Archive management is based on the Archive Development Kit (ADK), which is located between the application and the archive. The ADK provides all the functions required for archiving data and accessing archived data.

The ADK functions are required for archiving and subsequent access to archived data. The ADK automatically performs the hardware-dependent adjustments (such as codepage and number format) and structural changes that are required when archive files are created. It also temporarily converts data that was archived with previous R/3 releases (from 2.1) when that data is accessed later.

The following graphic illustrates the ADK and archive administration concept.