The Knowledge Provider (KPro) is a cross-application and cross-media technical information infrastructure within the framework of SAP Web Application Server. The modularity and openness at the heart of the Knowledge Provider are demonstrated in its modular services and its clearly defined interfaces. Thanks to its considerable flexibility, the Knowledge Provider can handle widely differing information types relating to documents and document-like objects, such as administration data, index data, and pure content.

The applications that use the Knowledge Provider have different end users, each with their own different requirements. This means that there is no universal interface to the following Knowledge Provider services:

• End-user-specific knowledge management functions
• Application-specific terminology for describing document-like objects
• Specific work process design
• Specific user interface design

Different applications use Knowledge Provider services by implementing their own user interface. In this way, the Knowledge Provider provides the fundamental infrastructure for application-independent information exchange.

The Knowledge Provider is intended for use in the application areas listed below. (For a list of the SAP applications into which the Knowledge Provider is integrated, see the section ‘Client Applications’.)

• Context-specific development and distribution of documentation, online help, and training materials, of both SAP and SAP customers, within SAP Knowledge Warehouse
• Management of multimedia information objects for companies primarily active in the media industry, for example, collation and distribution of information using any media and distribution channel, such as print media, internet, television, and radio
• Development, management, and distribution of software and software components
• Administration of report lists in the Business Information Warehouse environment
• Integration of business transactions with static information objects for e-commerce solutions
• In the framework of SAP Business Workflow, extensive support for document-oriented business processes
• Publishing solutions for both the Internet and intranet. For example, international companies can use the Knowledge Provider to obtain up-to-date information at any time about important issues within the company, for example, quality management.

Although end users’ requirements overlap to a certain extent, there are nonetheless significant differences in the general goals and requirements of the applications that use the Knowledge Provider. For example, one customer may use the Knowledge Provider as a tool for designing a corporate intranet, while another may use it for publishing a magazine or administrating software components. However, the fundamental Knowledge Provider infrastructure is at the basis of all applications, providing version management, context resolution, and integration of various content servers, among others.

It may be necessary to implement some Customizing in order to use the Knowledge Provider, regardless of the SAP application in question. See the SAP reference implementation guide (IMG) under SAP Web Application Server ® Basis Services ® Knowledge Provider. The IMG modules contain further information on each activity.

Within its information technology infrastructure, the Knowledge Provider provides the following services:

• Integration of KPro client applications
• Integration of Knowledge Provider services: Document Management Framework (DMF), Document Management Service (DMS) and Content Management Service (CMS)

• Integration of content servers and cache servers

Client applications use Knowledge Provider by integrating Knowledge Provider interfaces into their systems. Based on the flexibility and scope of the document management functions you wish to implement, you select the services and interfaces that best meet your requirements.

The following SAP applications use Knowledge Provider functionality:

• SAP Knowledge Warehouse
• Business Document Service (BDS)

The Knowledge Provider provides the following services:

• Document Management Service (DMS)

• Cache Server

You can also integrate search engines using Text Retrieval & Information Extraction. For further information on this, see the implementation guide (IMG), the SAP Content Server Installation Guide, and Text Retrieval & Information Extraction.