CSU IST 331

Data Storage in SAP R/3

An Introduction

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander R. R. Kolb

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

Introduction

The Company SAP

What does SAP stand for ? Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing

Some Figures

revenues in 2003 : 7.0 billion 79,800 installations more than 23,400 companies run SAP 30,945 SAP employees (June 2004) 12 million users in 120+ countries more than 1,500 partners more than 60,000 students work with SAP software in business
management classes in over 500 institutions globally
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

Introduction

The System R/3

Logistics

SD
MaterialMgmt.

MM

Sales & Distrbution

Financials Controlling

FI

Accounting

CO

Production planing

PP

R/3
Industry Solutions

Asset Mgmt

AM

Qualitts Mgmt

QM

Client / Server ABAP/4

Human Resources

Product Maint.

PM

WF

Projectsystem

PS

Workflow

HR

IS

Workflow

Human Resources

Industry Solutions

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

Introduction

Characteristics of an ERP-System

All combined in one

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning):

Suite of integrated corporate wide software applications that drives manufacturing, financial, distribution, human resources, and other business functions in real time.

Important:
One integrated system with real time information. If information is not accurate, the system is not reliable.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

Hands On 1 (You know the table)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 1

Access to Database Tables Ver. 1 (1/2)

There are (always) several ways to get somewhere

enter enter the the transaction transaction code code SE16 SE16 and and press press Enter Enter

double double click click in in the the Easy Access Menu Easy Access Menu

enter enter a a table table name name (e.g. (e.g. MARA) MARA) and and press press Enter Enter

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 1

Excursion : The Search Button (1/3)

You dont know the table name search for it !

Press Press the the .. search search button button

Search Search in in the the Information Information System System

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 1

Excursion : The Search Button (2/3)

SAP (always) gives you a lot of choices

e.g. e.g. enter enter *Material* *Material*

The The expressions expressions are are case case sensitive sensitive The The results results for for *material* *material* are are not not the same as for *Material* the same as for *Material* !!! !!!

Keep Keep the the max. max. of of hits hits in in mind mind !!

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 1

Excursion : The Search Button (3/3)

Well, now it is easy to find or ?

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 1

Access to Database Tables Ver. 1 (2/2)

From the Table to the Data

(define (define a a filter filter and) and) execute execute with with

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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Hands On 2 (You know nearly nothing)

Welcome to the club ;-))

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 2

Access to Database Tables Ver. 2 (1/4)

From the Entry Field to the Technical Info

place place the the cursor cursor in in the the entry field and press entry field and press F1 F1

select select Technical Technical Information Information

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 2

Access to Database Tables Ver. 2 (2/4)

From the Technical Info to the Table / Structure Components

doubledoubleclick click change change register register

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 2

Access to Database Tables Ver. 2 (3/4)

From the Components to the Table

Ann.: Ann.: Further Further interesting interesting displays displays with (Object with (Object List) List) and (Graphic) and (Graphic) doubledoubleclick click

display display content content

(or (orSAP-Menue: SAP-Menue:Utilities Utilities-> ->Table Table Contens Contens-> ->Display) Display)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 2

Access to Database Tables Ver. 2 (4/4)

From the Table to the Data

(define (define a a filter filter and) and) execute execute with with

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Link between Application and Database (What Academics love -> some Theory)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Link between Application and Database

Database-Interface
How does it work ?

Business Business Applications Applications ABAP ABAP Dictionary Dictionary native SQL native native SQL SQL Module Module Open SQL

Programms of the R/3-System

Open Open SQL SQL Module Module Database-Interface Database Database specific specific Layer Layer

Relational Database

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Link between Application and Database

ABAP Dictionary (1/2)

Its a Repository - what is it good for ?

Central and redundant free information storage for all applicationand systemdata in the R/3-system

Description of the logical structure of e.g. - Tables, - Views, - Dataelements, - Domains, - Structures
and their definition in the structures of the underlying relational database.

Avoidance of redundancy
(All components of the runtime environment, e.g. the business applications or the database interface, fetch their information about these objects directly from the ABAP Dictionary.)

An active Dictionary that is completely integrated in the ABAP

Workbench.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Link between Application and Database

ABAP Dictionary (2/2)

An Overview

- ABAP Programs - Dokumentation - Online Help

Databasetables

ABAP Dictionary

Dynpros

Classes

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Link between Application and Database

Data-Elements, Domains, Data-Types

Complex but logical Tables + Fields wage-payment
account month amount no.

bookings
booking amount no.

account
account balance no.

Data-Element (semantic domain)

booking amount [$]

balance [$]

Domain (technical domain) SAP Basis-Data-Typ Database Basis-Data-Typ

amount with 2 decimals [$]

CURR (12 digits, 2 decimals) DEC

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Link between Application and Database

Data(base)organisation in the R/3-System

real world

Accounting SAP-Referencemodel (conceptual level) Logistics HR

Example:

Entitytyp 12127 Vendor-Invoice-Posting

ABAP/4 Dictionary (logical level)

Views normalised tables

View ENT2127 Vendor-Invoice-Posting Table BSEG (clustertable) Accounting Document Segment Tabeble RFBLG (physical table)
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Relational Database (physical level )

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

Database-Tables

The Link between Application and Database

Tabletypes in the R/3-Repository

Transparent Tables

1:1 relation > one logical table matches one database table businessdata

39,047 transparent tables in SAP R/3 4.7 (Enterprise)

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Link between Application and Database

Tabletypes in the R/3-Repository

Pool-Tables

Several SAP-tables with the same pattern resolve in one database

table

In the database every tupel has the information to which SAP-table

it belongs

2,022 pool tables in SAP R/3 4.7 (Enterprise)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Link between Application and Database

Tabletypes in the R/3-Repository

Cluster-Tabellen

Several tables that belong together logically are stored in one

database table (objectwise saving)

prerequisite: datarecords belonging together (tupel of the SAPtables) can be identified via the same primary key

75 cluster tables in SAP R/3 4.7 (Enterprise)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Link between Application and Database

Tabletypes in the R/3-Repository

Internal Tables

Datastructure, that is only available during the runtime of a

program

Can be linked to several programs Similar to a view

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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Hands On 3 (A look to the SAP-Repository)

a bit deep-diving ;-))

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 3

First Step into the SAP-Repository

Lets get into IT

enter enter the the transaction transaction code code SE84 and SE84 and press press Enter Enter

double double click click in in the the Easy Access Menu Easy Access Menu
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Data Models (1/6)

Chose one out of 26,959 Data Models* !

e.g. e.g. enter enter *order* *order* and and execute execute

for R/3 4.7 (Enterprise)

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Data Models (2/6)

Only 125 Data Models containing order

double double click click

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Data Models (3/6)

Rather boring, but a good starting point

have have a a look look at at the the hierarchy hierarchy

have have a a look look at at the graphics the graphics

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Data Models (4/6)

23 Representations (Entity Types) belonging to a Sales Order

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Data Models (5/6)

And here is the graphical version ;-)
Select Select an an entity entity type type and press and press Dictionary Dictionary

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Data Models (6/6)

You should recognize some of this !

place place the the cursur cursur in in the the field field of of a a table table an an press press the the Data Data Browser Browser button button

run run the the Report Report via via

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Entity Types (1/6)

Chose one out of 4,622 Entity Types* !

e.g. e.g. enter enter *order* *order* and and execute execute

for R/3 4.7 (Enterprise)

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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Entity Types (2/6)

Over 200 Entity Types containing order

double double click click

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Entity Types (3/6)

Again rather boring, but a good starting point

have have a a look look at at the where the where used used have have a a look look at at the the dictionary dictionary

have have a a look look at at the the relations relations

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Entity Types (4/6)

The incoming relationships with their cardinality

try try a a double double click click :-) :-) what what does does C C :: CN CN stand stand for for ? ?

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Entity Types (5/6)

The Dictionary (you should know this !)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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The Way to the Data 3

A Look at the Entity Types (6/6)

Where is this Entity used ?

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb

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Thats IT I hope it was a bit interesting and you learnd something you can utilize in the future

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kolb