UI Technologies
Different technologies are available as part of Application Server ABAP (AS ABAP) for displaying an application to users. Which option is used depends on the application that you want to run. When planning your project, you can decide which UI technology you want to use based on the technical prerequisites as well as the requirements for the planned application.
Web-oriented Programming Model
With Web Dynpro ABAP, Application Server ABAP provides a programming model based on the Model View Controller principle. The architectureof this model is identical to that of Web AS ABAP and Web AS Java. Applications that were created using Web Dynpro for ABAP are displayed using a standard browser on the user's PC.
With the Floorplan ManagerWeb Application Server ABAP provides a framework based on Web Dynpro for configuring consistent and standardized interfaces.
Release 6.10 of the SAP Web Application Servers offered programming of Business Server Pages(BSP) for the first time. This programming model is fundamentally different to dynpro programming, and enables an application to be displayed via an HTTP connection using a standard browser. The application-specific display software does not, therefore, need to be installed on the user's PC.
SAP NetWeaver Business Client
SAP NetWeaver Business Client (NWBC) is a rich client providing optimal end-to-end performance, familiar desktop integration, and dramatically improved user experience. It allows consumption of portal services, application content, and tasks directly from the back-end systems. NWBC bridges the gap between today's thick clients (such as SAP GUI) and the browser access used to access SAP NetWeaver Portal.
The SAP GUI for Windows and for Java
SAP applications from older releases are usually programmed using dynpro technology. To display applications that were programmed using dynpro technology, a separate software packet is installed on the user's PC, SAP GUI for Windows or SAP GUI for Java.
The SAP GUI for Java is also a user interface for displaying dynpro-based applications and is also installed locally on the user's PC. Unlike the SAP GUI for Windows, the SAP GUI for Java does not depend in the local PC's operating system. You can find information about the SAP GUI for Java in Note 146505.
The SAP GUI for HTML / Internet Transaction Server
The increasing development of the World Wide Web meant that it became necessary to enable existing applications based on dynpro technology to be called using standard browsers via HTTP. The Internet Transaction Server(ITS) and the SAP GUI for HTMLwere conceived for this purpose.
The SAP GUI for HTML technology and the IAC technology are both integrated into Web Application Server.