Data Modeling Basics
After you have created a project in SAP Gateway Service Builder, you can
start the data modeling process. Data model defines, for example, entity types, complex
types, properties, and associations required for the service. After you have defined the
artifacts contained in data model, you can consider operations you want to perform at
runtime, and you map these operations to data objects and properties within your Service
Builder project. At runtime, data model is exposed to SAP Gateway services that
trigger the operations you have defined at design time and return the relevant data and
fields to the user. For example, you can create a data model that reads customers' names,
addresses, and contact details stored in an SAP system and a sales manager can access this
data from a mobile device without logging into SAP system directly.
Data Modeling Alternatives
Depending on your level of experience and
time you want to dedicate to the data modeling process, you can:
- Define a new data model. For more information, see Defining a Data Model.
- Reuse existing data models or services to reduce the development effort. For more information, see Data Modeling Options.
- Create function imports to invoke custom operations. For more information, see Function Imports
- Use generators to create classes with minimum effort. For more information, see Generating the Service
- To facilitate a superior user experience when working with the Service Builder, copy and paste functions are available. For more information, see Copying Data Model Artifacts and Copying a Service Builder Project
Constraints
For an overview of constraints, see SAP Note 1574568 