Developing, Configuring, and Adapting
Applications
SAP NetWeaver offers a variety of programming models and tools to extend and enhance SAP applications or to create complementary custom applications. SAP NetWeaver supports popular development processes for the Java and ABAP programming environments. It provides both a design time infrastructure to facilitate application development processes and a runtime one where applications are actually executed.
The Developing, Configuring, and Adapting Applications IT scenario serves as your guide to the application programming models and related tools available with SAP NetWeaver. It provides the process-oriented view of the typical IT activities that you can perform to craft your custom applications in a short timeframe and at a low cost using the technology that best fits your overall IT strategy. Without going into details about any of the Java or the ABAP programming models, the description of this IT scenario concentrates on the flow of activities that application developers can execute to achieve the corresponding development objectives.
Benefits
Using this IT scenario you can utilize SAP NetWeaver to increase productivity of your overall application development. It necessitates the model-driven, pattern-based approach as a basis for achieving maximum efficiency and flexibility of application code and user experience. This is the main concept underlying the new Web Dynpro technology - SAP's approach to the development of professional Web-based user interfaces in both ABAP and Java programming languages. With the Composite Application Framework you can leverage the advantages of the service-oriented architecture in your business applications to integrate your heterogeneous applications into consistent business processes.
Reducing the total cost of ownership is another important aspect that you can influence by implementing SAP NetWeaver in the context of the IT scenario Developing, Configuring, and Adapting Applications. Organizations that have developed their landscapes based on the standard Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) technologies can easily port their applications to SAP NetWeaver and integrate them with the other SAP technologies to add value to the end users by improved usability and consistency. Those organizations that use the ABAP language to create business applications can utilize the tools provided by SAP NetWeaver to extend and enhance ABAP applications at predefined places programmatically. These places, called enhancement options, allow applications to be extended to address particular business requirements and reduce the need for modifications.
In addition, SAP NetWeaver reduces the cost and complexity of the overall development process through the life cycle management capabilities of its design time infrastructure (the SAP NetWeaver Development Infrastructure on the Java side, and the ABAP Workbench on the ABAP side). With it, you achieve a single point of control over all phases of the development process, including administration activities and change management activities.
Architecture of the Scenario
The following figure provides an overview of the architecture:
Required or Optional Installable Units
To use this IT scenario you require the following installable units:
System with activated usage types:
● Application Server ABAP (AS ABAP) or Application Server Java (AS Java), or both
● Development Infrastructure (DI)
● Enterprise Portal Core (EPC)
Integration with Other IT Scenarios
The scenario Running an Enterprise Portal is available for integrating the application into the SAP Enterprise Portal.
Scenario Variants
This scenario consists of the following scenario variants:
Variant |
Description |
Provides a development environment for rapidly creating and adapting model-based transactional and analytical applications. It has been designed to enable business analysts and business process experts to create enterprise applications using standardized components that meet SAP standards and quality criteria. |
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Allows you to develop professional Web interfaces based on the Model View Controller concept as well as model, configure, and adapt the application. The SAP Java development environment, the SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio, provides graphical tools for developing Web Dynpro applications. The integration of the Web Dynpro application into the SAP Enterprise Portal is also a part of this scenario variant. |
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Leveraging J2EE Standards for Porting and Adopting Applications |
Organizations that have adopted the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) standard are offered the methodology and tools to easily port their applications to SAP NetWeaver. After the migration, they can maintain their applications with SAP’s complete Java toolset, including the SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio and the SAP NetWeaver Development Infrastructure. |
This IT scenario variant introduces the new enhancement concept of the ABAP Workbench that enables the integration of different approaches to modification and enhancement of ABAP business applications. |
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Allows the development of professional Web user interfaces based on the Model View Controller concept as well as the modeling, configuration, and customization of applications. The SAP ABAP development environment, which is integrated in every ABAP system, provides graphical tools for the development of Web Dynpro applications. The integration of the Web Dynpro application in the SAP Enterprise Portal is also part of this scenario variant. |
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This IT scenario variant allows you to develop mobile applications quickly and efficiently, as well as to enhance existing SAP Solutions for Mobile Business. Specialized development tools in the back end, SAP NetWeaver Application Server, and SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio support the software developer when creating a mobile solution. |
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Enables you to create composite applications that effectively re-use services and data from legacy systems to enable new collaborative user-centric processes and applications. The SAP Composite Application Framework (SAP CAF) leverages all SAP NetWeaver layers and provides the tools, methodology and environment for building and running composites. It enables model-driven and template-based access to all levels of composite application development. |
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SAP Portal Development Kit for Microsoft.NET (PDK for .NET) is a set of tools that enables .NET developers to build portal content for SAP NetWeaver Portal. Using PDK for .NET allows organizations to leverage their existing investments in the Microsoft .NET technology and developers’ skills, as well as take advantage of the SAP NetWeaver technology. This scenario variant describes the processes and steps required for creating and integrating portal applications using PDK for .NET. |
Related Information
The following role-specific guides contain further information about this IT scenario:
User Role and Task |
Guide |
Installation and upgrade |
|
Planning the installation of the IT scenario |
For more information, see the Master Guide - SAP NetWeaver on SAP Service Marketplace at service.sap.com/instguidesnw70 ® Installation. |
Planning the upgrade to the IT scenario |
For more information, see the Upgrade Master Guide - SAP NetWeaver on SAP Service Marketplace at service.sap.com/instguidesnw70 ® Upgrade. |
Configuration |
SAP
Solution Manager or Technology Consultant's
Guide:
|
Administration |
Administrator’s
Guide:
|
Security |
|
Development |
SAP NetWeaver Developer’s
Guide:
|
Technology
Consultant's Guide