Genil/BOL - Define Simple Objects

[stephenjohannes]

In the IMG there is a node under:

CRM->CRM Cross Application Components->Generic Interaction Layer/Object Layer->Component-Specific Settings called "Define Simple Objects"

Has anyone created a new genil/bol object using this method? If so do you have a particular set of development objects built by SAP that can be used a starting example? I am looking at integrating some custom data as a standalone object into the bol model, for access in the CRM web client.

Thank you,

Stephen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I have not tried it out myself in person - since our use cases can be satisfied with EEW.

However, I don't see any reason not to add custom content to GENIL/BOL.

From what I could see in IMG - You can create your own components and then then add them to an existing component set. Same thing for views. Then you can start expanding on these in the "simple objects", - which are essentially your stand alone custom tables and logic.

I will play with this and post a followup some time. meanwhile if you find something, please do post here.

[stephenjohannes · Accepted solution]

The EEWB would have been fine if I needed to use an existing business object. However I have a business object that I would like to create from scratch to replace some existing custom SAP GUI transactions in CRM 40. I was also looking at some other options to webify the transaction but my research came up with the following:

- Web Dynpro ABAP - CRM Webclient UI does not seem to provide integration point for these type of transactions using transaction launcher.

- BSP - don't want to build a bunch of custom HTML pages

- ITS transaction launcher based. Sorry but the ITS is not a feasible option period. I don't want to open pandora's box for two small custom transactions. As a "recovering" ITS developer(worked on a least three or four ITS online/ecommerce projects), I won't touch it it anymore myself.

So basically my idea was to create a new component in the webclient to display the "custom" business object. I have one business object that is basically "execute only" type process and another business object where I need full "CRUD" capability. The catch though is the execute only object uses the data from the second object as part of the process. The second object uses the business partner object.

I have thought about re-engineering most of the process into standard, but my problem is that it would turn simple 4 step execution process into something a lot more laborious. We went down this route because the marketing tools in the SAP GUI for direct mail were not that stable, and weren't tailored for mobile marketing. The tools in CRM 52 are still too heavy for mobile marketing.

Any other thoughts on how to solve this would be appreciated. My real goal is to bring all of our CRM business processes to a single user interface post upgrade.

Thank you,

Stephen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I strongly suggest building new object in BSP(under ICWEB architecuture), simple reasons are

- CRM 2007 frame work is similar to icweb framework. When you upgrade anyway SAP will take care standard and custom which are built on similar framework( not many issues)

- Integration would be easy when you are navigating within BSP apps.

Let me know if you finalise better approach which will help many sdians...:-)

regards,

Laxman

Edited by: laxman on Mar 24, 2008 5:07 PM

[stephenjohannes · Accepted solution]

Laxman,

You are right I wanted to build inside of CRM webclient framework for those reasons. However to make it work I need a BOL object for my custom "CRUD" object. I have though toyed with the concept of using a value node for my "execute" object, which basically would be a wrapper surrounding an existing FM.

However I am still at ground zero for finding a decent example code/documentation to create the CRUD object using the simple objects framework. I have looked at some of the simple objects, and there is still quite a bit to digest. I need that "SFLIGHT" type example to get over the hump. Most of the CRUD operations already exist in custom function group API layer, so most of my issues are how to "adapt" and adjust the old API to be more BOL friendly.

Then I will worry about create tree control components in the CRM web client framework that allow for multiple selection.

Take care,

Stephen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Stephen,

If I under stood correctly, Are you looking for new independent object creation in ICWEB.

Check IC web cook book section 5 and 5.6 if it helps. Conceptually i know but not developed from scratch.

regards,

Laxman

[stephenjohannes · Accepted solution]

Laxman,

Unfortuantely that is more for product extensions, than what I am looking for. I am looking for create new root objects that would have full level equivalency and not extensions of a major type(bupa, business transaction, product, etc). I am looking for more of an example that is similar to creating a new business object using the simple objects method or some other equivalent.

Take care,

Stephen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Stephen,

There are a few things that need to be considered, are you updating this data or just reading it. For example if updating a custom table you require that a RAW16-GUID is the primary key.

On my project I used a simple object for displaying global atp information from a SCM system within the IC Webclient. Basically following the IMG doco I created a custom sub class of CL_CRM_GENIL_ABSTR_SO_HANDLER and redefined the get list method to get the custom data and set it to the BOL. Of course I create custom structures for the BOL (remember guid) and Search.

From memory I checked out package CRM_GENIL_SAMPLE for ideas on coding etc..

Good luck with it. I don't view SDN everyday so if you respond expect a delay.

Cheers

Andrew

[stephenjohannes · Accepted solution]

Andrew,

Well I will actually be doing some update operations, but that package is exactly what I need. It may take some time for me to digest all the examples, but that should do the trick. Now I will have some "light reading" for my spare time.

Take care,

Stephen

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Stepehen,

Were you able to add custom BOL object and perform read, modify operations on its attributes from IC webclient framework ? I'm looking for this kind of an example for a while now.. If you are done can you please post steps on how to achevie it ?

Thanks in Advance.

Sreesanth

[johan_vanzijl · Accepted solution]

Hi

I have created custom Genil/BOL objects(in CRM 5.0) before using the technique described. Broadly, the steps involve the following:

1. Create a new attribute structure in SE11 that contains all the fields you require.

2. Create a new your own subclass for CL_CRM_GENIL_ABSTR_SO_HANDLER2. You have to write code for each operation you want to implement. My objects were only used for Query and Detail display so I only implemented GET_LIST and GET_DETAIL methods. This is the most complex part of the implementation. I used one of the existing Simple Objects as template.

3. Maintain the table entry in the IMG for the simple Object.

Once that has been done, new native web client views can be created easily enough in the BSP Workbench. I would recommend this method. Also, the Genil Objects will still work in CRM 2007, from what I have seen.

You can use transaction launcher to call WebDynpro's or Custom BSP's, but remember these then run in a different session, so you might have problems with data transfer, locking, etc.

Also agree with you, stay far away from the ITS.

regards

Johan