Business Rule Framework plus (BRFplus)
Business Rule Framework plus (BRFplus) provides a comprehensive application programming interface (API) and user interface (UI) for defining and processing business rules. It allows you to model rules in an intuitive way and to reuse these rules in different applications.
Here are some examples of scenarios in which applications use BRFplus:
Validation of data and detection of invalid data and states
Matching responsibilities, suitable products, and locations
Calculation of costs, overhead, and risks
BRFplus as a technical configuration engine
Major BRFplus components include application, function, catalog, expression, action, data object.
The interface between a business rule modeled with BRFplus and an application using that rule is provided by a BRFplus function. The function serves as a container for the entire business logic of a rule, no matter how complex it may be. Rules are implemented as expressions which are assigned to a function. The rule input is known as context and the rule output is called result. Context and result consist of data objects of one of the following types: element, structure, and table.
BRFplus supports features such as simulation, trace, transport, XML export and import.
BRFplus Overview
Implementation Considerations
BRFplus is an ABAP-based framework and is therefore best suited for integration into an ABAP-based system environment, for example, as an extension to an existing component of the SAP Business Suite. However, if your system environment is mainly Java-based, or if you plan to implement business rules for a system landscape based on service-oriented architecture (SOA), you may consider using the Java-based SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management (BRM). SAP NetWeaver BRM is available with SAP NetWeaver 7.1 EhP1 or higher.
It is also possible to implement a scenario where both components are used simultaneously: In a mixed environment with ABAP as well as Java parts, both engines may be used in their respective area. BRFplus and SAP NetWeaver BRM can call each other. This means that, for example, you can maintain rules in SAP NetWeaver BRM and call them via remote calls to be used in BRFplus and vice versa.
Finally, even in an SOA environment it may be a good idea to use the web services of BRFplus. This is true for scenarios where the major part of the data to be processed is stored in an ABAP backend system. Here, using BRFplus brings advantages in terms of performance, sizing, and the availability of the integrated workbench.