Free Abap Development Environment

[former_member246786]

Hi,

I use to develop in ABAP on SAP R/3 4.6C at work.

I would like to know if it's possible to have a free version of R/3 or NetWeaver to learn more about ABAP programming at home and to learn about how to developp using .NET/ JAva technlologies with ABAP.

I eared about something called 'MiniWas ' but didn't find how to download it and what I can exactly I can do with it

Regards,

Morgan Bourgeois

[former_member246786]

Hi Richard.

Could you please tell me more about these application cause I'm a bite confuse. When I use to work with this system, what will I have exactly? It's said : WebDynpro, does it mean that I will not have things like Screen Painter, transaction SE80 and so on? ( for me NetWeaver is somethong complicated from which I only know about the fact that it exists).

If I understand, it's a system that have the same functionalities than R/3 but work as a webPortal in wich user only see a Web Interface that U can developp using ABAP / Java or .NET (depending on version) but the transaction in backgroung use ABAP programming in every case is it write?

In one of my project, I used to develop a webPortal using a so called 'HTML Business ' programming language what are the differences between R/3,netWeaver the use of HTML Business? (Sorry if it seem sto be stupid but I often use to think that I work on a technologie I don't understand at all : I creat forms, transactions, reports and so one but steal don't understand where my work can be put on a drawing that represents SAP technologies

thanks,

Morgan

[RichHeilman]

Hi Morgan. Yes, there is a MiniWas which you can download here on SDN. We actually call them Sneak Previews now. Here is the link. Download the system in the far right column.

This is the latest sneak preview avaiable.

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/downloaditem?rid=/library/uuid/cfc19866-0401-0010-35b2-dc8158247fb6

You can also download the java sneak previews as well.

Regards,

Rich Heilman

[former_member246786]

Hi Richard.

Could you please tell me more about these application cause I'm a bite confuse. When I use to work with this system, what will I have exactly? It's said : WebDynpro, does it mean that I will not have things like Screen Painter, transaction SE80 and so on? ( for me NetWeaver is somethong complicated from which I only know about the fact that it exists).

If I understand, it's a system that have the same functionalities than R/3 but work as a webPortal in wich user only see a Web Interface that U can developp using ABAP / Java or .NET (depending on version) but the transaction in backgroung use ABAP programming in every case is it write?

In one of my project, I used to develop a webPortal using a so called 'HTML Business ' programming language what are the differences between R/3,netWeaver the use of HTML Business? (Sorry if it seem sto be stupid but I often use to think that I work on a technologie I don't understand at all : I creat forms, transactions, reports and so one but steal don't understand where my work can be put on a drawing that represents SAP technologies

thanks,

Morgan

[RichHeilman]

Yes, I feel your pain Morgan, It can be confusing. I will try to hit all of your doubts here.

First the Sneak Preview that I pointed you to, is a MiniWas, you get all of the technology layer(basis) including the ABAP runtime, development envirnoment/tools, and everything that you had in previouse miniwas. Not sure why they have it listed the way they do, it is a little confusing. But they maybe pointing out the fact that this is the first miniwas where ABAP WebDynpro has been included. This is just like the WebDynpro Java, but on the ABAP stack. In this version you also get the new ABAP Editor, new debugger, and the ALV Object Model. The latter was available in the 6.40 version also.

This miniwas only have the technology layer, no functional modules of R/3 like PP, MM, SD, VC, etc.

Please remember that Netweaver is the platform for which SAP solutions run on top of. It has two sides(stacks), the ABAP stack and java stack. For example ECC(formerly R/3) runs on Netweaver, but on the ABAP stack. The Netweaver Portal runs on the java stack, but can invoke iviews which use Web Dynpro components which have be developed on the ABAP stack. Of course, it can handle other apps as well includeing java and .net.

The netweaver portal is simple a frontend in which you can tie all of your applications, whether SAP or non-SAP into one place for the end user to access. If you are accessing a backend system which is ECC(R/3), then yes, you would be calling a BAPI or RFC function module which is written in ABAP. (I hope this is clear)

HTMLB is like an abstraction from regular HTML. You can use this to develop your UI interface. You can use this in Business Server Pages(which can also be ran in an iView of the Portal) or in the JSP DynPage applications(which again can be in an iView). HTMLB is purely a UI technology which you can use in developing your applications. WebDynpro does not allow for using HTMLB, or HTML, but it probabaly uses it underneath, because the HTMLB interface looks/feels the same as WebDynpro UI.

If you have more follow up questions, please ask.

Regards,

Rich Heilman

[Former Member]

Hi Rich!

It was very interesting your explanation about NetWeaver. Do you have any materials where I can start to learn about this subject?

Here in Brazil this technology is just starting, and I would like to know this new tool. I have only a PDF called NetWeaver Developer’s Guide - Using Abap.

Thanks for your attention.

Michel Khouri

Mars, Inc - Brazil

[former_member246786]

Thanks Rich,

If I understand your explanation it means that using miniWas, I will have the component needed to create my own transaction like there are in R/3 system but not these transactions that belongs to a specific module.

I can consider R/3 as a system I can acceed as system I can access by 2 ways : normal GUI interface and Web Interface. And I can consider Netweaver Portal as a Web portal that allow me to acceed R/3 using Web interface but not only, it allow me to acceed other Netweaver systems and non SAP systems too, it's like an integration web protal isn't it?

So if I use the miniWas I can created : ABAP system transactions and Web pages to make an interface between user and these transactions.

Is that all right?

My last question concern licence terms: if I use to install the Full ABAP edition trial, after the time is elapsed, am I allowed to install for exemple the SAP NetWeaver 2007 preview or is it forbidden?

IF I want to continue whith the same system just to have something to learn, do I have something to pay for a single user non commercial use?

I'm sorry if I ask a lot of questions but I work with SAP technologies every days and I'm really interested with it , so, i don't want to be just a basic developper that work and do not understand what he is doing

Morgan