheU.S.,Europe,andLatinAmerica.HeearnedanMBAin
InternationalBusinessfromThunderbird,theAmericanGraduateSchool
ofInternationalManagement.HealsoearnedaB.A.inEuropeanStudies

andSpanishfromtheUniversityofOklahoma.
Dedications
DanWoodswouldliketodedicatethisbooktohischildren,Fionaand
Eamon,whosemightymindsandloveoflearningareaconstant
inspiration.
JeffWordwouldliketodedicatethisbooktoChelsiandBentonfor
puttingupwithhiscrazyscheduleandoddbehaviorduringthewritingof
thisbook.
Authors’Acknowledgments
Forreadingversionsofthesechapterslateintothenightandon
airplaneswhentheycouldhavebeensleeping,forworkingashardas
theauthorstryingtotakesomeofthemostcomplexandpowerful
technologyintheworldandsqueezeanexplanationintotheFor
Dummiesformat,andforbelievingthatsuchabookcouldreallyhelptell


theSAPNetWeaverstory,theauthorswouldliketoofferspecialthanks
to:ShaiAgassi,PeterGraf,OriInbar,MatthiasHaendly,PascalBrosset,
AmitChatterjee,GregCrider,HowardBeader,RomanBukary,Thomas
Mattern,SunilGupta,AndersRanum,SafiOranski,TomRyan,IvoTotev,
PamChance,HimanshuPande,SamiMuneer,TimBussiek,Scott
Feldman,SanjeevAgrawal,PeterTillert,KarinSchattka,KarlKessler,
HenrikStotz,WernerAigner,KajVanDeLoo,RuedigerBuck-Emden,
CayRademann,LorraMoyer,SophieSmall,AllisonReed,KevinCox,
LauraJohnson,DavidGrasso,DavisLee,CatherineCourreges,Beca
Iniguez,RohitGupta,ChrisHanna,PravinKumar,ScottFeldman,and
PuneetSuppal.
Extra-specialthankstothetalentedandtirelessJudiHanceforher
phenomenalworkonthegraphics.
Publisher’sAcknowledgments

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Introduction
We,theauthors,wouldliketothinkthatyou’rereadingthisbookright
nowbecauseyou’vegotaninsatiablethirstforknowledgeaboutthenew
SAPintegrationandapplicationplatform,SAPNetWeaver.However,
we’rebeingrealistic.It’smorelikelythatyou’resittingtherescratching
yourheadaboutwhattheheckSAPNetWeaverisandwhatitcandofor
you.Youprobablypickedthisbookupbecauseyouwantalittlehelpjust
gettingyourhandsaroundthispuppy.
WeexplainSAPNetWeaverfromthebig-pictureperspectiveinthisbook
andbreakdownallthedifferentpiecesofSAPNetWeaverintobite-sized
chunks.Thenwegiveyouafewreal-lifeexamplesofhowSAP
NetWeaverworkssoyoucanmaketheall-importantleapfromtheoryto
reality.


AboutThisBook
SAPNetWeaveriskindofatoughnuttocrack.It’sbothanapplication
platformandanintegrationplatform.Basically,thismeansthatSAP
NetWeaverfitsontopofandaroundyourexistingbusinessapplications.
YoucanuseSAPNetWeavertechnologiestointegratepeople,
information,andprocesses—insideandoutsideofyourcompany.
Asyougothroughthisbook,wetakeyouonajourneythroughthe
businesssoftwareenvironmentinwhichSAPNetWeaverexists,show
youthebuildingblocksofSAPNetWeaver,andgiveyouaglimpseof

SAPNetWeaverinaction.


FoolishAssumptions
We’vemadeafewassumptionsaboutyou,thereader.Wefigurethatyou
probablyworkinacompany,eitherbigorsmall.Wealsoassumethat
you’reeitherintheITdepartmentofthecompanyoroneoftheIT
workersgaveyouthisbooksothatyou’dquitaskingsomanyquestions
aboutthisstuff.
Wealsoassumethatthecompanyyouworkforeitheralreadyhassome
SAPsoftwareorismakingadecisiontobuysomerightnow.Whether
you’vegotahugeSAPinstallationalreadyoryou’reevaluatingwhether
tobuyabunchofbusinessapplications,you’llneedtohavean
understandingofSAPNetWeaverandexactlywhatimpactitcanhaveon
yourbusiness.
Wedon’tassumethatyouhaveanypreviousexperiencewithSAP
NetWeaveroritscomponents.Wealsodon’tassumethatyou’rea
techie.Onthecontrary,weexplainthingssothatageneralbusiness
personcaneasilygrasptheconceptswithoutallthetechnicalmumbo
jumbothatusuallyaccompaniesenterprisesoftwareexplanations.


HowThisBookIsOrganized
ThisbookisdesignedtohelpyouunderstandthebigpictureofSAP
NetWeaver,theITenvironmentinwhichitoperates,generaldetailsabout
theSAPNetWeavercomponents,andwhatitlookslikeinaction.
Thebookisorganizedtowalkyouthroughlogicalpartsandmakeiteasy
foryoutoskiparoundtotopicsthatinterestyouwithoutgetting
irretrievablylost.

PartI:EnterpriseSoftwareBasics
PartIexplainstheenvironmentthatSAPNetWeaveroperatesin.
BecauseSAPNetWeaversitsontopofenterpriseapplications,we
includeanoverviewofthegeneralITandenterprisesoftwarelandscape
andexplainsomeofthemorecommonarenasthatSAPNetWeaver
playsin.
Chapter3givesyouagreathigh-leveloverviewoftheentireSAP
NetWeaverplatformandisprobablythemostimportantchapterofthe
book.Sodon’tskipit!
PartIalsogoesintoabitofhistoryaboutsomeofthebuildingblocksof
SAPNetWeaverandsomeofthefuturearchitectureimplicationsofSAP
NetWeaver.

PartII:TheCastofComponents
PartIIislikeagameofblocks,witheachchaptercoveringoneSAP
NetWeaverbuildingblock.Wedescribeeachcomponentasawholeand
thenbreakthemintotheirindividualfeatures.Thenweputeach
componentincontextwithitsroleinthebiggerSAPNetWeaverplatform.
Wewrotethesechapterstobereadindependently,sofeelfreetojump
aroundtotheonesthatinterestyoumost.Youcanalwaysgobacktothe
otherchapterslater.

PartIII:ANiftyDevelopmentToolkit


Geekalert!Unlessyou’reasupertechieorjustreallyfeellikeyouneeda
migraineheadache,don’tspendtoomuchtimewiththispart.It’sreally
techieandfocusesonallthedevelopmenttoolsthatarepartofSAP
NetWeaver.WetalkaboutJAVA,ABAP,.NET,andawholeslewofother
techietopicsthatonlythepropellerheads—programmers,developers,

andITmanagers—arereallyinterestedin.

PartIV:SAPNetWeaverinAction
TellingyouwhatSAPNetWeavercandoandhowitdoesitisthefocusof
PartsIthroughIII.PartIViswherewebegintomaketheconnection
betweenfeaturesandbenefits.Hereyoufindacollectionofreal-life
scenarioswhereSAPNetWeaveraddslotsofvaluetoacompany.We
takeyouthroughtheexplanationofabusinessscenarioandthe
challengesinvolved,andthenexplainhowSAPNetWeaverprovides
solutions.Thetitlesofthechaptersareprettyself-explanatory,sojump
aroundtotheonesthatsoundusefultoseehowSAPNetWeaverworks
outthereintherealworld.

PartV:RollingOutSAPNetWeaver
PartViswheretherubbermeetstheroad.Assumingthatyou’rereadyto
jumpintoSAPNetWeaverwithbothfeet,youreallyneedtoreadthis
sectionbeforeyoustart.Itexplainsthepeople,information,andtoolsthat
youneedtogetstartedandgivesyouafewchoicepiecesofadvice
abouthowtoapproachyourSAPNetWeaverproject.

PartVI:ThePartofTens
WethinkthatDavidLettermanisreallycool,soweofferatop-tenlist
aboutSAPNetWeaverthatyoucanreferto.(Actually,thisisafeatureof
theForDummiesbooksthatweknowyou’vecometolove,sowedidn’t
wanttodisappointyou.)Weprovidetipsforsuccess.Foryouchecklist
lovers,thisshouldbeenoughtostartyououtontherightpath.

Appendix:AbouttheCD

ThisbookisaccompaniedbyahandyCD-ROMfilledwithadditional
detailedinformationaboutSAPNetWeaverandsomedemosand
customersuccessstories.It’sreallyeasytouse.Popitintogetavery
prettypictureofSAPNetWeaverandallthatitdoes.Thisappendixwalks
youthroughallofthis.


WhatYou’reNottoRead
First,don’teventrytoreadthiswholebookinonesitting.Wewroteitto
beareadyreferencethatyoucanbrowsethroughandnavigateeasilyto
findtopicsofinterest.
Thatsaid,westructuredthebooktocoversomebasicconceptsthatyou
needtounderstandaboutthebusinesssoftwareandITworldwhereSAP
NetWeaverlives.Thenwemovethroughproductspecifics,alltheway
downtorealexamplesofSAPNetWeaverinaction.
Sowhatshouldyouread?
Ifyou’reanewbietotheITworldorSAP,readPartIcompletelytogetthe
bigpicture.ThenbrowsethroughPartII,skipPartIIIentirely(it’sageek
alertchapter),anddiveintoPartIV.UsePartVasareferencetool.
Ifyou’reanITprofessionalandhavebeenaroundSAPforawhile,you
canskipChapter2andbrowsethroughtherestofPartI.Feelfreeto
jumpaheadtoPartII,challengeyourgeekcredentialsinPartIII
(intendedforhardcoretechies),andthumbthroughPartsIVandV.


IconsUsedinThisBook
Tohelpalertyoutosomecoolortrickystuff,weincludespecialicons.
Tech
Term

Thisiconsignalsthatwe’reusingatermthat’scommon
knowledgeintheITindustry,butmayneedabitmore
explanationtohelpyougetthefullpicture.

Remember Remembericonspointoutimportantideasorconcepts
thatyoumaywanttotakeextranoteof.
TCO
Tips

TCOTipsareourwayofpointingoutthevariouswaysthat
SAPNetWeavercanreduceyourtotalcostofownership.

Tip Weusethisicontoalertyoutoanygardenvarietyusefulhintsor
tricksthatcanmakeyourlife(oratleastyourwork)goalittle
moresmoothly.


Feedback
Becausewe’resoexcitedaboutthefirsteditionofSAPNetWeaverFor
DummiesandbecauseSAPNetWeaverisafairlynewtopicforthe
series,we’dliketohearyourfeedbackonyourexperiencewiththebook.
Sendusane-mailwithyourcommentsat



PartI:EnterpriseSoftwareBasics


ChapterList
Chapter1:SAPNetWeaver:TheNewFoundationofIT

Chapter2:PrimordialAcronymSoup:TheOriginsofEnterprise
Chapter3:MeetSAPNetWeaver
Chapter4:TheBirthofaSolution
Chapter5:ABlueprintfortheFuture
Chapter6:TheEvolutionofmySAPBusinessSuite
Chapter7:CompositeApplicationsandSAPxApps:Flexibleand
ReusableInnovation


Inthispart...
Yes,thisisthestrangestForDummiesbookeverwritten,uniqueinthatit
meetsatremendouschallenge:Explainsomeofthemostadvanced
businesssoftwareintheworldassimplyaspossible.
Tohaveashotatgettingthisrightwe’vegottoexplainallthebasicsof
enterprisesoftware—younow,allthatstuffthateveryonejustassumes
everyoneelseknows,butthenitturnsouteveryonethinksofitabit
differently?Well,thatstuff(youknow:integration,abstraction,andsoon)
isexplainedinthispart,alongwiththebasicideasbehindthewaySAP®
softwareisconstructedandhowSAPNetWeaver™fitsintotheworldof
IT.Thispartexplainssometrickytechiethingstothedigitallyunwashed.


Chapter1:SAPNetWeaver:TheNewFoundation
ofIT


InThisChapter
Whywewrotethisbook
WhatisSAP®NetWeaver?
LayingouttheITland

Everybody’sgottahaveavision.ForColumbusitwasfindingabetter
routetoAsiabysailingwest.(Ofcourse,therewasanewworldinhis
way.)ForGalileoitwasinventingatelescopetoviewtheplanetsand
discoveringsatellitesaroundJupiter.Foryou,itmightbemakingsenseof
allthetechnoidgobbledygookyourcompanyhastodealwithdayinand
dayoutsoyouandyourITpeopledon’tendupoldbeforetheirtime.
Ifso,thenyou’llbegladtohearthatatitscore,SAPNetWeaverisan
ambitiousvisionforimprovingInformationTechnology,includingthe
softwareandhardwarethatrunstheworldofbusiness.ButSAP
NetWeaverisnotjustavision:It’sasetoftoolsandmethodologiesthat
cantakeyourcompanywhereitneedstogo.
Admittedly,SAPNetWeaverisnotyournormaltopicforaForDummies
book.It’snotahobbysuchasyoga,sailing,orpersonalfinance.It’snota
wordprocessororevenaprogramminglanguage.SAPNetWeaverisa
super-sizedservingoftechnologyandtoolsmadeupofproductsand
conceptsthatareusefultothecorporatedecisionmakerandthe
technologistswhoworktogethertosolvehugeinformationchallenges.
WithSAPNetWeaver,youcan
Makeoneportalthatgiveseachuserexactlywhatheneedsfrom
allyourapplications.
Provideaunifiedviewofinformationfromeverypartofyour
companyanddeliverittoemployeesjustwhenandhowthey
needit.


Knittogetherintoonestreamlinedinterfaceprocessesthatare
distributedinbitsacrossmanyapplications.
Andbecauseitisbasedonthelatesttechnologyandapproachesto
businessprocesses,SAPNetWeaveralsoincreasesflexibilityand
enableschangethroughoutyourenterprise.Notbad,huh?