The part I of the SAP Solution Manager 4.0 series of weblogs targets on the functionality of Roadmaps in Solution Manager. In subsequent parts, other features of Solution Manager will be explained. h5. What is SAP Solution Manager: SAP Solution Manager is a tool, which assists in application management as per ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) environment. The tool supports the entire lifecycle of solutions mainly having six phases – Requirements, Design, Build, Deploy, Operate & Optimize as per ITIL standard. It runs in a separate central system to which all the other SAP systems are connected. These other systems are called as +Satellite Systems+. h5. Latest Version: SAP Solution Manager 4.0. h5. Features of SAP Solution Manager: ** Solution Manager helps in all types of project management like Implementation, Upgrade, Maintenance, Rollout etc. by providing the project specific template. ** ** It is in line with SAP’s AcceleratedSAP. And provide Roadmaps for the different types of projects. ** ** It has Business Process Repository, which talks about SAP’s best practice of running the business. ** ** It has eLearning feature, which offers the training along with feedback over web. ** ** It has test management feature, which offers the central storage repository for storing the automated eCATT scripts along with manual scripts. The results of testing are centrally stored and always available. ** ** It has its own standard Helpdesk feature, which is both SAPGUI based and web based. ** ** The Helpdesk feature is totally linked with Change Request Management, which helps in transport for changes required in production issues. ** ** It has Solution Monitoring as well as Diagnostic feature, which helps in Operation Phase of project. ** ** Solution Manager has lots of inbuilt reports, which server the different areas of it. ** ** It is linked with SAP Service Market Place. ** ** It can generate Installation/Upgrade key. ** ** It has its own Knowledge Warehouse for central documentation storage. ** ** It can integrate with ARIS, a detailed graphical business process modeling tool ** ** It can also integrate with Mercury tools like QTP for testing in web based environment. ** h5. What are AcceleratedSAP (ASAP) Roadmaps: AcceleratedSAP Roadmaps are the proven procedures for Project Management. Roadmaps provide a methodology for the executing successful SAP projects of any kind like Implementation, Upgrade & Global Rollout. The methodology has a defined framework for different kinds of projects and has lots of tools, services etc. Special Accelerators are available in Roadmap structure, which help in following the best offered practices of project management and hence accelerates the speed of project. Accelerators are in terms of templates, examples, documentation, links etc. h5. Latest Version of Roadmaps: Latest version of Implementation roadmaps is V3.6 (December 2006), Upgrade Roadmap is 3.1 & Rollout Roadmap is 3.5. Roadmaps are released in the span of 6-8 months. The latest version at any time can be found on SAP Service Marketplace. (http://service.sap.com/roadmaps (http://service.sap.com/roadmaps)). h5. Transaction Codes involved in Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. For launching Roadmap: RMMAIN 0.3. 0.4. For creating Custom Roadmaps(without structure change): RMDEF Using this option, one can use copy of SAP’s roadmaps with custom contents. No changes can be made to the structure of the roadmap. Only header data like name & attributes (flavors, roles & subject areas) can be defined. 0.5. 0.6. For creating Custom Roadmaps(with structure change & entry screen): RMAUTH Using this option, one can define his own structure of roadmap or make changes to copied structure of standard roadmap. The documentation created or changed in terms of accelerators or so is stored in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Warehouse. 0.7. Though the feature is given to create a new or modify copied standard roadmaps, one should be careful in using the custom functionality here. As SAP releases new roadmap, it may become difficult to adjust those parameters in custom roadmaps. So it is recommended to strictly keep track of all changes in standard roadmap and then change the custom roadmap accordingly. h5. What are different types of Roadmaps: 0.1. There are different types of Roadmaps available in SAP Solution Manager, meeting the requirements of different kinds of SAP projects. 0.2. Implementation Roadmaps: The Implementation Roadmap methodology covers the necessary project management, the configuration of business processes, testing and training aspects as well as technical implementation activities. There are following types of Implementation roadmaps available in Solman. 0.1. 0.2. ASAP Implementation Roadmap: The ASAP Implementation Roadmap provides implementation methodology for mySAP Business Suite (mySAP ERP, mySAP CRM, mySAP SCM, mySAP PLM, mySAP SRM), SAP xApps, SAP NetWeaver and SAP Solutions for Mobile Business. 
0.3. ASAP Implementation Roadmap for SAP Enterprise Portal: 
0.4. 0.5. ASAP Implementation Roadmap for SAP Exchange Infrastructure: 
0.6. 0.7. Solution Management Roadmap: The Solution Management Roadmap provides a methodology for the implementation of the technical infrastructure and its operation. The Solution Management Roadmap complements the Implementation Roadmap. 
0.8. 0.3. 0.4. Upgrade Roadmap: The Upgrade Roadmap provides SAP latest upgrade methodology to plan and execute an SAP upgrade. It bundles SAP's latest knowledge and best-practices for basic project management, functional and technical aspects to upgrade an entire SAP system landscape. 
0.5. 0.6. Global Template Roadmap: The Global Template Roadmap describes how to organize and how to run a project in which a corporate template is developed. The Global Template Roadmap is geared to more complex implementation or harmonization projects, typically involving more than one kind of mySAP solution, and a variety of sites, possibly in different countries. The corporate template is rolled out to other sites in a follow-up project. 
0.7. h5. Features of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. Roadmaps can be Solution Manager Based or even in HTML form. The Solution Manager based roadmaps need solution manager to access them. While HTML roadmaps can be accessed via web. Though there are some features, which won’t be available in HTML form but it increases the ease of use. HTML roadmaps can not be edited, modified or filtered. 0.3. 0.4. There is Display option available in Roadmaps. There is always an initial display available for roadmaps as they are called. 
From this initial display, hyperlinks are given, which takes to structure display of the roadmaps. This initial display can be set as default to structure display from the menu +Settings -> User Specific+ in the +RMMAIN+ transaction. 
So next time when +RMMAIN+ will be called, structure will be displayed instead of initial view. 
0.1. 0.2. There are filter options available in roadmaps for Flavors, Roles, and Subject Areas from the menu +Settings->Filter..+ in the +RMMAIN+ transaction. 
This feature enables to filter the display accordingly in the initial and structure view. 0.1. 0.2. Filter Subject Area: One can select one or more subject area from the menu +Filter-> Subject Areas+ option of +RMMAIN+ transaction. Accordingly the display will change in the initial and structure view of roadmap. 
0.1. 0.2. Filter Roles: One can select one or more roles. The roadmap structure items, to which the selected roles are assigned will be displayed in the initial & structure view. 
0.3. 0.4. Filter Flavors (Variants): One can select one or more flavors. The structure items to which the selected flavors are assigned will be only displayed in the initial & structure view. Flavors are selected during the Project preparation phase in +SOLAR_PROJECT_ADMIN+ transaction. 0.1. 0.2. Finally the changed structure can be viewed – 
0.3. 0.4. Apart from these filters, there can be filter on Keywords & Scope when project relevant roadmap is used. 0.5. 0.6. One can directly view the Accelerators used in the project from the menu +GOTO -> Accelerators+. 
0.1. 0.2. This will give a popup showing the accelerators used in the current project’s roadmap. Double clicking on the required line, will locate that accelerator in the project structure. 
0.3. 0.4. Also, different view options are available in the menu +Settings -> View -> ….+ Here one can view +Complete View (Default)+ or +Method View+ or +Output View.+0.1. 0.2. Roadmaps can be downloaded into the +HTML version+ or in +MS Project Version+ from the menu +Roadmaps -> Download ->…+ h5. Structure of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. The structure of Roadmap is divided into Project relevant Phases at level 1, Deliverable Groups (DG) at level 2, Deliverables, Methods (M) & Outputs (O) at level 3, Activities & Tasks at level 4. Milestones & Services Checks are also present at level 2. At different levels, the Accelerators are available in Solman to accelerate the project. 
0.3. 0.4. On the left side, the above structure can be seen. On the top right +Topics+ can be viewed. These topics describe the +Outputs+ and also +Activities & Tasks+, which also result into +Outputs+. 0.1. 0.2. On the bottom right, Accelerators are present. These Accelerators contain templates, examples, link SAP online Help, link to information on Service Marketplace. It helps in speeding up the project. 0.3. 0.4. On the bottom right, many more tabs are present like Reference, Status/Notices, Proj Team Members, Issues/Message, Proj Documentation, Keywords etc. 
0.5. h5. Project Specific Usage of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. Roadmaps are assigned to project in transaction +SOLAR_PROJECT_ADMIN+ in the +Scope-> Roadmap Select+ tab. 0.1. 0.2. Once assigned, the Project Manager can refer to +RMMAIN+ transaction for the specific use of Roadmap for given project. 0.1. 0.2. In the Roadmap structure view, lots of accelerators, project documentation is specified. Reference material can be maintained. For each step on the left side tree, one can change the status in the Status/Notices tab. Project team members can be assigned to individual task on the left side. These team members are added during +SOLAR_PROJECT_ADMIN+ transaction. Here whatever note will be written will be automatically stored as the tab is left. Also one can maintain the issue logs in Issues/Messages tab. Helpdesk Messages can also be created here for the give task from the left side tree. For Issues/Messages tab to be used, necessary Issues & support desk settings are needed. Project documentation & Keywords can also be maintained here. h5. Project Independent Usage of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. Goto transaction +RMMAIN+.0.1. 0.2. The transaction will show the roadmap of last used project. Click on +Other Project (Shift + F5)+ button from the application toolbar. 
0.3. 0.4. From the popup, click on +No Project+ at the bottom of the popup. This will display the roadmap used in the earlier project. 
0.1. 0.2. Now click on +Other Roadmaps (Shift + F6)+ from the application toolbar. 
0.3. ASAP Implementation Roadmap for SAP Enterprise Portal: 0.4. 0.5. ASAP Implementation Roadmap for SAP Exchange Infrastructure: 0.6. 0.7. Solution Management Roadmap: The Solution Management Roadmap provides a methodology for the implementation of the technical infrastructure and its operation. The Solution Management Roadmap complements the Implementation Roadmap. 0.8. 0.3. 0.4. Upgrade Roadmap: The Upgrade Roadmap provides SAP latest upgrade methodology to plan and execute an SAP upgrade. It bundles SAP's latest knowledge and best-practices for basic project management, functional and technical aspects to upgrade an entire SAP system landscape. 0.5. 0.6. Global Template Roadmap: The Global Template Roadmap describes how to organize and how to run a project in which a corporate template is developed. The Global Template Roadmap is geared to more complex implementation or harmonization projects, typically involving more than one kind of mySAP solution, and a variety of sites, possibly in different countries. The corporate template is rolled out to other sites in a follow-up project. 0.7. h5. Features of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. Roadmaps can be Solution Manager Based or even in HTML form. The Solution Manager based roadmaps need solution manager to access them. While HTML roadmaps can be accessed via web. Though there are some features, which won’t be available in HTML form but it increases the ease of use. HTML roadmaps can not be edited, modified or filtered. 0.3. 0.4. There is Display option available in Roadmaps. There is always an initial display available for roadmaps as they are called. From this initial display, hyperlinks are given, which takes to structure display of the roadmaps. This initial display can be set as default to structure display from the menu +Settings -> User Specific+ in the +RMMAIN+ transaction. So next time when +RMMAIN+ will be called, structure will be displayed instead of initial view. 0.1. 0.2. There are filter options available in roadmaps for Flavors, Roles, and Subject Areas from the menu +Settings->Filter..+ in the +RMMAIN+ transaction. This feature enables to filter the display accordingly in the initial and structure view. 0.1. 0.2. Filter Subject Area: One can select one or more subject area from the menu +Filter-> Subject Areas+ option of +RMMAIN+ transaction. Accordingly the display will change in the initial and structure view of roadmap. 0.1. 0.2. Filter Roles: One can select one or more roles. The roadmap structure items, to which the selected roles are assigned will be displayed in the initial & structure view. 0.3. 0.4. Filter Flavors (Variants): One can select one or more flavors. The structure items to which the selected flavors are assigned will be only displayed in the initial & structure view. Flavors are selected during the Project preparation phase in +SOLAR_PROJECT_ADMIN+ transaction. 0.1. 0.2. Finally the changed structure can be viewed – 0.3. 0.4. Apart from these filters, there can be filter on Keywords & Scope when project relevant roadmap is used. 0.5. 0.6. One can directly view the Accelerators used in the project from the menu +GOTO -> Accelerators+. 0.1. 0.2. This will give a popup showing the accelerators used in the current project’s roadmap. Double clicking on the required line, will locate that accelerator in the project structure. 0.3. 0.4. Also, different view options are available in the menu +Settings -> View -> ….+ Here one can view +Complete View (Default)+ or +Method View+ or +Output View.+0.1. 0.2. Roadmaps can be downloaded into the +HTML version+ or in +MS Project Version+ from the menu +Roadmaps -> Download ->…+ h5. Structure of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. The structure of Roadmap is divided into Project relevant Phases at level 1, Deliverable Groups (DG) at level 2, Deliverables, Methods (M) & Outputs (O) at level 3, Activities & Tasks at level 4. Milestones & Services Checks are also present at level 2. At different levels, the Accelerators are available in Solman to accelerate the project. 0.3. 0.4. On the left side, the above structure can be seen. On the top right +Topics+ can be viewed. These topics describe the +Outputs+ and also +Activities & Tasks+, which also result into +Outputs+. 0.1. 0.2. On the bottom right, Accelerators are present. These Accelerators contain templates, examples, link SAP online Help, link to information on Service Marketplace. It helps in speeding up the project. 0.3. 0.4. On the bottom right, many more tabs are present like Reference, Status/Notices, Proj Team Members, Issues/Message, Proj Documentation, Keywords etc. 0.5. h5. Project Specific Usage of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. Roadmaps are assigned to project in transaction +SOLAR_PROJECT_ADMIN+ in the +Scope-> Roadmap Select+ tab. 0.1. 0.2. Once assigned, the Project Manager can refer to +RMMAIN+ transaction for the specific use of Roadmap for given project. 0.1. 0.2. In the Roadmap structure view, lots of accelerators, project documentation is specified. Reference material can be maintained. For each step on the left side tree, one can change the status in the Status/Notices tab. Project team members can be assigned to individual task on the left side. These team members are added during +SOLAR_PROJECT_ADMIN+ transaction. Here whatever note will be written will be automatically stored as the tab is left. Also one can maintain the issue logs in Issues/Messages tab. Helpdesk Messages can also be created here for the give task from the left side tree. For Issues/Messages tab to be used, necessary Issues & support desk settings are needed. Project documentation & Keywords can also be maintained here. h5. Project Independent Usage of Roadmaps: 0.1. 0.2. Goto transaction +RMMAIN+.0.1. 0.2. The transaction will show the roadmap of last used project. Click on +Other Project (Shift + F5)+ button from the application toolbar. 0.3. 0.4. From the popup, click on +No Project+ at the bottom of the popup. This will display the roadmap used in the earlier project. 0.1. 0.2. Now click on +Other Roadmaps (Shift + F6)+ from the application toolbar.
6 Comments
| User | Count |
|---|---|
| 524 | |
| 263 | |
| 238 | |
| 234 | |
| 167 | |
| 157 | |
| 152 |
