From Book News, Inc.
Release 4.6 of SAP's R/3 System presented many new features, including the completely redesigned user interface but also numerous other enhancements and additions, particularly the functionality of the programming language of the R/3 System. In this volume, Matzke (an industry software developer in Germany) describes the ABAP commands and the main principles of programming. Includes abundant exercises throughout the volume.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German


Book Info
(Pearson Education) Builds on the information typically provided in SAP books on ABAP, looking in-depth at the program language at the heart of the SAP R/3 system. The CD-ROM contains all of the source code of the examples in the text and SAP transport files with examples of their own.


From the Inside Flap
Preface Release 4.6 of SAP's R/3 System saw the introduction of many new features. Some, like the completely redesigned user interface, are immediately apparent. However, the user interface conceals a large number of enhancements and additions. This is particularly true of the programming language of the R/3 System, whose functionality has been extended considerably. The additions to the scope of the ABAP language alone are enough to justify a new edition of this book. For this edition, it was necessary to focus on essentials, primarily because only limited time was available to me, but also because of the broad scope that the book needed to cover. As a result, apart from a few exceptions, the book focuses on providing a description of the ABAP commands and of the main principles of programming. For these reasons, although many readers have requested it, I am unfortunately not able in this book to include topics that go beyond the bounds of a pure description of the language. Such topics would for example include workflow programming, batch input and the new interface controls. I would like to thank everyone who assisted me, directly or indirectly, with my work on this book. Above all, I would like to mention the companies SAP, Addison-Wesley and IXOS, without whose generous support it would have been impossible to write this book. My special thanks go to the SAP employees who patiently gave their time to provide detailed answers to my questions, and in doing so made it much easier for me to learn and understand SAP R/3 and ABAP.—Bernd Matzke, Delitzsch, October 17, 1999


From the Back Cover
Many of the introductory SAP books currently on the market provide only a brief overview of ABAP. In ABAP/4 Programming the SAP/3 System, Bernd Matzke builds on this information to look in depth at the programming language at the heart of the SAP R/3 system. This new and fully updated edition of the definitive guide to ABAP/4 aims to make the fundamentals of this evolving programming language accessible to anybody developing or maintaining an SAP R/3 system. Starting with the basic principles, it explains the essential characteristics of ABAP/4 and the SAP programming concept. With this book you will learn how to: · Master the ABAP/4 commands in order to analyze existing standard applications and write new programs · Understand function modules to use program code from other applications · Create your own programs and construct your own test environments with an expansive set of examples designed to build up knowledge and programming skills NEW! Covers new concepts affecting the development environment and program, in line with R/3 Release 4.6 NEW! Covers features of completely redesigned user interface NEW! Reference section covering ABAP commands in Release 4.6B NEW! CD-Rom containing source code of all examples plus SAP transport files with examples The sample programs in this book were developed on a 4.6B-system but can also run on other versions of the R/3 system.

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About the Author
Bernd Matzke is a Software Developer with forcont business technology Ltd in Leipzig, Germany. He has spent considerable time working at SAP's headquarters in Walldorf, where he was involved in application development and software logistics. For several years, he has managed various projects in the field of SAP R/3.

0201675153AB04062001


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Preface Release 4.6 of SAP's R/3 System saw the introduction of many new features. Some, like the completely redesigned user interface, are immediately apparent. However, the user interface conceals a large number of enhancements and additions. This is particularly true of the programming language of the R/3 System, whose functionality has been extended considerably. The additions to the scope of the ABAP language alone are enough to justify a new edition of this book.

For this edition, it was necessary to focus on essentials, primarily because only limited time was available to me, but also because of the broad scope that the book needed to cover. As a result, apart from a few exceptions, the book focuses on providing a description of the ABAP commands and of the main principles of programming. For these reasons, although many readers have requested it, I am unfortunately not able in this book to include topics that go beyond the bounds of a pure description of the language. Such topics would for example include workflow programming, batch input and the new interface controls.

I would like to thank everyone who assisted me, directly or indirectly, with my work on this book. Above all, I would like to mention the companies SAP, Addison-Wesley and IXOS, without whose generous support it would have been impossible to write this book. My special thanks go to the SAP employees who patiently gave their time to provide detailed answers to my questions, and in doing so made it much easier for me to learn and understand SAP R/3 and ABAP.
—Bernd Matzke, Delitzsch, October 17, 1999

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This definitive guide to ABAP/4 aims to make the fundamentals of this evolving programming language accessible to anybody developing or maintaining an SAP R/3 system. Starting with the basic principles, it explains the essential characteristics of ABAP/4 and the SAP programming concept. With this book you will learn how to master the ABAP/4 commands in order to analyze existing standard applications and write new programs, understand function modules to use program code from other applications, use the Workbench organizer and On-line Debugger to relay applications and document changes, and create your own programs and construct your own test environments with an expansive set of examples designed to build up knowledge and programming skills.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

Release 4.6 of SAP's R/3 System presented many new features, including the completely redesigned user interface but also numerous other enhancements and additions, particularly the functionality of the programming language of the R/3 System. In this volume, Matzke (an industry software developer in Germany) describes the ABAP commands and the main principles of programming. Includes abundant exercises throughout the volume. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

ACCREDITATION