SAP Assistant Internal Components 

Internally, the SAP Assistant is based on several other tools that are part of the SAP Automation suite.

The following table describes the products that are included as part of the SAP Assistant package. Note that these products are also available as tools you can install and use separately.

Tool

Type

Function

Language(s)

DCOM Connector Logon Component

COM Server

Helps programs using the SAP DCOM Connector in handling the connection parameters of COM objects created for the DCOM Connector.

The DCOM Connector Logon Component provides a Logon dialog with which you can get the necessary connection parameters from an end user. It also allows the end user to define destination systems.

The DCOM Connector Logon Component also allows you to easily copy connection parameters into a DCOM Connector COM object.

Any COM/DCOM-compliant application

Repository Services

COM Server

Provides read access to the metadata of business objects and RFC function modules in an R/3 system to COM-compliant programs and applications.

Also allows you to save a copy of the metadata in a local database. Using a local database provides local caching mechanism to speed up access to the metadata. It also enables offline access to the metadata.

Any DCOM/COM-compliant application

Repository Browser

(Also called the SAP Browser Control)

ActiveX Control (OCX)

A control that can be hosted by any ActiveX container. It consists of a window with two panes for browsing SAP BAPI and RFC metadata information.

Allows online calling of RFC functions from within the control.

Also exposes several methods to enable the container application to control and automate metadata browsing.

Allows you to export properly formatted metadata information to MS Excel.

Any DCOM/COM-compliant application

BAPI Gateway

COM Server

Allows you to dynamically call BAPIs and RFCs through the DCOM Connector, that is, it allows you to determine at run time which BAPIs or RFCs you call.

You use the BAPI gateway in conjunction with the SAP Automation Repository Services component to obtains the metadata for the BAPIs or RFCs you wish to call at run time.

Any COM/DCOM-compliant application