SAP in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself

Description
Table of Contents

Thoroughly updated and expanded! Includes new coverage on HANA, the cloud, and using SAP’s applications!

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, you’ll get up and running with the latest SAP technologies, applications, and solutions. Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson strengthens your understanding of SAP from both a business and technical perspective, helping you gain practical mastery from the ground up on topics such as security, governance, validations, release management, SLA, and legal issues.

Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common questions, issues, and tasks.
Quizzes and exercises help you build and test your knowledge.
Notes present interesting pieces of information.
Tips offer advice or teach an easier way to do something.
Cautions advise you about potential problems and help you steer clear of disaster.

Learn how to…

Understand SAP terminology, concepts, and solutions
Install SAP on premises or in the cloud
Master SAP’s revamped user interface
Discover how and when to use in-memory HANA databases
Integrate SAP Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions such as Ariba, Successfactors, Fieldglass, and hybris
Find resources at SAP’s Service Marketplace, Developer Network, and Help Portal
Avoid pitfalls in SAP project implementation, migration, and upgrades
Discover how SAP fits with mobile devices, social media, big data, and the Internet of Things
Start or accelerate your career working with SAP technologies

Introduction 1

Part I: Introduction to SAP

HOUR 1: SAP Explained     7
     Overview of SAP: The Company     7
     SAP Business Applications     9
     Connecting the Dots     11
     Summary     14
     Case Study: Hour 1     14
HOUR 2: SAP Business Basics     17
     The SAP Business Roadmap     17
     SAP’s Purpose: To Run the Business     19
     Other Perspectives: Mapping Business Needs to SAP Applications     23
     A Sampling of SAP Business Processes     26
     Summary     28
     Case Study: Hour 2     29
HOUR 3: SAP Technology Basics     31
     SAP Technology     31
     What Is the Best Platform for SAP?     37
     Memory: Fast but Volatile     40
     Storage: Hard Disks and Other Disks     40
     SAP System Landscapes     42
     Database Basics for SAP     45
     Future Developments     47
     Summary     48
     Case Study: Hour 3     48
HOUR 4: SAP Project Basics     51
     Running an SAP Project: The Basics     51
     First Steps in Pursuing an SAP Project     52
     The SAP Project Lifecycle     54
     Organizing a Project by Tasks     59
     Organizing a Project by Roles     61
     Summary     65
     Case Study: Hour 4     65

Part II: SAP Applications and Components

HOUR 5: Overview of SAP Applications and Components     69
     A Real-Time Vision     69
     SAP Business Suite Components     72
     SAP NetWeaver Components     75
     Small and Medium Enterprises     76
     SAP Business One     78
     SAP Business ByDesign     79
     SAP All-in-One     81
     Selecting the “Best” SME Solution     83
     Choosing SAP SME Offerings over Business Suite     85
     Summary     86
     Case Study: Hour 5     86
HOUR 6: SAP NetWeaver and HANA     87
     The Foundation for SAP     87
     The SAP NetWeaver Umbrella: Six Areas     88
     Bringing It All Together     93
     The Business Case for HANA     97
     HANA Cloud Offerings     104
     Summary     107
     Case Study: Hour 6     107
HOUR 7: SAP ERP and Business Suite     109
     SAP ERP Business Scenarios     110
     Summary     126
     Case Study: Hour 7     127
HOUR 8: SAP on the Cloud and New SAP Solutions     129
     What Kind of Cloud?     129
     SAP’s Way to the Cloud     133
     Newly Acquired SAP Solutions     136
     Summary     145
     Case Study: Hour 8     145

Part III: SAP for Business Users

HOUR 9: A Business User’s Perspective on Using SAP     149
     Before SAP Is Deployed: The Business User’s Role     150
     A Sampling of SAP Business Transactions     153
     Summary     159
     Case Study: Hour 9     160
HOUR 10: Using SAP’s Traditional and New User Interfaces     161
     The SAPGUI     161
     SAPGUI Elements and Other Basics     165
     SAPGUI Navigation Basics     166
     SAPGUI Screen Objects     170
     Using the Windows Clipboard     172
     Additional Legacy Interfaces     172
     SAP’s New User Interfaces and Tools     174
     Summary     178
     Case Study: Hour 10     178
HOUR 11: Using SAP ERP to Do Your Job     179
     The Four SAP Business Scenarios     179
     Other Popular Business Transactions     193
     Summary     196
     Case Study: Hour 11     196
HOUR 12: Using Other SAP Business Suite Applications     197
     Using SAP SRM     197
     Using SAP CRM     199
     Using SAP SCM     200
     Using SAP PLM     202
     Summary     203
     Case Study: Hour 12     203
HOUR 13: Using SAP for Reporting     205
     Types of SAP Reporting Users     205
     SAP Business Objects     208
     SAP NetWeaver BW Family     211
     SAP ERP Operational Reporting Tools     212
     Legacy SAP Reporting Options     213
     Summary     219
     Case Study: Hour 13     220
HOUR 14: Using Simplified Finance and Office Integration     221
     SAP Simple Finance Add-On     221
     Integrating SAP with Desktop Applications     230
     Using %pc to Download Data     231
     OpenText Archiving for SAP     239
     SAP and Adobe Forms     240
     Summary     241
     Case Study: Hour 14     241

Part IV: SAP for IT Professionals

HOUR 15: An SAP Project Manager’s Perspective     245
     The SAP Implementation Methodology     245
     Introduction to ASAP     246
     SAP Program and Project Leadership     251
     The Project Team’s Subteams     256
     Project Team Member Characteristics     260
     Project Tools and Other Methodologies     260
     Project Closeout     261
     Summary     262
     Case Study: Hour 15     262
HOUR 16: A Technology Professional’s Perspective on SAP     265
     Shifting Focus: From Business to Technology     265
     Understanding the SAP Quicksizer     270
     Beyond the Quicksizer: Measurement-Based Sizing     272
     Can Performance Be Guaranteed?     273
     Understanding SAP Availability     274
     Security Considerations     278
     Network Considerations     282
     Operational Considerations     284
     Summary     286
     Case Study: Hour 16     286
HOUR 17: An SAP Developer’s Perspective     287
     Programming Tools     287
     Developer and SAP Methodologies     290
     Configuration and the SAP IMG     293
     Different Views of the IMG     294
     Additional IMG Fundamentals     297
     Summary     300
     Case Study: Hour 17     301
HOUR 18: SAP Installation and Implementation     303
     First Steps     303
     SAP Installation Preparation     304
     Locating and Downloading SAP Software     306
     Infrastructure Readiness     311
     Installing the SAP Trial Version     314
     HANA on Public Cloud Platforms     316
     The SAP Cloud Appliance Library     320
     Introducing SAP Single Sign-on     322
     Summary     323
     Case Study: Hour 18     323
HOUR 19: SAP and the Cloud     325
     Forecast: Fairly Cloudy     325
     Bringing Together SAP and the Cloud     328
     Moving SAP Systems to the Cloud     330
     SAP as a Service?     331
     Project Monsoon     334
     Integrating SAP SaaS Solutions     337
     Summary     342
     Case Study: Hour 19     342
HOUR 20: SAP System Administration and Management     345
     Management Tools     345
     Day-to-Day SAP Monitoring     354
     Summary     358
     Case Study: Hour 20     358
HOUR 21: SAP Enhancements, Upgrades, and More     359
     Setting the Stage: Making Changes to SAP     359
     Enhancement and Upgrade Terminology     360
     High-Level Project Planning     366
     Summary     369
     Case Study: Hour 21     369

Part V: SAP Careers

HOUR 22: SAP Careers for the Business User     373
     Types of Business Jobs     373
     First Steps: Experience, Training, Networking, and Certifications     374
     Other Ideas     379
     Preparing for a Business Career in SAP     381
     Summary     386
     Case Study: Hour 22     386
HOUR 23: SAP Careers for the IT Professional     389
     SAP, Its Partners, and Its Customers     389
     Types of Available Opportunities     391
     Preparing for a Career in SAP     393
     Using Your Existing Technical Expertise     394
     Working on the Intangibles     396
     Summary     396
     Case Study: Hour 23     397
HOUR 24: Other Resources and Closing Thoughts     399
     Professional Resources     399
     Internet Resources     405
     SAP Conferences and Events     406
     Employment and Career Opportunities     408
     Summary     409
     Case Study: Hour 24     410

APPENDIX A: Case Study Answers     411
     Case Study: Hour 1 Answers     411
     Case Study: Hour 2 Answers     412
     Case Study: Hour 3 Answers     412
     Case Study: Hour 4 Answers     413
     Case Study: Hour 5 Answers     413
     Case Study: Hour 6 Answers     414
     Case Study: Hour 7 Answers     414
     Case Study: Hour 8 Answers     415
     Case Study: Hour 9 Answers     416
     Case Study: Hour 10 Answers     417
     Case Study: Hour 11 Answers     417
     Case Study: Hour 12 Answers     418
     Case Study: Hour 13 Answers     418
     Case Study: Hour 14 Answers     419
     Case Study: Hour 15 Answers     419
     Case Study: Hour 16 Answers     420
     Case Study: Hour 17 Answers     420
     Case Study: Hour 18 Answers     420
     Case Study: Hour 19 Answers     421
     Case Study: Hour 20 Answers     421
     Case Study: Hour 21 Answers     422
     Case Study: Hour 22 Answers     422
     Case Study: Hour 23 Answers     423
     Case Study: Hour 24 Answers     423

Index 425