What Is Configuration?

• Configuration is the means by which user

selections and relatively static data are specified for
the R/3 System.

• The customizing data is stored in database tables

SAP Configuration in the SAP repository.

• Configuration also includes the selection of the

processes themselves that will be used in its
implementation.

Figure1 - Repository contains Configuration

What Is Configuration? (Continued)
settings

• In the configuration procedures, the available SAP

business processes (BPPs) are selected and
Business
matched with a company’s business requirements
Transaction
Data
and workflow processes.

Customizing
• A company’s transaction processing requirements
Data are mapped to available BPPs in the R/3 System.
‰ This matching and mapping is business process
reengineering (BPR) in which the existing business
processes of an organization are changed, revised, and
Business
Business
Objects
Objects adopted to match-up with the best business practice
available in the R/3 System.

Figure 2 - Configuration maps business

What Is Configuration? (Continued)
requirements to SAP R/3 System

• In order to configure a R/3 System installation, the

implementation team must: ?C
‰ Understand the business processes or functions available O
in the R/3 System. N
F
‰ Understand the business requirements of the business in I
G
which the R/3 System is being installed. U
R
‰ Know how to use the R/3 System configuration tools that A
are available to do the actual implementation entries. Your Company T
I SAP System
O
N

1
 Figure 3 - Configuration selects business process
What Is Configuration? (Continued)
from the Repository

g
in
nn
• Solution Manager is a set of tools and functions es n
Pl
a

s al tio
sh tS uc
which help manage software solutions throughout to
Ca
ile
Sa
le
te
rn
e
Pr
od
er ob In
their entire life cycle. O
rd M

‰ It runs in a separate central system or instance using the Customer

SAP Web Application Server platform to which other Specific
Solution
SAP systems are connected.
Business
Process
Repository

Customer SAP
Created BP Provided BP

Figure 4 - ASAP Roadmap and Solution Manager

What Is Configuration? (Continued)
drive configuration of SAP products

• Configuration is the primary activity for every

SAP R/3 project, whether this is an initial ASAP Roadmap

installation or subsequent process change or Project

Preparation Final Preparation
Continuous

Improvement

upgrade. Business
Blueprint
Realization Go Live &
Support

‰ This is frequently accomplished using Accelerated Methodology

SAP (ASAP), which is a computer systems analysis Solution

Solution
and design method and tools provided by SAP AG. Manager
Manager
SAP
SAP Web
Web AS
AS
• The Solution Manager deploys the ASAP
methodology for implementing and continually Customer
Customer Other
Other SAP
SAP
optimizing the system. R/3
R/3 Enterprise
Enterprise Relationship
Relationship Products
Products
Management
Management
SAP
SAP Web
Web AS
AS SAP
SAP Web
Web AS
AS SAP
SAP Web
Web AS
AS

Reference Structure Reference Structure (Continued)

• The Reference Structure is used to identify,
document, and represent existing enterprise
business processes in the R/3 System.
• The Reference Structure provides guidance in
answering questions such as:
‰ How can a company identify and document existing
business processes?
‰ Which functions and integration options does the R/3
System offer?
‰ How can a company define the interfaces between the
R/3 System and other systems?
‰ How can a company optimize its business processes
with the R/3 System?
• In performing gap analysis, the business
processes necessary to satisfy a company’s
transaction processing requirements are compared
with the functionality of the processes provided by
the R/3 System to determine potential gaps.
• The completed model is known as the Enterprise
Model when the configuration activities have
matched the business requirements to the
processing available in the Reference Structure.

2
 Figure 5 - Available application components
Reference Structure (Continued)
in IMG
• The SAP Reference IMG within Solution Manager
is an integral part of the R/3 System that is used
extensively in the configuration of the R/3 System.

• The menu selections for opening the SAP

Reference IMG are as follows:
Select Tools->Customizing->IMG->Edit Project
Business
The customizing: Execute Project screen appears for application
components
continuing selections.

Click the SAP Reference IMG button on the Application

toolbar.

Figure 6 - Three-System Landscape

System Landscape
of configuration

• The system landscape contains all the SAP

Systems that are installed for an organization. DEV QAS PRD
‰ It often consists of several systems, whose SAP

Transport

Transport
CUST QTST PROD
Systems are linked by transport routes.
TEST TRNG

SAND

DVLP

Development Quality Production

System Assurance System
System

The “Big Picture” Figure 7 - The “Big Picture” of configuration

Solution Manager

• The purpose of the “Big Picture” is to show the Implementation

Roadmap
Drives the
1. Blueprint -
2. Configuration -
1. Project Preparation
primary interactions among the Implementation 2. Business Blueprint Use of Tools
3. Testing -

3. Realization
Roadmap, Solution Manager, and Dev instance. 4. Final Preparation
5. Go Live & Support
Phase
ªWork Package
Other Tools
ªActivity Ž MS Project
ªTasks
Ž …..
DEV
SAP Standard
Customizing
Customization
Client
80% (Configuration in
IMG) Unit Test
Enhancements Which Client
Which Ž User Exists Take
10% Ž Append Structure Sandbox
Accomplishes Place
Ž ABAP Tools Client
These Here
Customer Developers
Activities Client
10% Developed
Ž ABAP Tools xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
0% Modify

3
 Business Object Repository Figure 8 - Access to Business Object Repository

• The Business Object Repository (BOR) is the

Select Tools->ABAP Workbench->Development-
central depository for the SAP business >Business Object Builder
procedures (BPPs) that make up the R/3 System.

• The BOR provides an object –oriented view of all

processes and data in the R/3 System.
‰ These repository objects are the fundamental elements Select BO Repository
at the atomic or lowest level in the R/3 System.
‰ The objects are arranged according to the component
hierarchy illustrated in the IMG.

Figure 9 - Application Components in Business

Figure10 - Process Selection Matrix
Object Repository

» You can now (drill down) to a specific business object.

Expand Sales and Distribution, expand Methods.

Business Select
available
application
process
components

Figure11 - Example Business process code for

Implementation Guide
SALESORDER_CHANGE object
Now, double-click Change Sales Order • The Implementation Guide (IMG) is a R/3
System tool for actually making the settings that
configure the R/3 System to meet a company’s
requirements.

• A Project IMG is a subset of the Reference IMG

that contains the documentation for selected IMG
components that are implemented as part of the
specific configuration project.
Source code
implements
business object

• The Project IMG facilitates the establishment of

the organization arrangement during a company’s
configuration by defining that structure.

4
 Figure12 - R/3 System Organization Units IMG Implementation Guide (Continued)

• The R/3 Enterprise Structure can be represented

by an Organizational Diagram, which is a model
of the relationships among various R/3 System
organizational elements.
‰ It represents the organizational structure implemented
within the R/3 System.
‰ This organizational structure is a required component of
every configuration, regardless of the number of
applications modules that are implemented for a
Organization
structure
particular company.
components
‰ The available organizational elements are the same
whether the R/3 System is being implemented for
manufacturing or service related industry.

Figure13 - R/3 System Organizational Diagram ABAP Development Workbench

Company
code • The ABAP Development Workbench is an
Business
integrated set of fourth-generation tools, which
area
support the implementation of critical client/server
applications, or add-ons to standard R/3 System
Sales
area Plant modules.
‰ This is where customer developed processes takes
Division Sales Distribution Shipping Plant place.
organization channel point warehouse

Loading
point

ABAP Development Workbench (Continued) ABAP Development Workbench (Continued)

• The major components of the ABAP Development

Workbench include: • This toolset is especially suited to R/3 System
‰ ABAP Programming Language installations that require enhancements to
‰ ABAP Dictionary standard R/3 business applications with
‰ ABAP Editor customized add-on functionality.
‰ ABAP Function Library
‰ Data Modeler
‰ R/3 Repository
‰ Screen Painter
‰ Menu Painter

5
 Figure15 - Selection entry screen for sample
Figure14 - Sample ABAP program
ABAP program

Request
input range

Write report
lines
Enter range
of values

Language
dependent
text elements

Figure16 - List report from sample

Quick Check
ABAP program

1. True or false: Configuration is the process of selecting

and matching the available SAP business processes
with a competitor’s order management requirements.
2. List three primary configuration support tools for SAP
R/3 Enterprise.
3. True of false: Customizing is a fine-tuning activity
carried out on an R/3 installation that is already
running a prototype form.
4. The ___ is used to identify, document, and represent
Language existing enterprise-specific business processes in the
dependent
text elements R/3 System.

Quick Check (Continued) Quick Check (Continued)

5. List three different components stored in the R/3 9. List the three instances of a three-system landscape
Repository. architecture.
6. True of false: The IMG provides detailed menus for 10. A ___ application is one that make extensive use of
configuring and setting R/3 Application Modules. relatively static data that is stored in a file or database
7. The ___ is an integrated set of fourth-generation tools for using in controlling processing of this type of
which support the development of add-ons to the application software.
standard R/3 System.
8. True of false: The R/3 System has a totally flexible
enterprise structure that can be varied in a unique
arrangement for each different company’s
configuration.