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Newsletter May 2007
Enhancement Framework
The cool new way to enhance your ABAP systems
Available in Release 7.0 of the SAP® NetWeaver Application Server ABAP (SAP® NetWeaver 2004s)
The new enhancement concept of the ABAP Workbench (Enhancement Framework) enables the integration of different concepts for modifying and enhancing development objects.
In the long-term, the new Enhancement Framework is to replace or incorporate the existing enhancement and modification concepts.
Enhancements without modifications are possible at
- Specific options in ABAP programs - such as the end of the program - which can be enhanced by source code plug-ins.
- Parameter interfaces of function modules, which can be enhanced with parameters.
- Attributes and parameter interfaces of global classes, which can be enhanced with attributes or parameters.
The enhancement concept is supported by the Enhancement Builder tool integrated in the ABAP Workbench.
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The previous concepts were separated into
- Modifications - changes to delivered development objects
- Enhancements - inserting user developments at points predefined by SAP (User-Exit, Customer-Include and BAdI)
- Proprietary development - developing new reports or copy reports of the standard and adjusting the coding
Problematic aspects of the previous concepts are:
- There is no real upgrade support for modifications and enhancements
- It is difficult to trace developments made in different parallel systems back to one system.
- In the case of systems in which large amounts of user developments and modifications were made, retracing and testing these developments after an upgrade is a very time-consuming process.
- The specific concepts are using various technologies and implementation tools
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For the current release, the new enhancement concept only incorporates enhancements of Repository objects at predefined positions called enhancement options. Enhancement options are positions in Repository objects where enhancements can be made. These options are either explicitly defined (by the developer) or exist implicitly.
- The Explicit enhancement options are provided at specific source code places explicitly by SAP.
- The Implicit enhancement options are automatically available at certain pre-defined places.
Benefits of Enhancement Framework:
- Enhancing objects instead of modifying them reduces the effort for adjustment during SP import or upgrade.
- Integration of different concepts for modifying and enhancing development objects.
- The Enhancements offered by Enhancement Framework can be switched by the Switch Framework as part of a Business Function. The Switch Framework controls which enhancement implementations are to be performed.
Shortcoming of Enhancement Framework:
- The enhancement concept only incorporates enhancements of Repository objects at predefined positions.
Back to Newsletter 05/2007 |
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