How To Provide SAP Business Server Page Applications Through SAP Netweaver Enterprise Portal For Smart Phones

How to Provide SAP Business
Server Page Applications through

SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal
for Smartphones
Applies to:
SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal 7.0 EHP 1 (SPS 6)
SAP Business Server Pages (BSP)
Summary
This document pursues two objectives, on the one hand it provides the reader with a kind of cookbook for
publishing BSP applications for smartphone devices with usage of SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal
infrastructure and on the other hand it demonstrates the importance of being familiar with portal architecture,
security concepts, session handling and corporate infrastructure.
Author: Florian Georg Furtmüller

Company: IDS Scheer Austria GmbH
Created on: 22 July 2010
Author Bio
Florian G. Furtmüller studied Business Informatics at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz.
He earned his diploma degree in 2007 and subsequently, started his work as SAP NetWeaver
Enterprise Portal Consultant at IDS Scheer Austria GmbH. He has more than three years of
experience in SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal and NetWeaver Components. He is currently
working for IDS Scheer Austria GmbH as Senior Consultant.
SAP COMMUNITY NETWORK SDN - sdn.sap.com | BPX - bpx.sap.com | BOC - boc.sap.com | UAC - uac.sap.com
© 2010 SAP AG 1
How to Provide SAP Business Server Page Applications through SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal for Smartphones
Table of Contents
How to integrate SAP Business Server Page applications into SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal for
BlackBerry devices ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Preconditions .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Approach - Steps at SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal ................................................................................. 4
Create portal role and application iView ....................................................................................................................... 4
Assign role to user or group ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Create Framework Page (just copy and rename default framework page) .................................................................. 5
Create Portal Desktop (just copy and rename default portal desktop) ......................................................................... 6
Apply Portal Desktop at Master Rule Collection........................................................................................................... 6
Adapt web.xml file ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
Testing ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Showcase ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
Related Content .................................................................................................................................................. 9
Disclaimer and Liability Notice .......................................................................................................................... 10
© 2010 SAP AG 2
How to integrate SAP Business Server Page applications into SAP NetWeaver
Enterprise Portal for BlackBerry devices
This document pursues two objectives, on the one hand it provides the reader with a kind of cookbook for
publishing BSP applications for smartphone devices with usage of SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal
infrastructure and on the other hand it demonstrates the importance of being familiar with portal architecture,
security concepts, session handling and corporate infrastructure. This paper deals with the foundations for
the administrating SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal, this can be seen as precondition and requirement for
the reader.
BlackBerry devices represent the standard for smart phones in business. They are known for their ability to
send & receive e-mail and access data anywhere, wherever they can connect to a mobile network of various
mobile phone providers. Thus brings more flexibility and more independence to the end-user and accelerates
carrying out daily business tasks which will inevitably lead to increased productivity. As of the reasons above
and the wide acceptance of BlackBerry devices, BlackBerry was chosen as appropriate smartphone for this
showcase.
This opens various opportunities for a company which has equipped its employees with BlackBerry devices
the more if the company has corresponding SAP software installed e.g. SAP NetWeaver Portal and SAP
Business Suite which makes it relatively easy to achieve several quick-wins in various company divisions. In
contrary to launching an interdivisional project, searching for outsourcing partners, procurement of internal
resources, coordination according to availability of external resources etc.
The enclosed example demonstrates the simplicity how to integrate a custom developed BSP service in the
SAP NetWeaver Portal and provide it in a way that BlackBerry is able to process and display the service for
the end-user.
Preconditions
Environment: Blackberry Bold 8900, the value in „Browser Configuration‟ of „Browser Identification‟ must be
set to „Internet Explorer‟ [see figure below]
Application: Provide SAP Business Server Pages (BSP) application at some SAP Business Suite back-end
(e.g. CRM, APO, BI, ERP, SRM…). The developed application should be kept as simple as possible in this
case the functionality for viewing data comes to the fore. Due to the constraint regarding the input unit of
smartphones data input should be implemented with e.g. form fields. [BspT10]
Note: The application has to be implemented according to BlackBerry screen size (480 x 320 Bold / 480×360 Curve).
© 2010 SAP AG 3
Approach - Steps at SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal
Create portal role and application iView

In order to create the iView for the application, add it to a portal role and assign it to a user for testing the
following steps have to be performed:
1. Create a system object for the back-end system in which BSP application is running
2. Navigate to “Content Administration” and select the folder in which you need to create the iView.
3. Right click on the folder and press New -> iView from template
4. From the wizard select the iView of type SAP BSP iView
5. Provide ID, name and choose from the wizard "Open object for editing"
6. The three important properties are “Application”, “System” and “Quick Link”
7. Provide “Application” name, “System Alias” and some “Quick Link” e.g. com~crm~blackberryapplication
8. Right click on the folder and press New -> Role
9. After role creation, double-click the role to open it
10. Right click on the created iView and select “Add to role”
Create BSP iView
Apply Quick Link (com~crm~blackberryapplication) for BSP application iView
Create portal role & assign iView
Note: Details for role, iView creation as well as for user assignments can be found here [BspA10].
© 2010 SAP AG 4
Assign role to user or group

The Identity Management of the portal provides all tasks that are relevant to user management and role
assignments e.g. assign a portal role to a user or group. The necessary permissions on the designated role
must be assigned to the end-user.
User Management
Note: Details for role, iView creation as well as for user assignments can be found here [AsUG10].
Create Framework Page (just copy and rename default framework page)
Navigate to Content Administration - Portal Content -> Portal Users -> Standard Portal Users
Remove all iViews, Pages, except „Desktop Innerpage‟. Open „Desktop Innerpage‟, search for Content Area
(ID: com.sap.portal.contentarea), select and press „Delta Link Tracer‟.
© 2010 SAP AG 5
Select „Content Area‟ and press „Locate in Portal Catalog‟. Navigate back to main page of „Modified Mobile
Framework Page‟, also remove „Desktop Innerpage‟. Now, right click on original „Content Area‟ iView object,
select „Add iView to Page‟ and choose „Delta Link‟. Press „Save‟, the created Framework Page should look
like the „Modified Mobile Framework Page‟. [CFra10]
Create Portal Desktop (just copy and rename default portal desktop)
System Administration - Portal Display -> Desktops & Display Rules -> Portal Users -> Standard Portal
Users
Right click on „Modified Mobile Framework Page‟, choose „Add Framework Page to Portal Desktop‟, now
select the added „Framework Page‟ and press „Set Default‟ and „Save‟. [CDsk10]
Apply Portal Desktop at Master Rule Collection
Note: Details for customizing Portal Master Rule Collection can be found at [Smrc10].
Adapt web.xml file

To provide the implemented BSP application in a mobile environment using BlackBerry (e.g.
https://<HOST>/irj/portal/mobile/), the following entry in the web.xml file (adding a new segment parameter)
of the designated SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal has to be maintained. [UAli10]
To avoid JavaScript errors, SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal configuration and deployment information
must be enhanced with a special URL alias. This causes the modification of some JavaScript routines that
generally require the SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal to run in its own browser window. The alias must be
set in the web.xml file, located in the directory C:\usr\sap\<SID>\<NO>\j2ee\cluster\server0\apps\sap.com\irj\
servlet_jsp\irj\root\WEB-INF).
In the web.xml, make a copy of the init-param element whose param-name element has the value portal. In
the copy, change the param-name value to portal/mobile, and then append nested_window=1 to the value
for param-value.
© 2010 SAP AG 6
//This is just a code sample

<init-param>
<param-name>
portal/mobile
</param-name>
<param-value>
anonymous=0,proxy=0,low_bandwidth=0,include_in_url=1,include_application_name_
in_url=1,nested_window=1
</param-value>
</init-param>
Whenever you enter the portal with the URL http(s)://<host>/irj/portal/mobile, the portal operates in nested
mode and changes its internal JavaScript references.
Note: This configuration change requires a restart of the system.
Testing
There are two ways to test this service, first if you are in the lucky position to have a BlackBerry device, you
can use this as test device, it only has to be ensured that the necessary settings which are described in
chapter Preconditions have been made. If there is no BlackBerry device available, the respective emulation
software from the BlackBerry website can be downloaded. [Blac10]
Direct access via e.g. http(s)://<HOST>/irj/portal/mobile/com~crm~blackberryapplication
Before testing the application at local platform, it is necessary to start the BlackBerry MDS (Mobile Data
Service) Simulator and ensure that it is running. To verify that, go to Programs > Research In Motion >
BlackBerry Email and MDS Services Simulators > MDS. As a next step start the BlackBerry Smartphone
Simulator and in the BlackBerry Smartphone Simulator, open the BlackBerry Browser.
Note: The value in „Browser Configuration‟ of „Browser Identification‟ must be set to „Internet Explorer‟.
© 2010 SAP AG 7
Then open the menu, navigate with „Go To‟ to e.g. http://www.sap.com, if the SAP home page appears, the
BlackBerry Mobile Data Service simulator is operating correctly.
Regarding leaving the integrated application service web page of the BSP application, the logout mechanism
has to be implemented at the back-end application itself, this is essential because Portal DSM (Distributed
Session Manager) will not work within BackBerry framework. Due to memory utilization and security
vulnerability it is highly recommended to implement a manual logout mechanism which invalidates the
sessions at the back-end. [Sdsm10]
Note: Logout has to be implemented within the BSP application, DSM will not work in BlackBerry environment!
This can be realized for example by displaying a small logout button in the top right corner of the BSP
application [as depicted above].
Showcase
A possible showcase could be to provide employees a mobile solution, which neither requires a specific
device, a particular operating system or a local installation. The developed mobile solution can be seen as an
extension to existing standard service functions, which should represent these functions as close to the
original as possible.
Due to the small screen size in mobile devices, the design of the application should be elaborated very
carefully. This requires special attention during the implementation of the individual screens and navigation
structure.
As a result, such mobile solutions are particularly suitable for field staff that needs to view, create or
manipulate data sets at customer‟s site even without laptop. This will provide end-users the ability to retrieve
data online and real-time. However, as an example, data which were processed by the mobile service can be
directly viewed online by other users after saving - this typically depends on the implementation of the
corresponding application.
The obtained device independence offers more convenience the outcome of this enables the maximum on
possible flexibility for end-users.
© 2010 SAP AG 8
Related Content
The list below shows some references to SDN documents and web pages.
[AsUG10] Assigning Roles to Users and Groups [07/09/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04s/helpdata/en/ed/845890b89711d5993900508b6b8b11/frameset.htm]
[Blac10] BlackBerry Smartphone Simulators [07/09/2010]

[http://na.blackberry.com/eng/developers/resources/simulators.jsp]
[BspT10] SAP BSP Technology [07/10/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_470/helpdata/en/c8/101c3a1cf1c54be10000000a114084/frameset.htm]
[BspA10] Creating BSP Application iViews [07/09/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/30/1b62799d786445a72ad85acb4fd55b/frameset.htm]
[CDsk10] Creating & Editing a SAP Portal Desktop [07/19/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/6a/f72f1c9539420ebee0b8734110aaac/frameset.htm]
[CFra10] Creating & Editing a SAP Portal Framework Page [07/19/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/1c/0a3bcb9149453aab0132425c6f7cdf/frameset.htm]
[Sdsm10] Session Management (DSM) [07/22/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/ca/a9a7408f031414e10000000a1550b0/frameset.htm]
[Smrc10] SAP Master Rule Collection [07/20/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/6e/8590f1d6d349c9adc34c6a8085189b/frameset.htm]
[UAli10] SAP Portal URL Aliases [07/20/2010]

[http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/6e/8590f1d6d349c9adc34c6a8085189b/frameset.htm]
© 2010 SAP AG 9
Disclaimer and Liability Notice

This document may discuss sample coding or other information that does not include SAP official interfaces and therefore is not
supported by SAP. Changes made based on this information are not supported and can be overwritten during an upgrade.
SAP will not be held liable for any damages caused by using or misusing the information, code or methods suggested in this document,
and anyone using these methods does so at his/her own risk.
SAP offers no guarantees and assumes no responsibility or liability of any type with respect to the content of this technical article or
code sample, including any liability resulting from incompatibility between the content within this document and the materials and
services offered by SAP. You agree that you will not hold, or seek to hold, SAP responsible or liable with respect to the content of this
document.
© 2010 SAP AG 10

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How to Provide SAP Business

Server Page Applications through

Author: Florian Georg Furtmüller

Approach - Steps at SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal

Create portal role and application iView

Create BSP iView

Apply Quick Link (com~crm~blackberryapplication) for BSP application iView

Create portal role & assign iView

Assign role to user or group

Apply Portal Desktop at Master Rule Collection

Adapt web.xml file

//This is just a code sample

Note: This configuration change requires a restart of the system.

Direct access via e.g. http(s)://<HOST>/irj/portal/mobile/com~crm~blackberryapplication

[AsUG10] Assigning Roles to Users and Groups [07/09/2010]

[Blac10] BlackBerry Smartphone Simulators [07/09/2010]

[BspT10] SAP BSP Technology [07/10/2010]

[BspA10] Creating BSP Application iViews [07/09/2010]

[CDsk10] Creating & Editing a SAP Portal Desktop [07/19/2010]

[CFra10] Creating & Editing a SAP Portal Framework Page [07/19/2010]

[Sdsm10] Session Management (DSM) [07/22/2010]

[Smrc10] SAP Master Rule Collection [07/20/2010]

[UAli10] SAP Portal URL Aliases [07/20/2010]

Disclaimer and Liability Notice

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