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SAP GUI for Java 8.10 on the Horizon

RMW
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
‎2024 Apr 17 7:12 PM
18,502
The current version SAP GUI for Java 7.80 was initially delivered in September 2022. Since then in the subsequent revisions
  • support for many new OS versions has been added
  • 3rd party components included in the application like SapMachine, OpenJFX, pdfbox and the Nashorn scripting engine have been updated to the latest versions
  • smaller new features like the Enhanced Search for the OK Code Field have been implemented
  • and bugs have been fixed
Now some bigger changes are on the way, that can’t be done in a maintenance release. Therefore a new major release is planned, which is SAP GUI for Java 8.10.

New Features

Themes
 
The latest specifications of Morning Horizon and Evening Horizon, the themes that SAP design system is based on, have been implemented. This provides a consistent user experience with other SAP UIs following the SAP design system.
 
Morning and Evening HorizonMorning and Evening Horizon

 

On macOS, like with Quartz, Morning Horizon and Evening Horizon can be set to adjust with the OS appearance. On startup, the Horizon theme fitting to the current active OS appearance is used, and once it changes, the theme is switched accordingly. System dependent colours are available as well.
 
Evening Horizon with system coloursEvening Horizon with system colours

 

SAP GUI for Java 8.10 slightly increases the screen metrics without sacrificing layout compatibility and information density.
The outdated themes Signature Design and Blue Crystal have been removed.
 
Html-Control
 
The html control has been modernised to use Chromium instead of WebKit as the browser engine, which has various advantages:
  • Full compatibility with Chromium based browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge etc. As a result various web content both SAP originated and public, that did not work before, now is rendered correctly.
  • Certificate handling has been improved.
  • Depending on the browser content, it can adopt the dark appearance.
  • The new browser engine supports screen readers.
  • The text in the html content can be searched.
  • OpenJFX providing the WebKit based browser component is no longer needed and has been removed. This simplifies the usage of SAP GUI for Java inside ABAP Development Tools.

Browser adapting to the themeBrowser adapting to the theme

 

Source Editor Control
 
Although only relevant for ABAP developers and despite the availability of the Eclipse-based ABAP development tools, this is undoubtedly the most desired feature missing in the SAP GUI for Java. The rapidly growing popularity of macOS computers, which are also used by developers, made it necessary to go to the considerable effort of developing such a specialised component.
The control for class CL_GUI_SOURCEEDIT has been implemented and provides following new features compared to the CL_GUI_TEXTEDIT based solution:
  • Syntax HighlightingTheme-dependent syntax highlightingTheme-dependent syntax highlighting

     

  • Code CompletionCode completion including call templatesCode completion including call templates

     

  • Pattern
  • Pretty Printer
  • Context sensitive help
  • Visualisation of code coverage after running unit tests.Code coverage of unit testCode coverage of unit test

     

  • Same display used in the ABAP debuggerABAP Debugger using the Source EditorABAP Debugger using the Source Editor

Installation

The dmg images for installation under macOS now contain a ready-to-copy application instead of an installation program that creates one.macOS dmg.png

Java

OpenJDK 21
The upcoming SAP GUI for Java 8.10 will use Java 21, which is currently the latest LTS (long-term support) release of Java. SapMachine 21, SAP's OpenJDK offering is included in the installer.
In SAP GUI for Java 8.10, OpenJFX is no longer needed, because the Html-Control is no longer using the browser component part of OpenJFX. This simplifies the integration of SAP GUI for Java in the ABAP Development Tools.
Security Manager
The usage of the Security Manager has been removed because of its deprecation (JEP 411: Deprecate the Security Manager for Removal). Also it is not active by default in Java SE 21.
 

Discontinued Features

Themes
 
Signature Design and Blue Crystal have been removed.
Signature Design was designed when still using classic DPI screens and is fully based on bitmaps. On today’s High DPI screens, this causes various issues that can’t be resolved without major efforts redefining and reimplementing the theme. Doing this for a twenty-year-old theme was not considered justifiable.
Blue Crystal has been the first theme adapting to High DPI screens, but still has some issues, which have been addressed later in the succeeding themes Belize and newer.

Outlook

 
The release of SAP GUI for Java 8.10 is planned for end of 2024.
Update (July) The registration for the beta program has started, the announcement is available on the community site.
Update (September): The beta program is still running, but the registration is closed.
Update (October): The final version is generally available in Software Center.
 
Best regards,
Rolf-Martin Wörsinger
Product Owner SAP GUI for Java
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