tstefanov

Blog of Tzanko Stefanov

Using Web Client UI in ECC 6.0 EhP4 and Higher

5 Comments Posted by on August 12, 2011

The other day I was asked if one can use the Web Client UI on an ERP (ECC) 6 system. The answer is ‘yes, given that you have the right enhancement pack’. The matter is briefly discussed  in chapter 1 of our Web Client UI book (http://www.sap-press.com/h3192). I must admit that the information in the book is not enough to get someone started with coding Web Client UI applications in ERP.  The overall statement goes along the lines that ECC 6.0 EHP4 includes already the WEBCUIF framework. However, the framework is hidden from the developers/users. The relevant customizing in SPRO is simply missing. A customer would have to know the names of the maintenance views, tables, transactions, etc.

As of ECC 6.0 EhP5, a customer can also maintain the Web Client UI customizing via SPRO. As far as I can remember this customizing can be found in under the SPRO path for FI-CA. However, the relevant FI-CA switch has to be activated. So again, although present, the Web Client UI is not that visible to the developers.

Please note that one has the complete Web Client UI framework across the entire SAP Business Suite 7.01 and higher. Needless to say, the the fact that it is sometimes hidden, proves it a bit difficult to use the Web Client UI in systems like ERP 6.0 EhP4. If you are lucky and have EhP5 than all you need to do is activate the switch (if you know about it of course).

In this blog, I will try to get you started with Web Client UI development in Business Suite 7 EhP4. The first challenge that you will be facing is that you do not have the GenIL Model Editor. The same is true even for those having CRM 7.0 as the editor was introduced in EhP1. In the book, we decided to stick with the model editor as there are different ways in which one can manually implement the GenIL model definition. A good read is the blog of Harel Gilor, “Create your own BOL Obect”, http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/19914. We are referring to that blog on page 130 of our book. So we thought that one can relatively easy learn how to manually maintain the GenIL model, but very few knew of the existence of the GenIL model editor. In addition, we needed it to demonstrate the GenIL handler concept.

Now back to ECC: let’s say that you have read the blog of Harel (or the rest of the available materials on SDN) and implemented your model. Now you are ready to register your GenIL components and component sets. What is easily available in CRM’s SPRO under Customer Relationship Management->CRM Cross Application Components->Generic Interaction Layer/Object Layer->Basic Settings is simply missing in ERP EhP4. If you have both systems you can check what is behind the SPRO path and simply run it in ERP.

In this example, the GenIL components are maintained in view cluster (transaction SM34) CRMVC_GIL_APPDEF (refer to the screenshot provided here).

So now you can add your own custom GenIL component and create a component set. We will not do it in this blog (read Harel’s blog or the book). But  let’s pick an existing component and see what we can do with it. The SAMPLE component is the recommended exemplary GenIL component that a Web Client UI developer can always refer to. We can test it in transaction GENIL_BOL_BROWSER. Start that transaction and enter SAMPLE as an application.

Transaction GENIL_BOL_BROWSER

Transaction GENIL_BOL_BROWSER

Once the BOL browser opens the SAMPLE component you could execute the  OrderQuery. In the screenshot I simply set the Description field to ‘*’ and left the rest blank.

Once you have developed and tested your GenIL component, you can start the component workbench via transaction BSP_WD_CMPWB and develop your application.

The information presented here is hardly scratching the surface of what you will need to develop and deploy a complete Web Client UI solution in ECC. So if you are lost and need help finding a transaction code or table name, drop me a comment . And if you are willing to experiment and discover useful things on your own, please do not hesitate to share.

SAP, Web Clien UI

5 responses to “Using Web Client UI in ECC 6.0 EhP4 and Higher”

  1. Alexander Bell August 12, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    Great post Tzanko! Thank you!

    Currently we are just evaluating WebCUIF within ECC because it seems to be a great technology for developing flexible UI’s.

    Is there a item of written comment by SAP regarding the use of WebCUIF within ECC? I’ve found a recommendation in the “SAP Guidelines for Best-Built Applications” (Section UI-TECH-1). These Guidelines mentioned that the use of WebCUIF is recommended “for development of applications that complement SAP CRM”. So does that mean: “Use WebCUIF for CRM and WebDynpro for ERP”? Why is WebCUIF included in the Business Suite Foundation Layer when the use is only intended for CRM?

    BTW in these guidelines WebDynpro for Java is still recommended. As far as I know SAP don’t want to support WDJ anymore. See http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/21759

    Cheers, Alex

    Reply
    • tsanstef August 12, 2011 at 1:33 pm

      Hi Alex,

      As you noted the guide you are referring to is outdated. But this does not mean that you will find anything better. The truth is that SAP messed up the way they position WDA and Web Client UI. The reason why you will find the Web Client UI throughout the suite is that it was decided that both the WUI and WDA are “first class citizens” of the BS. Hence, one could choose which technology of the two to use. And not surprisingly there was an interest among the BS applications towards WUI. You could still probably see some HR GenIL components in ECC. But also the Utilities wanted to use WUI across their solution. The list goes on. This was expected as the WUI is a much better framework than WDA. I think you will not find anyone at SAP to deny that.

      But at some point, SAP decided that it needs to pick one FWK for its BS renovation projects. After all it does make sense to consolidate the efforts. The politics entered the game and the ‘old timers’ at SAP won. They tried to re-position WDA despite its limitations. Of course they could not make CRM rewrite its UI. It would be a step back in terms of user experience.

      Now we know that the whole thing did not work as planned. SAP changed its strategy and started investing in the technologies of the future: HTML5, mobility, cloud, etc. And WDA is not the right framework to achieve the new requirements. They could not revert their decision. To top it off the level of investments in the BS went down dramatically. So now, based on some messaging from SAP, I believe that they will let customers and partners develop their own UI-s. SAP will simply facilitate the delivery of data, integrating with the rest of the stack, etc.

      So to summarize: my take is that you are free to choose whatever you like. If you want to build a new application in the context of ECC, that is somewhat independent from the rest, use WUI. If you want to extend existing WDA application, stick to WDA. If you are in CRM, then clearly WUI is the way to go.

      Reply
  2. princeNeil March 4, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    Hi Tzanko

    I am working through your Web Client book but I do not have GENIL_MODEL_EDITOR. Your blog indicates it is made available in CRM7 EHP1 which is what I have installed. I gather there is something I need to activate in EHP1 to enable the transaction?

    Thanks
    Neil

    Reply

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