Chapter 2   SAP R/3 Repository


The iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for SAP R/3 does a specialized form of data mining: it looks at data and extracts functions and parameters from backend systems, such as SAP R/3, to allow the user of iPlanet Application Server to utilize (call) these functions.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Overview of Management Console

• Creating a New Data Source

• Data Mining

• Browsing Archived XMLs

• Editing a Data Source

Overview of Management Console

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The management console has two groups of functions:

• Tasks that are used to process and browse data and functions: data mining, browse archived XMLs, and add new data sources.

• User mapping that establishes relationships between the web and backend users.

The tasks performed with the management console are explained in this chapter. See the iPlanet Application Server Enterprise Connector for SAP R/3 Administrative Guide for a description of the use of the management console for user mapping.

Entering the Console from Windows NT

Select Start>Programs>iPlanet Application Server 6.0>R3 Connector 6.0- Management Console

.

Entering the Console from Solaris

1. Run: sapconsole.sh

   from <iplanet>/ias/APPS/bin

2. The SAP Management Console is displayed:
   
   

Creating a New Data Source

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1. Click the Create New Data source icon to display the Create New data source details dialog.
   
   

2. Type in the following data

   Data Source Name	Name of the new data source that is created
   Client	R/3 Client number.
   User Name	R/3 User name
   Password	R/3 User password
   Gateway Host	Name of the gateway host
   Gateway Service	Name of the gateway service
   Host Name	Name of the application server host machine
   Destination	Destination name of the R/3 system you are connected to
   System Name	The R/3 System name for the load-balancing connection
   System No	R/3 System number
   Language	Language of R/3 log on, usually either English or German
   Msg Server	Name of the message server
   Group Name	If host name is unspecified, group name is used for R/3 load-balancing connection.
   Load Balancing	Opens up a connection with R/3 with load-balancing using the stored user and connection information.

3. Press the OK button; the new Data Source is created and a message displays informing you that if you want to use the newly created data source you must restart the Management console.
   
   

   
   

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   Note	You must MANUALLY restart the Management Console before you can use the newly created data source.

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4. Press the OK button, and then close and restart the Management Console.

Data Mining

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Data mining is the search for relationships and global patterns that exist in large databases. These relationships represent valuable knowledge about the database and objects in the database. The elements of the Data-mining tool are shown in the following illustration.

Figure 2-1    Elements of the Data Mining

The user submits search criteria to the Management Console which queries SAP R/3 for any functions matching the criteria. The user then selects the function or functions to be mined. Data is extracted from SAP, converted to XML files, and then the XML files are loaded into the repository.

The three data-mining operations are:

Load into Repository	The Load into Repository option is used to load selected function, or functions, as XML files into the repository.
Save XML to disk	This is used to store a selected function, or functions, to disk as XML files which can be loaded later into a repository.
Archive XML	This is used to compress, as a zip file, the XML files that were generated during data mining.

Displaying the Data Mining Selections

1. Click the Data Mining icon to display the Choose Data Source list.
   
   

2. Select the Data source and then click the OK button to display the Input dialog box.
   
   

3. Type in the search criteria and then click the OK button to display the Choose SAP Function dialog box.

   You can use wildcards, e.g. BAPI*
   
   

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Note	You can select one, two, or all the check boxes.

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Loading Functions into Repository

The Load into Repository selection is used to load a function, or functions, into the repository.

When you load the selection into repository it does not automatically save the XML. You must select the Save XML check box in order to save the function to disk. The operation is finished when the progress indicator disappears

1. Select the Load into Repository check box.

2. Click the OK button.

Saving Functions as XML

This is used to store a selected a function, or functions, as XML files which can be loaded later into a repository.

1. Select the Save XML check box

2. Click the OK button.

   XML files are created and stored in a directory with the same name as the function.

   
   

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   Note	The default option, are stored in a directory with the name of the function that can not be changed.

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Archiving XML Files

The XML files that are generated during the data mining can be compressed, into a zip file, which is then stored onto disk. These XML files can be extracted from the zip file and loaded into a repository.

1. Select the SAP S/3 function

2. Select the Archive XML check box.

3. Click the OK button to display the dialog box.

   The name of the default zip file is <data source name>.zip.
   
   

4. Either type in a file name or click the Save button to accept the default directory.

Browsing Archived XMLs

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This is used to view the XML files that are within the zip file (archive XML). .

1. Click the Browse Archived XMLs icon to display a list of archived functions.
   
   

2. Select the archive.

3. Click the OK button to display the Choose Archive list box.
   
   

Loading the Function

1. Select the function by clicking.

2. Press the Load button, the function is loaded into the repository.

Displaying the XML Representation for a Given Function

1. Select the function by clicking.

   The name of the XML file is the same as the name of the function.

2. Click the Archive Details button to display the XML file.

   A sample of a typical XML file is shown below:.
   
   

Editing a Data Source

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This is used to edit an existing data source.

Displaying the Data Source Selections

1. Click the Edit Data source icon to display the Choose Data Source list.
   
   

2. Select the Data source and then click the OK button to display the Edit Data Source dialog box.
   
   

3. Type changes in the text boxes and then click the OK button.

   The changes are made in the repository.