Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours, Third Edition

Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours, Third Edition

Released August 2008
Publisher(s): Sams
ISBN: 9780768683103

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Book description

Third Edition: Thoroughly Updated and Expanded, with Extensive New Coverage!

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, you’ll master the entire SAP project lifecycle, from planning through implementation and system administration through day-to-day operations. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll gain a strong real-world foundation in both the technology and business essentials of today’s SAP products and applications—from the ground up.

Step-by-step instructions walk you through the most common questions, issues, and tasks you’ll encounter with SAP. 

Case study-based exercises help you build and test your knowledge. 

By the Way notes present interesting pieces of information. 

Did You Know? tips offer advice or teach an easier way. 

Watch Out! cautions warn about potential problems.

Learn how to…

  • Understand SAP’s newest products for enterprises and small-to-midsize businesses, and choose the right solutions for your company

  • Discover how SAP integrates with Web services and service-oriented architecture

  • Develop an efficient roadmap for deploying SAP in your environment

  • Plan your SAP implementation from business, functional, technical, and project management perspectives

  • Leverage NetWeaver 7.0 features to streamline development and integration, and reduce cost

  • Walk through a step-by-step SAP technical installation

  • Master basic SAP system administration and operations

  • Perform essential tasks such as logon, session management, and printing

  • Build SAP queries and reports

  • Prepare for SAP upgrades and enhancements

  • Develop your own personal career as an SAP professional

    • Register your book at informit.com/title/9780137142842 for convenient access to updates and corrections as they become available.

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
      1. Dedication
    2. About the Authors
    3. Acknowledgments
    4. We Want to Hear from You!
    5. Reader Services
    6. Introduction
      1. SAP’s Journey
      2. What’s New, and Who Should Read This Book?
      3. Organization of This Book
      4. Conventions Used in This Book
    7. I. Introduction to SAP
      1. 1. What Is SAP?
        1. Overview of SAP
        2. SAP Business Applications or Components
        3. SAP Modules and Business Transactions
        4. SAP Technical Architecture and WebAS
          1. Technical Architecture Overview
          2. Three-Tiered Architecture
        5. SAP and Service-Oriented Architecture
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 1
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      2. 2. SAP Basics: What It’s All About
        1. Running SAP
        2. SAP Project Basics
        3. SAP System Basics
          1. SAP GUI Basics
          2. System Access
          3. The SAP Client Concept
          4. Session Basics
        4. Summary
        5. Case Study: Hour 2
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      3. 3. Business Basics: Developing a Roadmap for Deploying SAP
        1. The SAP Business Roadmap
          1. Traditional Business Concerns
          2. Increasing Sales, Decreasing Costs
          3. Managing and Mitigating Risk
          4. Business Agility: A Growing Business Concern
        2. Business Blueprinting
          1. The Business View
          2. How SAP Technologies Support Business Needs
          3. Working with Stakeholders
        3. Mapping Business Needs to SAP Technologies
          1. Functional View
          2. Technical View
          3. Project Implementation View
          4. Bringing the Four Views Together
        4. Summary
        5. Case Study: Hour 3
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      4. 4. Infrastructure Technology Basics: Hardware, Operating Systems, and Databases
        1. Why Is This Important?
        2. Hardware for SAP: An Introduction
          1. Server Hardware
          2. Disk Subsystem Hardware
        3. SAP-Supported Operating Systems
          1. Basic OS Features
          2. SAP File Systems and the Role of the OS
          3. SAP OS-Level Work Processes
          4. SAP OS-Level Profiles
        4. Database Basics for SAP
          1. A Database Primer
          2. Tables, Indexes, and Structure
        5. Partnering with Your Infrastructure Providers
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 4
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      5. 5. Developing a Technical Roadmap for Deploying SAP
        1. From Business to Technical Implementation Planning
        2. Master Installation Guides
        3. Setting the Stage: Landscape and System Sizing
        4. Architecture and Hardware Sizings
          1. ABAP and Java Architecture
          2. Hardware Sizing
          3. High Availability and Performance
          4. Disaster Recoverability
        5. Back to the Basics: Addressing Technical Roadmap Gaps
          1. Client Access Strategy
          2. Network Considerations
          3. SAN and Other Disk Considerations
          4. Backup Strategy
        6. Technical Support Organization Staffing
        7. Summary
        8. Case Study: Hour 5
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
    8. II. SAP Products and Components
      1. 6. SAP Overview: SMB and Enterprise Products
        1. SME Requirements
        2. Problems SMEs Typically Face
        3. Selecting the “Best” Solution
          1. Cost
          2. Functionality
          3. Features
          4. Hosted or On-Premises?
          5. Number of Employees
          6. Complexity of Business Processes
        4. SAP Business One
          1. Functionality
          2. Features
          3. Implementation
          4. Development
        5. SAP Business ByDesign
          1. Implementation and Adaptability
          2. Functionality
          3. Features
          4. Advantages of Software as a Service (SaaS)
          5. Business ByDesign and SAP Partners
        6. SAP All-in-One
          1. Functionality
          2. All-in-One Partners and Solution Centers
          3. Features
            1. Predictable Cost of Ownership/Best Practices
            2. Adapting to Changing Needs/SAP NetWeaver
            3. Intuitive User Experience/SAP NetWeaver Business Client
        7. Summary
        8. Case Study: Hour 6
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      2. 7. Laying the Groundwork: SAP NetWeaver
        1. A Brief History of SAP NetWeaver
        2. Strategic Benefits of NetWeaver
        3. SAP NetWeaver 7.0
          1. Systems with Usage Types
          2. Standalone Engines
          3. Clients
        4. Bringing It All Together—Using the Building Blocks
        5. What’s Next for SAP NetWeaver?
          1. Web Services and Enterprise Services
          2. SAP NetWeaver 7.1
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 7
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      3. 8. SAP ERP: SAP’s Core Product
        1. SAP ERP Versus ECC and R/3
        2. SAP ERP Business Scenarios
        3. Core SAP Business Modules
        4. SAP ERP Financials
          1. Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
          2. Financial and Managerial Accounting
          3. Controlling
          4. Enterprise Controlling
          5. Treasury Management
          6. Global Trade Services (GTS)
          7. Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM)
        5. SAP ERP Human Capital Management
          1. SAP Talent Management: More Than Personnel Administration
          2. Why SAP ERP HCM?
        6. SAP Manufacturing and ERP Operations
          1. Production Planning and Control
          2. Materials Management
          3. Plant Maintenance
          4. Sales and Distribution
        7. SAP ERP Corporate Services
          1. Real Estate Management
          2. Quality Management
          3. Project and Portfolio Management
        8. Summary
        9. Case Study: Hour 8
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      4. 9. The SAP Business Suite
        1. SAP Supply Chain Management
          1. SAP APO
          2. SAP Inventory Collaboration Hub
          3. SAP Event Management
          4. SCM Business Purposes and Benefits
        2. SAP Customer Relationship Management
          1. How CRM Extends SAP ERP
          2. SAP CRM Features
          3. CRM Industry-Specific Processes
        3. SAP Product Lifecycle Management
          1. PLM’s IT Platform
          2. Business Insight Through PLM
          3. Using PLM
        4. SAP Supplier Relationship Management
          1. SRM-to-PLM Integration Benefits
          2. How SRM Impacts Your Enterprise
          3. Using SAP SRM
        5. SAP Manufacturing
        6. SAP Service and Asset Management
        7. Summary
        8. Case Study: Hour 9
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
    9. III. Implementing SAP
      1. 10. Implementation Overview: A Project Management Perspective
        1. SAP and the ASAP Methodology
          1. Introduction to ASAP
          2. Phase 1: Project Preparation
            1. Senior-Level Management Support
            2. Clear Project Objectives
            3. An Efficient Decision-making Process
            4. Environment Suitable for Change and Reengineering
            5. Building a Qualified Project Team
        2. More Contemporary Implementation Tools and Methodologies
        3. Overall SAP Implementation Project Structure
          1. The Executive Steering Committee or Project Board
          2. Project Sponsor
          3. Cross-Bundle Project Leader: The SAP Project Manager
          4. The Project Management Office
            1. Scope Management
            2. Scheduling
            3. Quality Planning
            4. Communication Planning
            5. Contingency Planning
        4. Assembling the Overall Project Team
        5. Project Execution and Control
        6. Project Closeout
        7. Summary
        8. Case Study: Hour 10
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      2. 11. Implementing SAP: A Business and Functional Perspective
        1. SAP Implementation Methodology
          1. Phase 2: Business Blueprint
            1. AcceleratedSAP Question and Answer Database
            2. Issues Database and Its Successor
          2. Phase 3: Realization
            1. Configuration Testing
            2. Knowledge Transfer
          3. Phase 4: Final Preparation
          4. Phase 5: Go-Live and Support
        2. Translating Business Requirements to Functional Specifications
          1. Functional Business Area or “Row” Leaders
          2. Company-Internal Functional Configuration Specialists
          3. The Role of Key or “Power” Users
        3. The SAP Project Lifecycle
          1. Step 1: Project Initiation
          2. Step 2: Matching and Prototyping
          3. Step 3: Design and Construction
          4. Step 4: System Integration Testing (SIT)
          5. Step 5: Business Acceptance Testing
          6. Step 6: Preparation for Production Cutover
          7. Step 7: Operational Stabilization
        4. Summary
        5. Case Study: Hour 11
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      3. 12. Implementing SAP: A Technical Perspective
        1. Assembling the Technical Project Team
          1. Technical Project Management
          2. SAP Consulting
          3. SAP Alliance Partners
          4. Team Leaders
          5. Technical Specialists
          6. System Administrators
        2. Pre-Installation Planning
          1. Hostname Naming Conventions
          2. Operating System Installation
          3. Unicode or Non-Unicode
          4. SAP Solution Manager
        3. Technical Implementation Lessons Learned
          1. Service Level Agreements
          2. Lack of Technical Buy-In
          3. Start Small, Think Big
          4. Big Bang or Phased?
          5. Learn and Move On
          6. Beware of Long-term Consultants and Contractors
          7. Manage Technical Scope Creep
        4. Summary
        5. Case Study: Hour 12
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      4. 13. Development Tools and Methodologies
        1. Programming Tools
          1. ABAP
          2. Java
          3. Composition Environment
        2. SAP Configuration Tools and Methodologies
          1. ASAP—AcceleratedSAP
          2. SAP Solution Manager for Implementation
          3. Implementation Tools and Content
            1. Project Preparation
            2. Business Blueprint
            3. Configuration
            4. Testing, Final Preparation, and Go-Live
          4. Additional Implementation Roadmaps
        3. The SAP Implementation Guide (IMG)
        4. Different Views of the IMG
          1. The SAP Reference IMG
          2. The SAP Enterprise IMG
          3. The SAP Project IMGs
          4. The SAP Upgrade Customizing IMGs
          5. Integration with Solution Manager
        5. Additional IMG Fundamentals
          1. Help in the IMG
          2. Documentation in the IMG
          3. Status Information
            1. Status
            2. Percent Complete
            3. Plan Start and End Dates
            4. Plan Work Days
            5. Actual Start and End Dates
            6. Actual Work Days
            7. Remaining Work Days
            8. Using the Employee Tab for Resource Assignments
          4. Release Notes
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 13
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      5. 14. SAP and Enterprise SOA
        1. Introduction to Enterprise SOA
          1. Differentiating SOA from Enterprise SOA
          2. Principles of Enterprise SOA
        2. Enabling SOA Through SAP NetWeaver
          1. Web Application Server
          2. Enterprise SOA Is Already Here
        3. Benefits of Enterprise SOA
          1. Why SOA? Reusability
          2. Why SOA? Modular Design
          3. Why SOA? Cost Effectiveness
        4. Differentiating SOA and Web Services
        5. Challenges to Adopting SOA
          1. IT Organizational Silos and Ownership
          2. Need for an Enterprise Architecture
          3. Moving Away from Client/Server Architectures
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 14
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
    10. IV. SAP Technical Considerations
      1. 15. Technical Installation of SAP
        1. Installation Overview
        2. Planning
        3. Pre-Planning
          1. SAP Infrastructure Review
            1. Network
            2. Storage Area Network (SAN)
            3. Hostname Considerations
          2. Operating System Installation
          3. CD/DVD Media
          4. SAP Solution Manager Keys
        4. Installation
          1. Operating System Installation
          2. Prerequisite Checklist
          3. Database Server Software Installation
            1. Microsoft SQL Server
            2. Oracle
          4. SAP Software Installation
          5. System Variants—Different “Kinds” of Installations
            1. SAP Central Services Instance for ABAP (ASCS) Installation
            2. SAP Central Services Instance (SCS) Installation
            3. SAP Database Instance Installation
            4. SAP Central Instance Installation
        5. Post-Installation
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 15
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      2. 16. Integrating SAP with Microsoft Office
        1. SAP Integration with Desktop Applications
        2. Using %pc to Download Data
          1. Exporting SAP Data to Microsoft Excel
          2. Creating SAP Form Letters in Microsoft Word
          3. Exporting SAP to Microsoft Access
          4. Importing SAP into Microsoft Access
          5. The Microsoft Access Report Wizard
        3. Quick References
          1. Quick Reference for Exporting Lists to Microsoft Excel
          2. Quick Reference for Exporting SAP Query Reports to Excel
          3. Quick Reference for Creating Form Letters with Microsoft Word
          4. Quick Reference for Exporting Lists to Microsoft Access
          5. Quick Reference for Exporting SAP Query Reports to Access
        4. Duet
          1. Client Tier
          2. Middle Tier
          3. Backend Tier
          4. Configuration and Scalability
        5. Microsoft Active Directory Integration
        6. Single Sign-On (SSO)
        7. Summary
        8. Case Study: Hour 16
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      3. 17. After Go-Live: System Administration and Operations
        1. Monitoring the System
          1. Available SAP NetWeaver Application Servers (SM51)
          2. SAP System Logs (SM21 and More)
            1. System Log for ABAP Stack
            2. System Log for Java Stack
          3. System Monitoring with CCMS
            1. Alert Monitor (RZ20)
            2. Response Time and Workload Performance (ST03)
            3. Other Important CCMS Tools
        2. SAP Authorization Concepts
          1. User Authorizations for ABAP-Based Application Servers
            1. Authorization Profiles
            2. SAP Profile Generator (PFCG)
          2. User Authorizations for Java-Based Application Servers
        3. Summary
        4. Case Study: Hour 17
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      4. 18. After Go-Live: SAP Upgrades and Enhancements
        1. Enhancement, Upgrade, and Migration Terminology
          1. Enhancement Terminology
          2. Upgrade Terminology
          3. Migration Terminology
        2. SAP OS/DB Migrations
        3. SAP Upgrades
        4. SAP Enhancements
        5. High-Level Project Planning
          1. Project Planning for Enhancements
          2. Project Planning for SAP Upgrades
          3. Planning for an OS/DB Migration
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 18
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
    11. V. Using SAP
      1. 19. Logon, Session, and SAP GUI Basics
        1. Accessing the System
        2. The SAP Logon Pad
          1. Configuring the SAP Logon Pad
          2. Low-Speed Connections
        3. Initial SAP Logon
          1. SAP User ID
          2. SAP Client
          3. Logon Language
        4. Changing Your Password
        5. Session Basics
          1. Creating a New Session
          2. Creating a New Session Using the Command Field
          3. Creating a New Session and Starting a New Task at the Same Time
          4. Ending a Session
          5. Logging Off of SAP
        6. SAP GUI Basics
          1. The Menu Bar
          2. The Standard Toolbar
          3. The Application Toolbar
        7. Navigation Basics
          1. Performing Tasks Using Menu Paths
            1. Navigation Using the Mouse
            2. Navigation Using the Keyboard
          2. Performing Tasks Using Transaction Codes
            1. Finding the Right Transaction Code
            2. Finding the Transaction Code for the Current Task
            3. Using the History List to Find Transaction Codes
          3. Stopping a Transaction
        8. Summary
        9. Case Study: Hour 19
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      2. 20. SAP GUI Screen and Printing Basics
        1. Understanding and Using Fields
          1. Input Fields
            1. Replace and Insert Modes
            2. Possible Entries for an Input Field
            3. Editing the Data in an Input Field
            4. Required Input Fields
            5. Field Entry Validation
            6. Canceling All the Data Entered on a Screen
            7. Saving Your Data on the Screen
          2. Replicating Data
            1. Hold Data
            2. Set Data
            3. Deleting Data That Is Held or Set on a Screen
        2. Display Fields
        3. Screen Objects
          1. SAP Trees
          2. Check Boxes
          3. Radio Buttons
          4. Dialog Boxes
          5. Table Controls
        4. Printing in SAP
          1. The SAP Print Screen List
            1. Output Device
            2. Number of Copies
          2. Spool Request Attributes
            1. General Properties
            2. Spool Request
            3. Cover Sheets
            4. Output Options
          3. Setting Default Values for the Printer
        5. Advanced Concepts
          1. Using the Clipboard
            1. Moving Data
            2. Copying Data
            3. Copying Unselectable Data
          2. Creating Screen Prints from SAP
        6. Summary
        7. Case Study: Hour 20
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      3. 21. Customizing Your SAP Display
        1. Which SAP GUI Is Right?
          1. JavaGUI—SAP GUI for Java
          2. WebGUI—SAP GUI for HTML
          3. WinGUI—SAP GUI for Windows
        2. Change Visual WinGUI Appearance
          1. Enjoy
          2. High Contrast and Streamline
          3. Tradeshow
          4. XP Design
        3. The Customizing of Local Layout Button
          1. The Options Tab
            1. Quick Info
            2. Messages
            3. System
          2. The Cursor Tab
            1. Cursor Position
            2. Cursor Width
          3. The Local Data Tab
          4. The Trace Tab
          5. The Scripting Tab
        4. New Visual Design Selection
          1. The General Tab
          2. The Color Settings Tab
        5. Clipboard Selection
        6. Font Selection
        7. Status Field’s System Information Icon
        8. Summary
        9. Case Study: Hour 21
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      4. 22. Reporting and Query Basics
        1. Reporting Tools
          1. ABAP List Processing (ABAP Programming)
          2. ABAP Query
          3. Ad Hoc Query
          4. Structural Graphics
          5. Executive Information System
          6. SAP Information System (Report Trees)
        2. General Report Selection
          1. Executing Reports
          2. Report Attributes
          3. Searching for Reports
          4. Selection Screens
          5. Variants
          6. Modifying Variants
          7. Background Processing
          8. Lists
        3. SAP Reporting Tools (SAP Query, InfoSet Query, Ad Hoc Query, and QuickViewer)
          1. The Structure of the Query Reporting Tools
            1. Query Groups
            2. InfoSets
            3. Administrative Decisions
              1. What Is Your Client/Transport Strategy?
              2. Will You Use the Standard or Global Query Area?
          2. Creating a New User Group
          3. Creating a New InfoSet
          4. Assigning the InfoSet to Your Query Group
        4. SAP Queries
          1. Creating an SAP Query
          2. Advanced SAP Queries
        5. Understanding the InfoSet (Ad Hoc) Query
          1. Creating an InfoSet (Ad Hoc) Query
        6. Understanding the QuickViewer
          1. Creating a QuickView
        7. Summary
        8. Case Study: Hour 22
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
    12. VI. Developing a Career in SAP
      1. 23. Where Do I Start?
        1. Where Do I Look?
          1. Right Where You Are
          2. SAP
          3. SAP Partners
          4. SAP Customers
        2. What Types of Opportunities Are Available?
          1. Business and Functional Positions
          2. Technical Positions
          3. Project Management
          4. Trainers and Testers
        3. Positioning Myself for a Career in SAP
          1. Again, Right Where You Are
          2. Leverage Existing Business Experience
          3. Leverage Existing Technical Expertise
          4. Hardware/Infrastructure Specialists
          5. OS/DB Administrators
          6. Developers/Programmers
          7. Other Options
        4. Working on the Intangibles
          1. Get Educated!
          2. Focus on Your Presentation Layer
          3. A Word on Ethics
          4. No Substitute for a Little Hustle
        5. Summary
        6. Case Study: Hour 23
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
      2. 24. SAP Resources
        1. Professional Resources
          1. Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG)
          2. SAP Professional Journal
          3. SAPinsider
          4. SAPNetWeaver Magazine
          5. Books
          6. Technical Newsletters
        2. Internet Resources
          1. SAP Fans
          2. The Wayback Machine
          3. SAP FAQ
          4. TechTarget and SearchSAP.com
          5. The SAP ITtoolbox
        3. SAP Conferences
          1. SAPPHIRE
          2. SAP TechEd
          3. Managing Your SAP Projects
          4. Other WIS-Sponsored Seminars and Conferences
        4. Employment and Career Opportunities
          1. SAP-Resources.com
          2. Softwarejobs.com
          3. ITtoolbox for Careers
          4. Up and Coming
        5. Summary
        6. Case Study: Hour 24
          1. Situation
          2. Questions
    13. Appendix
      1. A. Case Study Answers
        1. Hour 1: Answers
        2. Hour 2: Answers
        3. Hour 3: Answers
        4. Hour 4: Answers
        5. Hour 5: Answers
        6. Hour 6: Answers
        7. Hour 7: Answers
        8. Hour 8: Answers
        9. Hour 9: Answers
        10. Hour 10: Answers
        11. Hour 11: Answers
        12. Hour 12: Answers
        13. Hour 13: Answers
        14. Hour 14: Answers
        15. Hour 15: Answers
        16. Hour 16: Answers
        17. Hour 17: Answers
        18. Hour 18: Answers
        19. Hour 19: Answers
        20. Hour 20: Answers
        21. Hour 21: Answers
        22. Hour 22: Answers
        23. Hour 23: Answers
        24. Hour 24: Answers

    Product information

    • Title: Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours, Third Edition
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: August 2008
    • Publisher(s): Sams
    • ISBN: 9780768683103