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SAP R/2 was designed primarily for the mainframe environment. R/3 is used mainly in the
open system or client/server environments.
Both R/2 and R/3 use the ABAP/4 programming language. This means that data can be moved
easily between mainframe and open systems.
The SAP modules are grouped into three main areas: Logistics, Accounting and Human
Resources. So, for example, Materials Management module is within Logistics group, and
Controlling is a module within Accounting.
The modules are all linked. So, as a user enters or updates data on-line using one module, the
information is immediately accessible to all modules.
The result is that up to date information is available to all parts of the company, regardless of
any organisational limitations, which may exist.
The R/3 system is adaptable in a range of ways. Modules can be customised to meet the
specific technical requirements of a company.
The R/3 modules can transfer data from a company's existing programs.
A company may install only the modules that it needs at the moment. Additional modules can
be added when the business needs grow.
Terms used within R/3 can be modified to match those used within the particular company.
SAP R/3 applications are Windows and Menus driven, and contain graphical objects.
You will only have access to the parts of R/3 that you need. This is controlled through
authorisation profiles allocated by your system administrator. Access can be expanded or
reduced as your needs change.
Components of the R/3 System
There are four main components within the R/3 System.
- Application modules.
- Interfaces.
- Basis System.
- SAP Technology.
* SAP Technology
SAP Technology is the advanced SAP software technology that enables R/3 to handle business
management tasks throughout all parts of an organisation.
SAP Technology is compatible with all types of business computer. This means that a
company's hardware can be expanded in a variety of ways as requirements increase.
SAP Technology will also handle changes in the structure of an organisation. For example,
changes may occur which require data processing to be more centralised or decentralised. SAP
will handle either equally well.
SAP Technology has also been designed for organisations made up of several corporations.
One R/3 System can administer several legally independent corporations. Even if the
corporations themselves have subsidiaries, they can all be handled within a single system.
International companies choose R/3 because it is multi-lingual, reflects national taxation laws
and accounting practices, and supports multiple time zone operations.
R/3 is Y2K Compliant.
SAP Technology ensures that organisations are ready for business on the Internet.
* Basis System
The Basis System is also known as the Kernel.
It's the engine of the R/3 System. It's responsible for defining the screens, checking entries, and
make sure data goes to the right place.
The Basis System is made up of four components:
- The Screen Interpreter,
- The ABAP/4 Interpreter,
- The Data Dictionary, and
- The Flow Control.
The screen interpreter is responsible for layout of the R/3 screens, checking user input and
providing error messages.
ABAP/4 is a 4th generation programming language developed by SAP. All of the SAP
application modules are written in ABAP/4.
ABAP/4 Interpreter is responsible for the dialog with the user. The role of the ABAP/4
Interpreter is to process the input data and edit the output data.
The Data Dictionary is where R/3 looks for definitions.
The Flow Control helps ensure the efficiency of R/3 applications through the general
management of a work session.
For example, the Flow Control ensures that your data is saved. Or, if you have asked the system
to perform a series of tasks, the Flow Control will handle this in what is known as a batch
process.
To summarise, your dialog with the R/3 System is supported by the four parts of the Basis
System: the Screen Interpreter, the ABAP/4 Interpreter, the Data Dictionary, and the Flow
Control.
* Interfaces
The interfaces are the connections that the R/3 System makes with its environment. There are
different versions designed for each type of computer and software. It is the interfaces which
enable the R/3 System to appear the same, no matter what computer system is being used.
There are three main types of interface:
- The System Interface,
- The User Interface,
- The Communications Interface.
The System Interface is the connection that R/3 makes with the existing software used by the
organisation.
The User Interface ensures that the screens appear the same to users on different types of
computer. Instructions from the screen interpreter are modified by the user interface to match
the particular computer being used.
The Communications Interface enables electronic data transfer between computers.
R/3 Modules
The R/3 System contains a large number of modules, which combine to execute the business
management tasks of an organisation.
Modules are grouped into three main areas: Logistics, Accounting and Human Resources.
The Logistics Modules handle business tasks that concern the whole company.
Accounting modules handle the management of assets and provide report regarding the
performance of the business so that management decisions are based on objective, up to date
information.
Human Resources group integrates such activities as personnel planning, recruitment, salary
administration and personnel development.
- Logistic Modules
The ability of the modules to communicate with each other enables R/3 to handle the business
management tasks of an organisation.
Unit 2: Using the R/3 System
The Unit Using the R/3 System is designed to show you how to access the system and give you
some experience of working with R/3 transactions. There are four lessons.
* The R/3 User Interface
* R/3 System Access
* Working Interactively
* The ABAP/4 Query
The R/3 User Interface
The R/3 System uses the Windows graphical interface. So the Windows Program manager has
an SAP R/3 program group. Double clicking on the group displays the R/3 icon.
Active entry field is coloured yellow. Any typing will appear there.
A question mark in an entry field indicates that an entry must be made in order to complete the
screen.
R/3 System Access
To carry out business management tasks, the R/3 System must handle data which is highly
confidential. For example, the system will contain information about a company's products,
finances, future strategy and the personal details of all employees.
Only authorised users have access to the system.
Each R/3 user is assigned access rights, which determine the data they may read, write or
modify in the system. Your access rights depend on the type of work you're required to do.
The system keeps a log of all actions taken.
When starting the R/3 System, there's a log-on screen. You must enter your username and
password to access the system.
The system administrator can expand authorisation profile.
A password must be between 3 and 8 characters long and all of the characters on the keyboard
are allowed.
A password cannot start with an exclamation point, a question mark, or a blank space and the
same three characters cannot be repeated three times in a row.
Working Interactively
Your work with the R/3 System is a dialog between yourself and the system. In this dialog you
will input data, display information and process tasks.
The ABAP/4 Query
The R/3 System manages an extensive amount of data about a company, its products, its
customers and the market place.
It is very important that you can extract particular information quickly and in a form that is
appropriate for your needs.
R/3 provides 2 main methods for extracting and organising data. The first is the Report. This is
a very flexible method through which you can tailor the output very closely to particular needs.
However, you do have to be proficient in ABAP/4 programming language to produce reports.
The second is the ABAP/4 Query. This provides a more standardised output in the form of a
list. It is les flexible than the report but it doesn't require any ABAP/4 programming skill. We
are going to concentrate on an example of the ABAP/4 Query in this lesson.
You start an ABAP/4 Query by first clicking on the System item on the menu bar. The Query is
found on the Services sub-menu.
The Initial Screen of the Query is displayed. This provides a list of standard queries from which
you can choose. You can't modify these queries in anyway. However, having standard queries
does mean that you can obtain your required data very quickly.
If query already in display, click on Execute, and select the query to execute.
Although you can't modify the query itself, you can limit the amount of data through which it
has to search for the pieces of information you require. The Stock Analysis 2 screen enables
you to narrow the search down and so reduce the amount of time that the query will take.