Software Components and Software Products 

The classes of the SAP schema, the software components and their versions, and the software products and their versions are the basis for the component information.

This section deals with the connectivity of these terms as shown in the following graphic:

·        Product: Represents a collection of all versions of a product. A product is a unit that can be delivered, is visible to the customer, and that is installable and renewable. In an SAP environment, a product corresponds to an SAP technical component.

·        Product Version: Represents a particular version of a product.

·        Software Component: Represents a collection of all versions of a software component. Software components represent the reusable modules of a product. They can be upgraded or have patches installed.

·        Software Component Version: Represents a particular version of a software component.

·        Software Feature: Represents a particular aspect of the product functions. It is a logical link between Product Version and Software Component Version.

As shown in the graphic above, a product version consists of multiple software features. These features are implemented by various software components (or versions).

The product SAP R/3 Enterprise, which represents an SAP technical component, has, among other things, a product version SAP R/3 Enterprise Core 4.7. The software feature that represents the functions of this product version has the same description as the product version. Various software components (or versions) fill the functions of this software feature. These software components (or versions) are, among others, SAP Basis 6.20, SAP HR 4.70, and SAP Enterprise Retail 1.10.

The data for software components and software products for SAP products is provided by the internal SAP Product and Production Management System (PPMS). SAP provides this master data for updating your local component information. You can add current data to your SLD by using a data import.

Also, you can enter third-party products in the SLD by using the function third-party product maintenance.