A question I get often is about the way I connect to SAP ECC from my Mac.
Obviously, many users prefer to install Windows to their Macbooks and run SAP GUI For Windows over it.
However; SAP has an alternative less known GUI for Linux / Mac systems: SAP GUI For Java. You can download it from
http://service.sap.com for free using an S-user, install it to your Mac like a regular application and connect to any SAP ECC system. No need to install Windows at all.
The way you define a new SAP Connection in SAP GUI For Java differs slightly from SAP GUI For Windows. Let’s assume that you have the following connection information:
- Address: 10.1.3.40
- System No: 02
In SAP GUI For Java, you need to get to the “Advanced” tab, click “Expert mode” and enter the following connection string:
conn=/H/10.1.3.40/S/3202
Obviously, the address goes between /H/ and /S/ and the system number goes to the end of the string. If your system ID is 00, you need to enter 3200. If your system ID is 07, you need to enter 3207. In our case, your system ID is 02 so you need to enter 3202.
That’s all there is! Using this connection string, you should be good to go.
Your connection string can contain additional parameters; such as your user name, client number, etc. Here are some sample connection strings:
conn=/H/sapsrv/S/3204&jenc=MacTurkish&jloc=tr&cpg=1607&clnt=100&user=kerem
Here are some sample connection strings going over routers (IP’s changed for security reasons):
conn=/H/88.249.244.45/H/10.0.0.5/S/3200
conn=/H/78.186.178.12/W/golive2013/H/192.168.2.10/S/3200
The only disadvantage of SAP GUI For Java is for ABAP programmers: Smartforms designer, Workflow tools and graphical screen designer tools are Windows-only and won’t run under SAP GUI For Java. Personally, I have a casual Windows installation with SAP GUI for Windows living under VMWare Fusion. Whenever I need to use one of those tools (maybe once a month); I run Windows inside the virtual machine without leaving Mac OS, get my job done, shut down Windows and continue working on the Mac with SAP GUI For Java.