SAP-ABAP - Customizing in SAP


ABAP is the programming language of SAP. Introduced in the 1980s as the "General Report Formatting Processor" with similarities to COBOL, ABAP has been continuously developed and supplemented to today's as "Advanced Business Application Programming" to lay the foundation for (almost) every SAP system.
If the demands on the business processes to be mapped go beyond the customization options of SAP BW, complex logics are to be built into a data stream, or simply the performance of applications and reporting is to be improved, the only option is often implementation using ABAP code. Since almost all SAP systems currently in operation were written in ABAP, extensive ABAP knowledge is essential, including the analysis of standard BW processes.

General


Besides the various other approaches of SAP (Java Application Server for SAP NetWeaver, BIAL for SAP BO Design Studio, JavaScript for SAPUI5 apps, Native SQL on the SAP HANA database), ABAP is still the first choice for SAP and custom developments in the SAP environment.

Due to the downward compatibility, which is necessary to keep existing business processes executable even after an upgrade of the SAP system, the ABAP language scope is extremely extensive. However modern, functionally written ABAP code resembles Java more than the original template COBOL and is thus very modern. With ABAP Objects also an extension was created that makes ABAP a full-fledged object-oriented programming language.

ABAP is perfectly integrated into the SAP system. Most BW objects are ABAP objectse. Access to the database is also guaranteed by the integrated "Open SQL". This means that almost all standard processes can be adapted to one's own needs with the help of ABAP, and there are hardly any limits to in-house developments. ABAP can be found in the following areas of application, among others:

  • ETL processes and transformations

    One of the main tasks of a data warehouse is to merge and unify heterogeneous, distributed data sets. If logic beyond simple assignments or formulas is to be used here, an implementation in ABAP is necessary. Even complex data selections can be implemented in this way.

  • Advanced planning functions

    SAP offers various standard planning functions in the BW-IP and BPC planning applications, but these usually do not meet all customer requirements. In ABAP, even highly complex planning functions can be realized.

  • Reporting

    ABAP can also be used at the runtime of reports wherever ordinary formulas reach their limits. For example, depending on selections in the report, additional information can be read in the database.

  • Web Dynpro

    The Web Dynpro technology, which is based on the Model View Controller architecture, makes it possible to develop Web applications, e.g. for the SAP Enterprise Portal, in ABAP. With the help of the Floor Plan Manager, Web Dynpros can also be integrated into a FIORI Launchpad.

Recommendation


Understanding or writing a few lines ABAP-code is necessary in almost every project. When it comes to implementing special requirements, ABAP is the tool of choice.

Your advantage


  • Adaptation of SAP standard components to your own requirements
  • Future-proof implementation of complex business processes

Our offer


Are you reaching the limits of your project or do you want to implement complex requirements in your system? Take advantage of our offer of a free initial consultation, in which we check the feasibility of your requirement and develop possible approaches together with you.