Background documentationUI Technologies in ABAP Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

Structure of UI Technologies (Structure of UI Technologies)

Developing and Configuring User Interfaces

To create your own interfaces or to enhance applications delivered by SAP, various UI technologies are available, which can all be tailored to meet specific needs.

  • Web Dynpro ABAP

    To develop complex business applications based on specific requirements, you can use Web Dynpro ABAP.

    Application Server ABAP provides a programming model based on the Model View Controller principle. The architecture of this model is identical to that of Web AS ABAP and Web AS Java. Applications that were created using Web Dynpro for ABAP are displayed using a standard browser on the user’s PC.

    For more information, see: Developing Web Dynpro ABAP Applications

  • Floorplan Manager (FPM)

    The Floorplan Manager (FPM) framework provides tools for creating a consistent layout for existing Web Dynpro applications or for creating new applications in this layout. The FPM enables administrators to configure standardized interfaces for applications without having to access the source code.

    For more information, see: Floorplan Manager for Web Dynpro ABAP

  • Web Dynpro ABAP Page Builder

    The Page Builder framework provides a runtime authoring environment with which you can create pages from loosely linked Collaborative Human Interface Parts (abbreviation: CHIPs) A typical application example are initial pages that provide users with an overview of their day-to-day work and navigation options to typical tasks. Users can adapt pages created with the Page Builder to their needs.

    For more information, see: Creating Mashup Applications with Web Dynpro ABAP Page Builder

Web Dynpro ABAP Configuration Framework

Both Page Builder and Floorpan Manager are based on the Web Dynpro ABAP configuration framework, which offers you an abundance of configuration and customizing options without having to do any programming.

For more information, see: Web Dynpro ABAP Configuration Framework

Client Technology

With SAP NetWeaver Business Client (NWBC) you can offer users a local client with role-based navigation. It serves as the central entry point to all SAP applications and transactions, and bridges the gap between today's thick clients (such as SAP GUI) and the browser access used to access SAP NetWeaver Portal.

For more information, see: SAP NetWeaver Business Client

Further UI Technologies

The SAP GUI for Windows and for Java

SAP applications from older releases are usually programmed using dynpro technology. To display applications that were programmed using dynpro technology, a separate software packet is installed on the user’s PC, SAP GUI for Windows or SAP GUI for Java.

The SAP GUI for Java is also a user interface for displaying dynpro-based applications and is also installed locally on the user’s PC. Unlike the SAP GUI for Windows, the SAP GUI for Java does not depend in the local PC’s operating system. You can find information about the SAP GUI for Java in Note 146505.

The SAP GUI for HTML / Internet Transaction Server

The increasing development of the World Wide Web meant that it became necessary to enable existing applications based on dynpro technology to be called using standard browsers via HTTP. The Internet Transaction Server (ITS) and the SAP GUI for HTML were conceived for this purpose.

Business Server Pages

Release 6.10 of the SAP Web Application Servers offered programming of Business Server Pages (BSP) for the first time. This programming model is fundamentally different to dynpro programming, and enables an application to be displayed via an HTTP connection using a standard browser. The application-specific display software does not, therefore, need to be installed on the user’s PC.

The SAP GUI for HTML technology and the IAC technology are both integrated into Web Application Server.