SAP Basic Skills

Some Facts about SAP

After the Internet, SAP R/3 is one of the hottest topics in the computer industry and the company that developed it. It is targeted to most industries, manufacturing, retail, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, banking, insurance, telecommunication, Transport, chemical and so on. All major hardware Vendors were fully engaged to partner with SAP: AT&T, BULL, Compaq, IBM, Sun have supported and certified R/3 platform. 

SAP has list of major consultants all over the world like Anderson Consulting, Price Waterhouse – Cooper & Lybrand, Ernst & Young, KPMG and many more. The company behind R/3 is SAP AG, founded by four former IBM employees in 1972. The company’s headquarters are in Walldorf, a small German town.

The company name, SAP stands for SYSTEMS, APPLICATIONS and PRODUCTS in data processing. In 1992 R/3 was introduced and in 1995 SAP AG was ranked fifth among independent software vendors. One of the reasons for SAP’s success is that since it is a standard package, it can be configured in multiple areas and adapted to specific need of a company. Today, they have many customers in over 120 countries. With subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol “SAP”. SAP has two main products in the business software market, Mainframe system R/2 and Client-server R/3. Both are targeted to business application solutions. Here R indicates REAL TIME. R/2 is SAP AG mainframe software that runs on IBM, Siemens and other compatible equipment. This type of solution cannot be open, but with ALE technology, R/2 can be linked with R/3 system and share data. This system is mainly targeted at enterprises with data-intensive and centralized industries.

R/3 is the product that has really placed SAP AG as the leader in the country. This complex Client/server system is core of our course. The global acceptance of R/3 is not only because it caters all complex needs of business but also this international acceptance is because of R/3’s international applicability. For SAP this does not mean having software available in different languages, but also covering currency, taxes, Legal practice concerning HR, Import/export regulations. SAP also values its customers and it is shown by the comprehensive set of quality services put by SAP to help customers during the process of implementing and supporting the R/3 systems. These services include product information; training, installation and upgrade service like:

OSS: Online Service System is one of the primary sources of service and support provided by SAP. With OSS, customers can search the SAP information database and find solutions for errors and problems with R/3 systems. You can also submit your problems to SAP.

Consulting Service: with remote consulting service customer receives immediate and updated technical support and answers to their questions. 

Maintenance service: This is the basic and most common type of support for customers in technical support and answers to their questions. 

Information Service: These are the various information sources for receiving detailed information about the R/3 system, marketing brochures, system documentation, training information and many more things. 

Preventive services: The primary one is the Early Watch Service, which ensures successful and efficient installation of the R/3 system in all phases. This service makes regular/performance checks and analyzes the system to identify potential problems, help system managers and SAP administrators to tune the system. Soon after the Early Watch session, SAP sends the customer a report with the result of the analysis and recommendations for avoiding potential problems such as database becoming full. So overall SAP R/3 is an open client/server software system, designed to manage business information needs of an entire enterprise. The whole dataflow of SAP R/3 works in an integrated way, which means the data needs to be entered just once and the system automatically updates other logically related data.

 

 

 Working With R/3 system

The SAP R/3 presentation interface behaves very similarly to any other typical window application and is also known as SAPGUI. The first screen that you come across in R/3 system is SAP logon screen.

SAP R/3 logon Screen

This is the first screen that appears when you use SAP logon utility. It has four fields: the client, the user, the password and the language. 

Client: Here you enter the client number. The client is group of users who has similar rights. It can be group of users in a business entity or a whole business entity or a whole company.

¨ User: The name of the SAP user identification. Users of the SAP system are client-specific, which means that user belonging to one client is valid to only the particular client.

¨ Password: It is the password that has been assigned by the system administrator.

¨ Language: SAP R/3 system supports multinational language on the same system at the same time, which is very useful for multinational companies with different branches in several countries and possibly using different languages.

After entering all the fields press ENTER key and system will take you to MAIN MENU screen.

User might get different screens when he logs on, depending upon default settings of the user master record i.e., if user is DEVELOPER then the screen which he often works on is editor screen and he can go directly to this screen, if system administrator sets this screen for the user.

Main features of any R/3 window are as follows:

¨ R/3 standard window elements behave exactly the same, as any other standard window application would, like minimizing a screen, setting the active window etc.

¨ From TOP to BOTTOM, R/3 window can contain typical elements such as check boxes, push buttons, input fields and following elements: 

¨ Menu bar is the first element of the every R/3 window. It contains the menu item corresponding to the particular R/3 application. The two menu options SYSTEM and HELP are always present in every R/3 window. SYSTEM menu option contains all utilities and functions, and is available to user at all the times. The HELP menu contains all the available options for the different types and methods of obtaining online help in the system. 

¨ Standard tool bar. The second R/3 window element is present in every R/3 window. It is nothing but a collection of icons, which perform common functions like saving the object, exit etc. The various icons on

std.

All icons in R/3 window application support FOCUS property. It means, if you place cursor over an icon, the system will show the function of the icon.

¨ Application tool bar: The next part of the screen contains icons most commonly used in that particular task or transaction.

¨ Status bar is the bottom line of the screen and usually shows errors or information messages to the user. It also includes other information such as system id, session number, client, server name and the response time.

In between application tool bar and status bar you have working area, which is different for different screens. 

Logging Off

User can log off the R/3 system from any screen. There are three ways of loggingoff the R/3 system, which are as follows:

¨ From the Menu bar choose SYSTEM ® LOG OFF. In this case, you get the log off dialog box, which informs the user that any data not saved will be lost if continuing with the log off procedure.

¨ Use/NEX transaction code in the command field. This is dangerous, since it does not ask if you want to save the data. 

¨ Clicking on the EXIT button on the R/3 initial screen.

Using Transaction Code

The R/3 system provides an alternative and efficient way of selecting menu options for moving around the tasks and functions of the SAP system by using transaction code directly in the command field. When moving with transaction, you can go to any part of the system by merely typing a transaction code in the command field, provided you have authorization for that. That transaction code is the four-character code

associated with any task. By typing the transaction code and pressing ENTER key, the system takes you directly to the initial screen for transaction. 

Whenever any transaction code is entered in the command field, it gets stored in the buffer memory. If you click on drop down arrow, system displays list of transaction code already entered and you can select from this list or enter new one. There are almost twelve thousand and ninety four transactions in SAP. For every task, transaction code is associated and it can be found by

¨ SYSTEM ® STATUS

Status window is popped up which contains the transaction code in the trans field.

¨ Through DYNAMIC MENU. It gives the list of tasks. If you click on the top line of the application areas and pressing the search and search next button will give you the transaction code. /N will take you to initial screen of R/3

Important transaction codes, which will be using often (for ABAP), are:

Editors

· SE37 Function Builder

· SE38 ABAP/4 Editor

· SE41 Menu Painter

· SE51 Screen Painter

· SE71 Form Painter

Dictionary

· SE11 Initial ABAP/4 dictionary maintain screen.

Browsers

· SE80 Object browser.

· SE16 Data browser.

Testing Tools

· SE30 Runtime Analysis

· ST05 SQL Trace

Getting help in the R/3 system

R/3 includes many possibilities to get online help for almost every element of the system, users can get help for entire application, for specific function, for definitions of various terms used in SAP, i.e., Glossary, messages, screens, fields etc.

You obtain HELP by using any of the following options:

¨ Help function from the R/3 window, which is compulsory menu item of every R/3 window.

¨ ? Icon of standard tool bar.

¨ F1 function key.

The SAP system provides help on most fields that appear on the R/3 system. To get help on particular field, position the cursor over it and press help button or F1 function key. Another way in which R/3 system provides help is when system displays error messages in the status bar. Double clicking on the status bar shows additional information about the message.

Working with R/3 user sessions

A very important feature provided by SAP. In R/3 system you can work with more than one task at any given point of time, by means of opening sessions. You can call sessions as independent R/3 window where you can perform other tasks.

By default, a user can open NINE sessions simultaneously and can work or move around with all sessions at the same time. Sessions can be closed at any time, without having to log off the system.

User can create new sessions from anywhere as CREATE SESSION comes under SYSTEM menu which is available in every R/3 window.  SYSTEM ® CREATE SESSION Or /O in command field

This will open a new session or window and will place it in front of all other windows. 

To move among sessions ¨ Just mouse click on any part of the R/3 window to make that session

active.

¨ Combination of ALT + TAB key.

SAP Modules:

Complete SAP Modules:

1.    SAP Basis

1.1.           Security (BC - SEC)

1.2.           Application Link Enabling (ALE)

1.3.           Remote Function Calls (RFC)

1.4.           Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)

1.5.           Common Program Interface Communications (CPI-C)

1.6.           Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

1.7.           Customizing (BC-CUS)

1.8.           ABAP Programming and Runtime Environment (BC - ABA)

1.9.           Client Server Technology (BC - CST)

1.10.       Network Integration (BC - NET)

1.11.       Basis Services/ Communication Interfaces (BC - SRV)

1.12.       Computing Center Management System (BC - CCM)

1.13.       Upgrade General (BC - UPG)

1.14.       Change and Transport System (BC - CTS)

1.15.       Operating System Platform(BC - OP)

1.16.       Database Interface, database platforms (BC - DB)

1.17.       Front End Services (BC - FES)

1.18.       ABAP Workbench (BC - DWB)

1.19.       Documentation and Translation Tools (BC - DOC)

1.20.       Controls and Control Framework (BC - CI) 

1.21.       Business Management (BC - BMT)

1.22.       Middleware (BC - MID)

1.23.       Computer Aided Test Tool (BC - CAT)

1.24.       Ready to Run R/3 (BC - BRR)

1.25.       Authorisations System Monitoring with CCMS Workload Alert Monitor

2.    ABAP/4 Programming

2.1             ABAP Workbench

2.2             Menu Painter

2.3             Screen Painter

2.4             Data Dictionary

2.5             SAP Script

2.6             Business Workflow (BC - WF)

2.7             ALE

2.8             EDI

2.9             Business Connector

2.10         Business Server Pages

2.11         Internet Application Server

2.12         Mercator Report Painter

2.13         ALV reporting

2.14         Report writer

2.15         Dialog Programming

2.16         Repository Information System

2.17         ABAP 00

2.18         IDOCS

2.19         LSMW

2.20         Smartforms

2.21         EBP

2.22         ASAP methodology

2.23         ABAP Query

3.    SAP FI (Financial Accounting)

3.1.           General Ledger Accounting (FI - GL)

3.2.           Special Ledger (FI - SL)

3.3.           Extended Ledger

3.4.           Accounts Payable (FI- AP)

3.5.           Accounts Receivable (FI - AR)

3.6.           Asset Accounting (FI - AA)

3.7.           Bank Accounting

3.8.           Funds Management (FI - FM)

3.9.           Travel Management (FI-TM)

3.10.       Consolidation

4.    SAP CO (Controlling)

4.1.           Cost Centre Accounting (CO - CCA)

4.2.           Overhead Cost Controlling (CO - OM)

4.3.           Activity Based Coding (CO - ABC)

4.4.           Product Cost Controlling (CO - PC)

4.5.           Profitability Analysis (CO - PA)

4.6.           Material Ledger (CO - ML)

5.    SAP EC (Enterprise Controlling)

5.1.           Consolidation (EC - CS)

5.2.           Executive Information System (EC-EIS)

5.3.           Profit Center Accounting (EC - PCA)

5.4.           Business Planning and Budgeting

6.    SAP TR (Treasury)

6.1.           Cash Management (TR - CM)

6.2.           Loans Management (TR - LM)

6.3.           Market Risk Management (TR - MRM)

6.4.           Treasury Management (TR - TM)

6.5.           Funds Management (TR - FM)

6.6.           Information System

7.    SAP IM (Investment Management)

7.1.           Investment Programmes

7.2.           Investment Measures (orders/products)

7.3.           Corporation Wide Budgeting

7.4.           Appropriation Requests

7.5.           Automatic Settlement of Fixed Assets

7.6.           Depreciation Forecast

7.7.           Information System

8.    SAP HR (Human Resource)

8.1.           Recruitment

8.2.           Personnel Administration

8.3.           Benefits Administration

8.4.           Compensation Management

8.5.           Personnel Development

8.6.           Organizational Management

8.7.           Travel Management

8.8.           Training and Events Management

8.9.           Personnel Planning

8.10.       Time Management

8.11.       Incentive

8.12.       Wages

8.13.       Workflow

8.14.       Payroll

8.15.       Internet Scenarios

8.16.       Information System

9.    SAP SD (Sales and Distribution)

9.1.           Master Data

9.2.           Sales

9.3.           Sales Support

9.4.           Sales Information System

9.5.           Billing

9.6.           Special Business Transactions

9.7.           Shipping

9.8.           Transportation

9.9.           Credit Control

9.10.       QM in SD

9.11.       Internet

9.12.       Foreign Trade

9.13.       Electronic Data Interchange

10.           SAP Logistics Information System

10.1.       Purchasing Information System

10.2.       Sales Information System

10.3.       Inventory Controlling

10.4.       Retail Information System

10.5.       Production Planning and Control Information System

10.6.       Plant Maintenance Information System

10.7.       Project Information System

11.           SAP MM (Materials Management)

11.1.       Purchasing

11.2.       Invoice Verification

11.3.       Logistics (General)

11.4.       Logistics Information System

11.5.       Inventory Management

11.6.       Inventory / Valuations

11.7.       Materials Planning

11.8.       Workflow

11.9.       External Services Management

11.10.  QM in MM

11.11.  Warehouse Management

12.           SAP PM (Plant Maintenance)

12.1.       Preventative Maintenance

12.2.       Maintenance Order Management

12.3.       Maintenance Projects

12.4.       Service Management

12.5.       Maintenance Planning

12.6.       Equipment and Technical Objects

12.7.       Structuring Technical Systems

12.8.       PM Processing

12.9.       Work Clearance Management

12.10.  Internet Scenarios

12.11.  Customising

12.12.  Information System

13.           SAP PP (Production Planning)

13.1.       Make to Order (CR)

13.2.       Make to Order (PIR)

13.3.       Repetitive Manufacturing

13.4.       PP for Process Industries (PP - PI)

13.5.       PP - Processes

13.6.       Sales and Operations Planning

13.7.       Capacity requirements

13.8.       Master Planning

13.9.       KANBAN

13.10.  Production Orders

13.11.  Product Cost Planning

13.12.  Plant Data Collection

13.13.  Assembly Orders

13.14.  Information System

14.           SAP QM - Quality Management

14.1.       Planning

14.2.       Inspections

14.3.       Notifications

14.4.       Control

14.5.       Certificates

14.6.       Test Equipment Management

14.7.       QM-IS

15.           SAP BW (Business Warehousing)

15.1.       Data Warehousing

15.2.       BI Suite - Business Explorer

15.3.       BI Platform

15.4.       ODS Structures

15.5.       Development Technologies

15.6.       Info Cube

15.7.       Design Build

16.           SAP CS (Customer Service)

16.1.       Service Processing

16.2.       Controlling

16.3.       Service Contracts

16.4.       Workflow in Customer Service

17.           SAP SMB

17.1.       SAP SMB

18.           SAP CA (Cross Application Components)

18.1.       SAP Business Workflow

18.2.       Application Link Enabling (ALE)

19.           SAP PS (Project Systems)

19.1.       Basic Data

19.2.       Operational Structures

19.3.       Project Planning

19.4.       Approval

19.5.       Information System

19.6.       Project Execution and Integration

19.7.       Work Breakdown Structure

20.           mySAP SRM (Supplier Relationship Management)

20.1.       Self Service Procurement

20.2.       Service Procurement

20.3.       Plan Driven Procurement

20.4.       Spend Analysis

20.5.       Strategic Sourcing

20.6.       Catalogue Content Management

21.           mySAP SEM

21.1.       Business Consolidation (SEM-BCS)

21.2.       Business Information Collection (SEM-BIC)

21.3.       Business Planning and Simulation (BW-BPS)

21.4.       Corporate Performance Monitor (SEM-CPM)

21.5.       Stakeholder Relationship Management (SEM-SRM)

22.           mySAP CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

22.1.       CRM Enterprise

22.2.       Field Applications

22.3.       Interaction Center

22.4.       E-Commerce

22.5.       Channel Management

22.6.       Industry Specific CRM

23.           mySAP Product Life Cycle Management

23.1.       Document Management

23.2.       Engineering Change Management

23.3.       Enterprise Content Management

23.4.       Classification

23.5.       Basic Data for Process Manufacturing

24.           SAP SCM (SAP Supply Chain Management)

24.1.       SCM Process and Business Scenarios

24.2.       SAP Forecasting and Replenishment

24.3.       SAP Advance Planning and Optimization (SAP - APO)

24.4.       SAP Inventory Collaboration Hub (SAP - OCH)

24.5.       SAP Event Management (SAP - EM)

24.6.       SCM Basis

25.           SAP Netweaver

25.1.       SAP Masterdata Management

25.2.       Information Integration

25.3.       Portal Content

25.4.       Process Integration

25.5.       Knowledge Management

25.6.       Life Cycle Management

25.7.       SAP Business Intelligence

25.8.       SAP Visual Composer

25.9.       People Integration

25.10.  Application Platform

25.11.  SAP Web Application Server

25.12.  SAP Business Information Warehouse

25.13.  SAP Solution Manager

25.14.  SAP Enterprise Portal

25.15.  SAP Mobile Engine

25.16.  Security

26.           SAP IS (Industry Solutions) / SAP for Industries

SAP has the following industries specific solutions:

26.1.       Aerospace & Defence

26.2.       Consumer Products

26.3.       Defence & Security

26.4.       Retail

26.5.       Insurance

26.6.       Mill Products

26.7.       Higher Education & Research

26.8.       Industrial Machinery & Components

26.9.       Logistics Service Providers

26.10.  Automotive

26.11.  Chemicals

26.12.  Pharmaceuticals

26.13.  Banking

26.14.  Telecoms

26.15.  Life Sciences

26.16.  Mining

26.17.  Public Sector

26.18.  Service Provider

26.19.  Media

26.20.  Healthcare

26.21.  Oil & Gas

26.22.  Utilities

26.23.  Postal Services