SAP R/3 Glossary

SAP R/3 has introduced a slew of new terms in the field of information technology. Keep those terms in mind if you want to grasp this field even better.

ALE (Application Link Enabling)

It allows for the integration of many R/3 systems while maintaining complete interactivity. This allows for the development of distributed enterprise applications.

Application server
In the R/3 client/server model, the application server is used to run business application programmes. The application modules are loaded into the application server as needed from the database server. As a result, the application server simply needs storage space to support UNIX, Swapping, and the SAP runtime environment. 

Batch Input
A method for safely entering data. For background interfaces, it ensures application data integrity. It acts as if someone is typing. Also see direct input.

CATT (Computer Aided Test Tool)
In test procedures, it lets you to integrate and automate sequences of repeatable transactions. CATT decreases the number of manual tests required and forces you to test in a systematic manner, with input values and expected test outcomes defined. 

CCMS (Computer Center Management System)

You can use it to keep track of, control, and configure your R/3 system. This suite of tools allows you to assess and distribute client workloads as well as report on system component resource use.

Central System
Both application and database software are executed on a single machine in an R/3 central system. 

Client
A self-contained unit in an R/3 system with its own master records and tables in terms of commercial, organisational, and technical concepts. 

Client/Server System
Client/server systems are built in modules, with sender/receiver relationships between components. In a client/server interaction, software components can also be used.

Communication Server
It might be a router, a bridge, or a gateway that connects local and wide area networks. The communication server in R/3 systems must handle the TCP/IP protocol over wide area networks. 

Company code
The lowest organisational unit for which a complete set of self-contained accounts can be prepared for external reporting purposes. This entails recording all relevant transactions and producing all supporting papers for legally necessary financial statements such balance sheets and profit and loss statements.

Computer type

The R/3 system works with a variety of SAP platform partners' computers, including Bull, DEC, IBM, and HP. Sufficient CPU performance is required for a certain computer type to be suitable. 

CPI-C (Common Programming Interface-Communications)
IBM introduced the Common Programming Interface of Communication as a high-level interface to SNA/LU6-2. SAP uses CPI-C to facilitate program-to-program communication between R/3 and external systems, and it is the subject of the X/Open standardisation. SAP provides TCP/IP-based CPI-C libraries.

Correction

It keeps track of all the items that a developer has modified or created. It also manages any customizations that have been kept.

CSP

A method to assist SAP personnel in providing full client assistance.

Data base server

In the R/3 client/server model, the data base server houses SAP application code and data. It also handles batch jobs and the SAP update software.

Direct Input

A new method for safely entering data. For background interfaces, it ensures application data integrity. Also see batch input.

Dispatcher

The R/3 agent in the system that recognises the task type (on-line, update, batch, etc.) and routes the job to an idle work process.

EarlyWatch

It's a service that involves having your R/3 installation evaluated on a regular basis by SAP professionals in order to maintain good system uptime and data throughput at all times.

Ethernet

It is a bus topology LAN design. The data transfer rate is 10 MBit/s.

FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interchange)
It is a local high-speed network with ring topology based on light wave conductors. The transmission speed is 100 MBit/s. 

Field status
Indicator that specifies whether a field can take an entry in the entry screen or if it must be filled.
Firewall
It is a means of controlling access through a public network to a private network. 

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
It is the most commonly used file transmission protocol of the TCP/IP protocol family. 

GUI (Graphic User Interface)
A graphical interface used by SAP environment as part of the three tiers. It is normally called user frontend. 

IDES (International Demonstration and Education System)
It is a model of an international firm. It is a separate demonstration and education system for speeding up the pilot process. 

IMG (Implementation Management Guide)
It is a hierarchical structure that reflects the R/3 component hierarchy and contains every configuration activity. Released from version 3.0 onwards. 

Instance
It means application server and each one has its own set of work processes. 

IDoc (Intermediate Document)
An IDoc is a data container for data exchange between SAP systems or between an SAP system and an external system. 

ITS (Internet Transaction Server)
It links the R/3 application server with one or more Web servers, thus enabling the R/3 to communicate with the Internet. 

Kernel
It means a standard core previously configured. A set of default parameters delivered with the system. 

LAN (Local Area Network)
It is a network foa a tightly limited area with high level data transmission performance. Common LANs include Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI. These LANs support different transport protocols, such as TCP/IP and IPX. 

Matchcode
A tool for finding specific record. It is made up of search terms. It is used to find possible entries for an input field. 

Number range
A range of numbers that are laid down per file for the assignment of document numbers. It can be internal (carried out automatically by the system) or external (carried out manually by the user). 

OLE
It is a technique introduced by Microsoft to incorporate objects of one application into another.

OSS (Online Service System)
SAP's Online Service System offers fast and effective help for R/3 System problems. It is also the basic element of communications between customers, partners, and SAP.

Repair
It contains all the objects that a developer has changed but the originals of the objects are located in another system.

RFC
A way to implement communication between application programs via Abap/4 function call.

Semaphores
When a work process locks a resource, it sets a semaphore. Another work process that also wants to access it must then wait.

SysID
A set of three letters or number that identify a system. Some sets are not allowed because they are used by SAP. They are informed when the system is installed.

TCP/IP
It is the most widely used transport protocol for open systems. R/3 clients and servers communicate using TCP/IP.
Telnet
It provides terminal access to hosts using TCP/IP protocol. It is a well-known command among Systems Administrators.

Token Ring
It is a LAN architecture with ring topology. The transmission speed is 4 MBit/s or 16 MBit/s. This involves a 'free token' which circles the loop picking up transmissions. The receiver station places a confirmation bit into the busy token. As soon as the busy token reaches the sender station again, it is converted back to a free token and sent on to the next station.

Transport
It is a request to transport objects from the software development environment, identified as the source system, to the specified target system.

WAN (Wide Area Networks)
They are normally operated either by the telephone company or by private companies that offer leased lines, switched lines or packet lines.

Work process
Work processes perform the bulk of the processing carried out by SAP systems. They perform dialog steps in user transactions and carry out updates, lock management, printing services, and so on.

Workbench
The ABAP/4 Workbench, a graphical programming environment, is used to create application programs. The programming tools are accessed using buttons, dialogs and windows.

Workflow
It consists of time and logical sequence of work items, which are processed by human agents or mechanical processing units.

X.25
It is a standardized network access protocol for the packet switching network. The maximum transmission speed is 64 KBit/s.