Needs guidance in setting direction!!!

[Former Member]

I am basically a Mainframe Developer/Analyst and have IBM DB2 DBA Certification. I have decided to shift into SAP XI area and preparing for Certification.

I would like to focus on some other related areas apart from XI. My idea is to learn ABAP (I heard it's similar to COBOL and won't take much time), MDM.

Please suggest me based on your experiences, what areas I can focus based on my previous experience. Also suggest where can I find related information.

Thank you very much in advance for all info and I assure will be generous in awarding points.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi,

ABAP knowledge is an advantage if you want to start with XI. For this you'll find good documentation and examples in SAP Easy Access itself.

To take up XI certification, the downloadable stuff at SDN is surely helpful. Besides this you will be provided with sufficient course material(it is compulsary to take up training sessions from SAP to write the exam.)

All the best!

Regards,

Anagha

[Former Member]

Hello!

If you are looking toward XI, I would also recommend at least a familiarity with Java as well. XI is on the Netweaver stack, and it does use Java modules and Java Beans on occasion. It also allows for ABAP mapping, which I myself have not used.

I have the book "SAP Exchange Infrasrtucture" from SAP Press and it is pretty good, but it is more of a supplement to the training classes that SAP offers. I don't think I would reccomend it to a beginner.

I started in ABAP several years ago after I graduated with an CS degree which focused on COBOL. I felt like the transition was pretty easy, although the language has evolved quite a bit to include object-oriented programming and some 4th generation components. That being said, you may have an easier time with the core language components because they are somewhat similar.

Cheers,

John

[Former Member]

Its a good idea to shift to SAP world, but apart from XI and MDM you should learn ABAP also, its not very heard SAP has made it simple so, it won't take much time if you any programming langauage. Since you already COBOL so you need to know syntaxs of ABAP only and little knowledge on functional side like SD, MM, PP, FI etc. ABAP is basic for all these new dimension tech like XI,MDM,EP,etc..

Let me know if you need anything more.

Cheers,

Satya