Getting Started with Web Dynpro ABAP

Dominik Ofenloch studied Business Information Systems at the University of Cooperative Education in Mannheim, Germany. Even before graduating, he was involved in programming various UI technologies at SAP AG in Walldorf, Germany. After completing his degree in 2006, he started his development career in the SCM department at SAP. He worked in this department until August 2009, where he developed software for user interfaces and Web Dynpro in the Transportation Management (SAP TM) area. In September 2009, he joined ENERGY4U GmbH of Siemens in Karlsruhe, Germany, where he works in the SAP Utilities area as a consultant and developer. Dr. Roland Schwaiger studied Computer Science at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA, and Applied Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Salzburg, Austria, where he completed his doctorate in Mathematics. After several years of working as an assistant professor at the University of Salzburg, he joined SAP AG in 1996. There, he worked as a Human Resources software developer for three years, which gave him the opportunity to develop his skills in an exciting and inspirational working environment. In 1999, Roland became a freelance trainer, editor, consultant, and developer.

* ... Preface ... 13 * 1 ... Introduction ... 19 * 1.1 ... Model View Controller ... 20 * 1.1.1 ... Model ... 21 * 1.1.2 ... View ... 22 * 1.1.3 ... Controller ... 22 * 1.1.4 ... MVC Interaction Example ... 22 * 1.2 ... Evolution of SAP User Interfaces ... 23 * 1.2.1 ... Console ... 24 * 1.2.2 ... Dynpros ... 25 * 1.2.3 ... Business Server Pages ... 27 * 1.2.4 ... Web Dynpro ... 30 * 1.3 ... Summary ... 31 * 2 ... Web Dynpro Architecture ... 33 * 2.1 ... Components and Applications ... 34 * 2.1.1 ... Example: Library ... 35 * 2.1.2 ... Web Dynpro Explorer ... 36 * 2.2 ... View ... 40 * 2.2.1 ... Views ... 40 * 2.2.2 ... Windows and Plugs ... 49 * 2.3 ... Controllers ... 64 * 2.3.1 ... Hook Methods' Flow Sequence ... 69 * 2.3.2 ... Usage and Visibility of Controllers ... 73 * 2.3.3 ... Actions and Events ... 77 * 2.3.4 ... Assistance Class ... 80 * 2.4 ... Context ... 81 * 2.4.1 ... Structure of a Context ... 82 * 2.4.2 ... Data Binding ... 85 * 2.4.3 ... Mapping ... 95 * 2.4.4 ... Supply Functions ... 99 * 2.4.5 ... Controlling the Visibility of UI Elements via the Context ... 101 * 2.5 ... Summary ... 102 * 3 ... Developing Web Dynpro Applications ... 103 * 3.1 ... Context Programming ... 104 * 3.1.1 ... Changing Attribute Values of an Element ... 110 * 3.1.2 ... Reading Attribute Values of One or More Elements ... 117 * 3.1.3 ... Creating Context Elements ... 123 * 3.1.4 ... Removing Context Elements ... 137 * 3.2 ... Layouts and Containers ... 138 * 3.2.1 ... Containers ... 139 * 3.2.2 ... Layouts ... 141 * 3.2.3 ... Example ... 152 * 3.3 ... Using Important View Elements ... 153 * 3.3.1 ... TextView ... 155 * 3.3.2 ... InputField and Label ... 157 * 3.3.3 ... Button ... 161 * 3.3.4 ... TabStrip ... 166 * 3.3.5 ... Tree ... 171 * 3.3.6 ... Table ... 184 * 3.3.7 ... FileUp/Download ... 200 * 3.4 ... Messages and Internationalization ... 208 * 3.4.1 ... Texts from the ABAP Dictionary ... 209 * 3.4.2 ... Texts from the Online Text Repository ... 210 * 3.4.3 ... Texts from the Assistance Class ... 213 * 3.4.4 ... Messages ... 217 * 3.5 ... Summary ... 236 * 4 ... Dynamic Web Dynpro Applications ... 239 * 4.1 ... Advantages and Disadvantages of Dynamic Programming ... 241 * 4.2 ... Types of Dynamic Changes ... 242 * 4.3 ... Adjusting Context at Runtime ... 243 * 4.3.1 ... Determining a Description Object (Meta Information) for a Context Node ... 246 * 4.3.2 ... Creating and Adding Context Nodes ... 247 * 4.3.3 ... Creating and Adding Context Attributes Individually ... 251 * 4.3.4 ... Creating and Adding Context Attributes in Bundles ... 253 * 4.3.5 ... Other Methods for Dynamic Context Manipulation ... 255 * 4.3.6 ... Conclusion ... 259 * 4.4 ... Adjusting the User Interface at Runtime ... 260 * 4.4.1 ... Adding a View Element to a Container ... 261 * 4.4.2 ... Assigning Actions to View Element Events ... 274 * 4.4.3 ... Conclusion ... 277 * 4.5 ... Summary ... 277 * 5 ... Web Dynpro Standard Components ... 279 * 5.1 ... Multi-Component Architectures ... 280 * 5.1.1 ... Component Usages ... 281 * 5.1.2 ... Cross-Component Mapping ... 293 * 5.1.3 ... Component Interfaces ... 300 * 5.2 ... SAP List Viewer ... 301 * 5.2.1 ... Integrating ALV ... 303 * 5.2.2 ... ALV Configuration Model ... 305 * 5.2.3 ... Methods and Events of the Interface Controller ... 308 * 5.2.4 ... Changes to the Column Set ... 312 * 5.2.5 ... Changing the Toolbar ... 316 * 5.3 ... POWER List ... 318 * 5.3.1 ... Example: Defining Custom Queries ... 318 * 5.3.2 ... Additional Information ... 322 * 5.4 ... Summary ... 322 * 6 ... Input Help and Semantic Help ... 323 * 6.1 ... Implementing Selection Options ... 324 * 6.1.1 ... DropDown ... 325 * 6.1.2 ... RadioButton ... 330 * 6.1.3 ... CheckBox ... 333 * 6.1.4 ... CheckBoxGroup ... 334 * 6.1.5 ... ItemListBox ... 335 * 6.1.6 ... TriStateCheckBox ... 337 * 6.2 ... Input Help ... 338 * 6.2.1 ... Input Help Mode: Deactivated ... 340 * 6.2.2 ... Input Help Mode: Automatic ... 340 * 6.2.3 ... Dictionary Search Help ... 344 * 6.2.4 ... Object Value Selector ... 344 * 6.2.5 ... Input Help Mode: Freely Programmed ... 357 * 6.3 ... SELECT-OPTIONS ... 357 * 6.4 ... Semantic Help ... 363 * 6.4.1 ... Help Texts with Tooltips ... 364 * 6.4.2 ... Explanation Texts ... 364 * 6.4.3 ... ABAP Dictionary Help ... 366 * 6.4.4 ... Explanations ... 367 * 6.4.5 ... Knowledge Warehouse Documents ... 370 * 6.5 ... Summary ... 375 * 7 ... Configuration, Customizing, and Personalization ... 377 * 7.1 ... Configuration ... 379 * 7.1.1 ... Implicit Configuration ... 380 * 7.1.2 ... Explicit Configuration ... 386 * 7.2 ... Personalization and Customizing ... 390 * 7.3 ... URL Parameters and Application Parameters ... 393 * 7.3.1 ... URL Parameters ... 393 * 7.3.2 ... Application Parameters ... 394 * 7.4 ... Summary ... 394 * 8 ... Practical Tips and Hints ... 397 * 8.1 ... Performance and Memory Optimization ... 398 * 8.1.1 ... Optimal System Configuration ... 400 * 8.1.2 ... Checklists for Developing High-Performing Web Dynpro Applications ... 403 * 8.1.3 ... Performance Tools ... 405 * 8.1.4 ... On-Demand Instancing of Views and Components ... 411 * 8.1.5 ... Delta Rendering ... 416 * 8.2 ... Debugging Web Dynpro Applications ... 422 * 8.3 ... Popup Windows ... 426 * 8.3.1 ... Creating Popup Windows ... 427 * 8.3.2 ... Standard Button Actions ... 431 * 8.4 ... Context Change Log ... 433 * 8.5 ... Hotkeys ... 435 * 8.6 ... Context Menus ... 437 * 8.6.1 ... Standard Context Menu ... 438 * 8.6.2 ... Developing Custom Context Menus ... 440 * 8.7 ... Summary ... 444 * 9 ... Web Dynpro in the Enhancement Framework ... 447 * 9.1 ... Enhancements in Web Dynpro ... 448 * 9.1.1 ... Web Dynpro Enhancements in Detail ... 450 * 9.1.2 ... Exercise: Additional Search Field ... 453 * 9.2 ... Summary ... 456 * A ... Appendix ... 457 * A.1 ... Recommended Reading ... 457 * A.2 ... Naming Conventions ... 458 * B ... The Authors ... 461 * ... Index ... 463