The NetWeaver Portal, and NetWeaver as a whole, houses the most interesting technologies SAP has to offer and is more current with the entire tech industry than the other Business Suite applications. Here are a few of our favorite Portal features.
User Interface – One of the main draws of the Portal is the user interface- it is much better looking and more customizable than what you see through SAP’s GUI application. The look is also extremely adaptable using the provided theming tool or development interface. The only issue is that the web technology is a bit outdated (by the web’s growth standards). SAP recently addressed this with the creation of their AJAX Framework Page (AFP). AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a web development technique that has been around for quite some time. It is used on the client-side to enable the retrieval of data from the server without the need for a page refresh. This allows developers to create much more dynamic and interactive applications providing for a more fluid user experience because there is no interruption of the display. Along with the use of AJAX to provide exciting new functionality, the new framework page comes with an updated new look which is, as always, malleable to the client’s preferences in colors and navigation schemes.
HCM Processes and Forms – One of the most useful SAP technologies is HCM Processes and Forms (HCM P&F). While this form framework using Adobe isn’t exactly housed on the Portal, they are executed there. The applications embedding the forms are built in WebDynpro for ABAP on ECC’s application server and utilize Business Workflow in order to whisk the forms away according to the client’s organizational structure for different edits and approvals. With the tools provided, developers are given complete control over the look of the forms and every form object can be manipulated via JavaScript at any point within the form process by using pre-defined events. It is apparent SAP agrees with me that this framework is something special because they keep coming out with new enhancements and each one brings forth exciting and useful new features.
Knowledge Management – The storage of documents for an entire organization can get tedious and difficult to manage, but the way SAP set up their Knowledge Management (KM) system on the Portal is extremely effective. KM gives the ability to structure all the documents in an organization, regardless of their location, into any configuration the client desires. The documents stored on the portal are in fact physically unstructured, but KM’s configuration settings allow you to give the appearance of a structure. KM also houses a Repository Framework that allows it to access and structure documents stored in any other location within the organization or on the web. KM also provides features like discussions, document feedback, folder subscriptions, virtual rooms as well as robust security measures utilizing roles, access control lists (ACLs), and permissions.
While all clients don’t want to implement all of the latest and greatest features SAP’s Portal has to offer, they choose the subset that is right for their business. Our job is to make the Portal fulfill the vision our clients have for their business. The fact that every project is different and the technologies SAP uses are constantly advancing and changing is what makes us love our job.
SAP Portals – Some of Our Favorite Features
User Interface – One of the main draws of the Portal is the user interface- it is much better looking and more customizable than what you see through SAP’s GUI application. The look is also extremely adaptable using the provided theming tool or development interface. The only issue is that the web technology is a bit outdated (by the web’s growth standards). SAP recently addressed this with the creation of their AJAX Framework Page (AFP). AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a web development technique that has been around for quite some time. It is used on the client-side to enable the retrieval of data from the server without the need for a page refresh. This allows developers to create much more dynamic and interactive applications providing for a more fluid user experience because there is no interruption of the display. Along with the use of AJAX to provide exciting new functionality, the new framework page comes with an updated new look which is, as always, malleable to the client’s preferences in colors and navigation schemes.
Ajax Framework Page Wiki
HCM Processes and Forms – One of the most useful SAP technologies is HCM Processes and Forms (HCM P&F). While this form framework using Adobe isn’t exactly housed on the Portal, they are executed there. The applications embedding the forms are built in WebDynpro for ABAP on ECC’s application server and utilize Business Workflow in order to whisk the forms away according to the client’s organizational structure for different edits and approvals. With the tools provided, developers are given complete control over the look of the forms and every form object can be manipulated via JavaScript at any point within the form process by using pre-defined events. It is apparent SAP agrees with me that this framework is something special because they keep coming out with new enhancements and each one brings forth exciting and useful new features.
SAP HCM Processes and Forms
Knowledge Management – The storage of documents for an entire organization can get tedious and difficult to manage, but the way SAP set up their Knowledge Management (KM) system on the Portal is extremely effective. KM gives the ability to structure all the documents in an organization, regardless of their location, into any configuration the client desires. The documents stored on the portal are in fact physically unstructured, but KM’s configuration settings allow you to give the appearance of a structure. KM also houses a Repository Framework that allows it to access and structure documents stored in any other location within the organization or on the web. KM also provides features like discussions, document feedback, folder subscriptions, virtual rooms as well as robust security measures utilizing roles, access control lists (ACLs), and permissions.
Knowledge Management and Collaboration
While all clients don’t want to implement all of the latest and greatest features SAP’s Portal has to offer, they choose the subset that is right for their business. Our job is to make the Portal fulfill the vision our clients have for their business. The fact that every project is different and the technologies SAP uses are constantly advancing and changing is what makes us love our job.