Questions and Answers
Which of the following are included in the available business APIs and extension points in SAP S/4HANA? (Select all that apply)
SAP GUI-based BC apps are available in SAP BTP ABAP Environment.
False
What kind of apps are less often used and usually simpler compared to apps for master or transactional data?
Business configuration (BC) apps
Customers using SAP S/4HANA on-premise can choose between SAP GUI or _____ based BC apps.
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What is a feature of the programming models for business configuration apps? (Select all that apply)
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Where can information on released SAP S/4HANA APIs be found?
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What does extensibility enablement allow in the original RAP BO?
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What is a key benefit of the new SAP S/4HANA Cloud extensibility model?
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What are the two main scenarios for analytics in ABAP Cloud?
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Which of the following are main building blocks of an analytical application?
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Classic ABAP extensibility is still supported in SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
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In embedded analytics, data is replicated to an external data warehouse system.
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What are the three types of extensibility options available for SAP S/4HANA Cloud?
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What programming model is the foundation of ABAP?
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The new cloud extensibility model separates SAP code and extensions via mandatory public SAP ___.
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Which of the following options are types of key user extensibility?
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ABAP is a programming language optimized for ________ applications.
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What API is used to expose an analytical data model for consumption by analytical clients?
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What is the primary focus of key user extensibility?
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What kind of extension can you perform on a cube in ABAP Cloud?
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Key user tools require extensive knowledge of coding and version control.
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Direct access to the file system is permitted in ABAP Cloud.
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Match the following types of extensibility with their primary use:
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What is the purpose of Technical Reuse Services in cloud development?
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What is one of the main rules for using the cloud extensibility model?
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Which of the following are considered Key User Extensibility Tools of SAP S/4HANA? (Select all that apply)
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What is the use case for on-stack developer extensibility?
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On-stack extensions are developed and run on a separate software stack from SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
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What is a typical use case for side-by-side extensibility using the SAP BTP ABAP Environment? (Select all that apply)
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The ABAP ________ application programming model is the recommended standard for building SAP S/4HANA Fiori apps.
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What are the main advantages of using tightly coupled extensions?
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Key user extensibility is suitable for professional ABAP development.
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Study Notes
Introduction to SAP S/4HANA Extensibility
- Extensibility is a key capability of every Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, enabling customers to create a competitive advantage by customizing their business processes.
- SAP S/4HANA is SAP’s flagship product providing the intelligent ERP in the cloud and on-premise.
- The goal of the new extensibility model is to move from classic custom ABAP extensions to a future-proof model that allows customers to consume SAP innovations smoothly.
Motivation for a New Extensibility Model
- Classic ABAP extensibility allows ABAP developers to use and modify all SAP objects, but lacks a clear interface between SAP code and extensions, adding customer-specific test and adaptation effort during SAP upgrades.
- In the public cloud, automated software updates run for all customers in parallel, making classic extensibility no longer usable.
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition provides a new upgrade-stable cloud extensibility model that clearly separates SAP code and extensions via mandatory public SAP APIs and SAP extension points.
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Extensibility Options
- On-stack extensions that depend on proximity to or tight coupling with SAP S/4HANA Cloud data, transactions, or apps and therefore run on the SAP S/4HANA Cloud stack.
- Side-by-side extensions running on the separated SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) for all other loosely-coupled extension scenarios integrating with SAP S/4HANA.
- Low-code/no-code tools for key users/business experts.
- A development environment (IDE) for professional developers.
Extensibility Options by Personas
- Business experts, key users, and citizen developers use low-code/no-code solutions (e.g., SAP Build, SAP Business Application Studio, and SAP Process Automation).
- Developers use the SAP S/4HANA Cloud ABAP Environment (a.k.a. Embedded Steampunk 1) or SAP BTP ABAP Environment (a.k.a. Steampunk 1) for on-stack and side-by-side extensions.
Benefits of the New Extensibility Model
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All extensibility options use only SAP APIs and SAP extension points that have been released and are stable.
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The new SAP S/4HANA Cloud extensibility model is available in all SAP S/4HANA editions to achieve smoother upgrades everywhere and pave the way to the cloud.### SAP S/4HANA Cloud Extensibility Model
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The SAP S/4HANA Cloud extensibility model is mandatory for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition to ensure extensions continue to run without changes or adaptations.
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The model has three rules to ensure cloud-readiness:
- Rule 1: Extensions can only use released remote or local SAP APIs, which SAP keeps stable.
- Rule 2: SAP objects can only be extended via predefined extension points, which SAP keeps stable.
- Rule 3: Extensions can only use cloud-enabled and released technologies.
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The model preserves benefits from the classic extensibility model, such as:
- Extensions are built using the exact same programming model as SAP applications.
- ABAP code of SAP applications can be analyzed and inspected by customers and partners.
Extensibility Options for SAP S/4HANA Cloud
- There are three ABAP-based extensibility options for SAP S/4HANA Cloud editions:
- Type 1: Key user extensibility for low-code/no-code extensions created by key users.
- Type 2: On-stack developer extensibility using the SAP S/4HANA Cloud ABAP Environment for developer extensions.
- Type 3: Side-by-side extensibility for developer extensions using SAP BTP ABAP Environment.
- All three options are based on public SAP interfaces providing access to public SAP APIs and SAP extension points.
Key User Extensibility
- Key user extensibility is for low-code/no-code adaptations and extensions of SAP S/4HANA applications.
- Use cases include:
- Adapting UIs, adding custom fields, and adding custom business objects.
- Key users can achieve the following:
- Adapt the screen layout, add custom fields, and add custom business objects.
- Add custom logic to validate custom fields using cloud BAdIs.
- Add custom fields to a process group.
On-Stack Developer Extensibility
- On-stack developer extensibility is for custom ABAP development projects that need proximity or coupling to SAP S/4HANA data, transactions, or apps.
- Use cases include:
- Custom applications with frequent or complex SQL access to SAP S/4HANA data.
- Custom extensions running in the same logical unit of work as SAP applications.
- On-stack extensions are developed and run on the same software stack as the underlying SAP S/4HANA Cloud system.
- Developers can use the SAP S/4HANA Cloud ABAP Environment and the new ABAP Cloud development model.
Side-by-Side Extensibility
- Side-by-side extensibility is for loosely-coupled applications and partner SaaS solutions.
- Use cases include:
- Custom applications for a separate target group (no ERP users).
- Custom application workload that runs separated from ERP.
- Solutions integrating with several ERP systems and cloud services.
- The SAP BTP ABAP Environment provides the ABAP Platform as a service on SAP BTP.### SAP SHANA BTP
- ABAP developers access SAP BTP with ABAP Development Tools and use the ABAP Cloud development model to build SAP Fiori apps or services based on the ABAP RESTful application programming model (RAP).
- The ABAP Cloud development model ensures that only released local APIs of the underlying ABAP Platform can be used.
Extensibility Options for SAP S/4HANA Cloud
- Three ABAP-related extensibility options are available in SAP S/4HANA Cloud:
- Key user extensibility
- On-stack developer extensibility
- Side-by-side extensibility on SAP BTP
When to Use Which Extensibility Option
- Consider the following aspects when choosing an extensibility option:
- Extension use case (new application or extension to an SAP app)
- Extension architecture (loosely or tightly coupled to SAP S/4HANA)
- Extension scope and size (who provides the extension and for what purpose)
Side-by-Side Extensibility on SAP BTP
- Suitable for:
- External target group or consumption via mobile and consumer-grade UIs
- Partner SaaS solution
- Independent infrastructure and operation
- Benefits:
- Flexibility in accessing resources for the runtime environment
- Independence from the cloud infrastructure and operation model of SAP S/4HANA Cloud
- Ability to choose the data center for the SAP BTP extension
Loosely-Coupled Extensions and Custom Apps
- Characteristics:
- Stand-alone applications or new process steps with occasional usage of SAP S/4HANA Cloud data
- Data is replicated to SAP BTP or read via remote API calls from the core product
- Custom data is not changed together with core data (no transactional consistency required)
- Suitable for side-by-side extensibility on SAP BTP
Tightly-Coupled Extensions
- Characteristics:
- Frequent read-access or changes to SAP data (many roundtrips)
- Reading of customer data and SAP data in complex SQL queries (e.g., joins) and with high data volume
- Required transactional consistency when customer data and SAP data is changed jointly
- Suitable for key user or on-stack developer extensibility
Additional Aspects to Consider
- Knowledge and experience of development teams
- Balance between homogenous and hybrid extensions
- Layering of key user and developer extensibility
Examples
- Key user extensibility: adding custom fields to the standard SAP S/4HANA Cloud sales process
- On-stack developer extensibility: simplifying the process for recurring employee purchases below a certain amount
- Side-by-side extensibility: developing a central purchasing approver determination application on SAP BTP
The ABAP Cloud Development Model
- Characteristics:
- Only public SAP APIs and SAP extension points can be used
- No modifications to SAP objects are allowed
- Use ABAP Development Tools in Eclipse (ADT) as the ABAP development environment
- Build RAP-based SAP Fiori apps or services
- Enforced via ABAP compiler and ABAP runtime checks, and ABAP authorization checks
The ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP)
- A standardized ABAP programming model used to build SAP S/4HANA Fiori apps and services
- Characteristics:
- Core Data Services (CDS) for SAP HANA optimized queries and semantically rich data models
- Modernized and extended ABAP language for business logic implementation
- OData protocol for stateless communication
- Concept of business object (BO) for building transactional applications
- Concept of business service for defining services
- Offers a standardized development flow in Eclipse-based ABAP Development Tools (ADT) and a rich feature set for building applications from different domains
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Description
Learn how to extend SAP S/4HANA in the cloud and on-premise with ABAP-based extensions. Guidelines for extension project managers, key users, and ABAP developers.
