SAP: SAP Basics

What is SAP?

The name SAP is acronym for Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing. SAP is an extremely complicated system where no one individual can understand all of it.

SAP runs on a fourth generation programming language language called Advance Business Application Programming (ABAP). It have many of the features of other modern programming languages such as the familiar C, Visual Basic, and Power Builder. Your programs name conventions begins with a letter yxxx or zxxx.

SAP graphical user interfaces (SAPGUI) runs on Windows / NT / Unix / AS400. When you are using 3.x you can used the SAPGUI 4.x, there are no conflicts as the SAPGUI is basically a front end tools.

If you create dialog screen, remembers to tick Development Tools (utility programs for the Screen Painter) when you are installing SAPGUI 4.x.

In SAPGUI 4.x, you can configure whether to use the present 3.x screen design or the New 4.x Visual design (which is very graphical and computer resource hungry).

Disable the login image to reduce the memory usage. In transaction SM30, table SSM_CUST, create a new entries with Name HIDE_START_IMAGE and Value to be set YES.

SAP have move towards the Windows Explorer Screen Format (all the Menu on the left of your screen).
SAP is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software product capable of integrating multiple business applications, with each application representing a specific business area. These applications update and process transactions in real time mode. It has the ability to be configured to meets the needs of the business.

SAP Basics Feature
- Configuration of the SAP modules
  - Transaction SPRO - this is the main tree for all the configuration.
- Function Key
  - F1 - Help
  - F4 - Possible entries or matchcode for the field you are accessing
  - F5 - Selection screen
  - F7 - Previous screen
  - F8 - Next screen
  - F9 - Technical info
  - CTRL+X - Cut
  - CTRL+C - Copy
  - CTRL+V - Paste
- Navigation
  - /n Skip to the next record if you are processing one batch input session
  - /bend Cancel a batch input foreground process
  - /nend Close all R/3 sessions and logoff
  - /nxxx x Call the transaction xxxx in the same session
  - /o Generate a session list
  - /oxxx x Call the transaction xxxx in an additional session
  - /i Delete the current session
  - /h Turn the debug mode on
  - /$tab Reset all buffers (for System Administrators)
  - /$syn c Synchronize instances buffers (for System Administrators)
    In 4.x, you can have long SAP transaction code up to a maximum of 20 character
What is the difference between configuration and customisation? In a nut shell, customization is done when the client's requirement cannot be mapped with SAP standards. Here you will have to take the help of ABAPers to develop the programs/change the program codes in order to match the clients business requirements
Configuration is done with out any developed programs

SAP