📘 Introduction to SAP ABAP

📌 What is ERP?

• ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning.
• Integrates all business departments like Finance, Sales, HR, etc. into one system.
• Example: When a customer places an order:
• Sales team creates the order
• Warehouse gets notified to ship it
• Finance generates the invoice — all within one ERP system

🧠 What is SAP?

• SAP = Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing.
• Founded in Germany in 1972 by SAP AG.
• A robust ERP software used to:
• Manage inventory
• Track customer orders
• Process payroll
• Handle multiple business operations

🌟 Key Features of SAP

• Integration: One system for all departments.
• Multi-language & multi-currency support.
• User-based access control.
• Example: A user in France can use French, while an Indian user can use Hindi, both working in their local currency.

🧩 Modules in SAP

Functional Modules:

• SD – Sales & Distribution
• MM – Material Management
• PP – Production Planning
• FICA – Financial Contract Accounting

Technical Modules:

• ABAP – Programming
• BASIS – System Administration
• CRM – Customer Relationship Management
• PI – Integration between SAP & Non-SAP systems

🧱 SAP NetWeaver Platform

• Platform to run multiple SAP applications like ERP, CRM, SRM, etc.

🏗️ SAP R/3 Architecture

1. Presentation Layer – User Interface
2. Application Layer – Executes logic
3. Database Layer – Stores data

Example:
Input Sales Data (Presentation) → Process Discounts (Application) → Store in DB (Database)

🧑‍💻 Introduction to ABAP/4

• ABAP = Advanced Business Application Programming
• It’s a 4th generation language developed by SAP.
• Lies in the Application Layer of the SAP system.

⚙️ Application Server Architecture

• Dispatcher – Manages user requests
• Work Process – Executes ABAP programs
• User Context – Stores session data
• Roll Area – Holds execution details

🧪 SAP System Landscape

1. Development (DEV): For coding/configuration
2. Quality (QAS): For testing
3. Production (PRD): Live business system

Example: Create a report in DEV → Test in QAS → Use in PRD 

📤 Transport Request

• A mechanism to move objects between systems.
• Local objects (like $TMP) cannot be transported.
• T-Code: SE09

🖥️ SAP GUI & Components

• GUI = Graphical User Interface to access SAP
• Components:
• Command Bar: Enter /nSE11 to open Data Dictionary
• Status Bar: Shows system/client/message

🔐 SAP Logon Configuration

• Description: E.g., Training System
• App Server: Host/IP (e.g., 192.168.1.20)
• Instance Number: Two-digit code (e.g., 00)
• System ID: Unique system name (e.g., TR1)

🔑 SAP Login Example

• Client: 100
• User: SAPUSER
• Language: EN
• Password: Welcome123

🧰 SAP Easy Access & ABAP Workbench

• ABAP Workbench contains tools like:
• ABAP Dictionary
• ABAP Editor
• Function Builder
• Class Builder
• T-Codes: SE11, SE38, SE37, SE24
• Tip: Add favorites like SE38 for quick access

🚀 Transactions & Navigation

Command	Function
/nSE11	Open SE11 in same session
/oSE11	Open SE11 in new session
/nex	Exit SAP without prompt

 

Naming Conventions:

• Standard objects: Anything except Z/Y (e.g., VBAK)
• Custom objects: Start with Z or Y (e.g., ZEMPLOYEES)

 

🧭 SE80 – Object Navigator & Packages

• Access all workbench tools from SE80
• Packages are logical containers for objects
• Example: Create ZREPORT1 under package ZDEMO

 

🧱 Types of Projects in SAP

1. Implementation Project:
• First-time SAP setup
• Legacy data migration required
2. Support Project (Maintenance):
• Ongoing SAP usage
• Handle tickets, issues, change requests
3. Upgrade Project:
• Moving from older SAP version to newer
4. Rollout Project:
• Extending existing SAP to new countries/regions

 

🛠️ RICEFW – SAP Technical Objects

Also known as RICEF, categorized as:

Code	Category
R	Reports
I	Interfaces
C	Conversions
E	Enhancements
F	Forms
W	Workflow

📑 Reports:

• Display custom info formats
• Types: Classical, ALV, etc.

🔁 Interfaces:

• Data transfer between systems (SAP ↔ Non-SAP)

🔄 Conversion:

• Legacy → SAP data transformation
• Tools: BDC, LSMW, BAPI

✨ Enhancements:

• Add custom logic to standard SAP
• Techniques: Implicit/Explicit Enhancements, Customer Exit, BADI

🧾 Forms:

• Custom layouts via SmartForms, Adobe Forms, SAP Scripts

🔄 Workflow:

• Automate approvals (e.g., Leave request to supervisor)
  
  
  

⚔️ SAP ECC vs. SAP S/4HANA

Feature	SAP ECC	SAP S/4HANA
ERP Version	Older	Latest
Database Support	Multiple (Oracle, SQL)	Only HANA
Speed	Slower	Faster
Data Storage	Disk-based	In-memory (RAM)
UI	SAP GUI	SAP Fiori
Customization	ABAP	ABAP + CDS Views, AMDP, HANA features
Deployment	On-premise only	Cloud + On-premise