1.1 Introduction to the SAP Enterprise Core Component

7/23/2019 1.1 Introduction to the SAP Enterprise Core Component

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About This Topic

The SAP Enterprise Core Component provides functionality for business analytics,financials, human capital management, operations, and corporate services allowingyou to increase productivity, improve business insight, and gain the adaptability you

need to accelerate business strategies. To get started using SAP, it is important tounderstand how to properly navigate within the system.

Estimated time to complete this topic: 1 !inutes

Objective(s)

• "og on to the SAP system

• Change the password

• "og off from the SAP system

About This Topic

The SAP Enterprise Core Component provides functionality for business analytics,financials, human capital management, operations, and corporate services allowingyou to increase productivity, improve business insight, and gain the adaptability youneed to accelerate business strategies. To get started using SAP, it is important tounderstand how to properly navigate within the system.


Objective(s)




SAP Navigation

SAP Navigation - Business Eample

#$i, my name is Alisa. % have &oined %'ES and %(m ta)ing on a position wor)ing in thewarehouse. !y responsibilities will re*uire learning how to use the SAP system so %can wor) with information in the database such as sales orders.+



!eet Alisa who has &oined %'ES in a position that re*uires wor)ing in the $

department. $er responsibilities demand )nowing how to use the SAP system so that

she can wor) with the information stored in the database, such as maintaining

employee data.

SAP !"aphical #se" $nte"%ace

• "oo) and feel of SAP screen vary across SAP versions

• SAP components are accessible through SAP -raphical ser %nterface /-%0

• SAP -% connects a computer with the SAP system

• SAP "ogon starts SAP -%



There are a number of different versions of SAP. 'epending on the version your company has implemented, your SAP screen may loo) slightly different from whatyou see in this course.

Typically, SAP components are accessible using a general frontend program calledthe SAP -% /or -raphical ser %nterface0. The SAP -% is the standard program for

accessing almost all SAP solutions. The SAP -% program connects your computer with a specific SAP system. 2or starting SAP -%, SAP provides a program calledSAP "ogon.

3hen you are wor)ing with SAP, it is important to recogni4e the proper way to accessand e5it the system. "et us loo) at how this wor)s with SAP -%.

SAP S&stem - 'og On

Alisa logs on by doubleclic)ing the SAP Logon icon. An icon is a pictorial

representation of an ob&ect or function. 3hen you clic) an icon, the system typicallyperforms an action and fre*uently displays another screen.

2or logging on she needs6

• ser name6 The user is the individual who logs on to and uses the SAP

system. Each user is given a user name that must be entered along with apassword to gain access to the system.

• Password6 A password is a se*uence of letters, digits, or special characters

that the user must enter, along with a user name, to gain access to the system.



Passo"d hange

The %'ES security standards entail a password change every 7 days.

2or this, clic) the New password button on the applications tool bar.

%n the applications window that opens, enter and reenter the new password.



Alisa is re*uired by %'ES security standards to change her password every 7 days.To change her password, she can clic) New Password on the applications toolbar.The system opens a new window, in which she has to enter a new password, andthen reenter it to confirm, as she did while logging on to SAP for the first time.

SAP S&stem - 'og O%%

A session begins when a user logs on to the SAP system. The first session beginswith the Easy Access screen, where the user can navigate to or launch transactions."ogging off prevents6

• the unnecessary usage of a session, and

• the ris)s associated with leaving an open session unattended.

3hen Alisa has finished using the SAP system, it is important for her to log off fromthe system. "ogging off ensures that she is not unnecessarily using a session andalso protects her company from the ris)s associated with leaving an open sessionunattended. The preferred method for logging off the SAP system is to use the "ogoff icon. The system then displays a dialog bo5 indicating that any unsaved data willbe lost. She is then prompted to confirm that she wants to log off. She may clic) 8esto e5it the SAP system.

Summa"&

8ou should now be able to6






About This Topic

After logging on to the SAP system, the initial screen you will see is the Easy Accessscreen. %n this lesson, we will e5amine the layout and components of the SAP Easy Access screen.


Objective(s)

• se the SAP Easy Access screen

• 9avigate the SAP Tree structure

Navigation omponents

An SAP system has several )ey components6

1. !enu :ar6 The !enu bar is the top line of any primary window in the SAPsystem. The menus shown depend on which application you are using. These

menus may also contain cascading menus.

;. Standard Toolbar6 The Standard toolbar is identical throughout the SAPsystem. All of the icons on the Standard toolbar are shown on every SAP screen.$owever, the Standard toolbar icons are active only if they are available for thecurrent application unavailable icons will appear grayed out and cannot be used.9ote that if SAP balloon help is enabled on your system, you can place the cursor over an icon and the system will display the name or function of that icon. %f appropriate, the corresponding function )ey setting is also displayed.

7. Title :ar6 The Title bar names the function that you are currently using and

helps you identify where you are in a procedure.

<. Application Toolbar6 The Application toolbar shows the icons available in theapplication that you are currently using. 'ifferent icons appear on the Applicationtoolbar depending on the application.

=. Status :ar6 The status bar provides general information about the SAP systemand the transaction or tas) you are wor)ing on. System messages are displayedin addition to server information and status information.



The SAP system contains several )ey components that provide options for navigationthereby ma)ing your wor) in SAP easier. These components are menu bar, standardtoolbar, title bar, application toolbar, and status bar.

The SAP Easy Access screen is the initial screen displayed after logging on to the

SAP system. This screen is the userspecific point of entry into the SAP system andserves as a gateway to the rest of the system.

As Alisa navigates within the SAP system, she will learn that the structure of thestandard SAP screens is similar to that of the Easy Access screen. 2irst, shee5plores the Easy Access screen.



*ain Navigation $cons

Icon Function

Enter: The Enter icon will validate the data and the system will proceed to the next

logical step.

Save: The Save icon will save the document and update the database.

Back: The Back icon will go back one screen.

Exit: The Exit icon will close the current transaction and exit the current screen. If

no applications are open the Exit icon becomes the !og "ff icon and is used to

exit the S#$ system.

%ancel: The Cancel icon will cancel the current activity or transaction.

As she continues to e5plore the SAP system, Alisa notices that there are standardnavigation icons.She investigates further to determine the function of each of theseicons.

Standa"d SAP T"ee St"uctu"e



The Standard SAP Tree displays a hierarchy of the menus available to you in theSAP system and is a tool for accessing SAP transactions. The SAP Tree comprisesthe following elements6

1. SAP !enu %con6 The SAP !enu icon may be used to collapse the tree to closethe items on the menu.

;. 3or) Areas6 The Standard SAP Tree is organi4ed into logical wor) areas. Thewor) areas are presented in an order that follows a typical business process flowrather than an alphabetical order. The tree provides a menu that contains a folder for each wor) area. 2or e5ample, >ffice, "ogistics, Accounting, and $umanesources are wor) areas. 3hat you see in the tree may vary depending on your organi4ation.

7. Arrows6 Clic)ing on the arrows will e5pand and collapse the folders and subfolders. 3hen folders are closed, the arrow will point to the right. 3hen foldersare opened, the arrow will point down.

<. 2olders6 'rilling down through the folders will display subfolders andtransaction items. !ultiple subfolders may be used within a folder to organi4e thetransaction items.

=. Transactions6 Transactions are e5ecutable functions that update and displayinformation in the database. Transactions will display in the tree once a folder menu is fully e5panded. 8ou can launch transactions by doubleclic)ing on the

white bo5 ne5t to the transaction name. 2or some items, you may use either thetree structure or icons to access the transaction.



Alisa finds that the Standard SAP Tree is a tool for accessing the SAP transactions.The Standard SAP Tree displays a hierarchy of the menus available in the SAPsystem. sing the tree is one of the best ways to become familiar with the system.

The elements of an SAP Tree are the SAP menu icon, wor) areas, arrows, folders,and transactions.

9avigation within the standard tree is referred to as menu path navigation. Alisa

navigates by clic)ing on the arrows to drill down through the folders to the desiredtransaction. She can locate a variety of transactions by navigating in the SAP Easy Access menu.

The standard transactions that are available include Create, Change, and 'isplay.

Summa"&


• se the SAP Easy Access screen

• 9avigate the SAP Tree structure

About This Topic

9avigating through the SAP system will lead to individual transaction screens.Transactions are where you will perform the bul) of your wor) in SAP. The screensare composed of a combination of fields. %t is possible to wor) with more than one

transaction simultaneously using multiple sessions.




Objective(s)

• 9avigate between fields in an SAP screen

• Create multiple sessions

+ields in an SAP Sc"een

'ifferent screen elements include6

1. %nput6 %nput fields are used to enter te5t or to select a value from a list.

;. Chec)bo56 Chec)bo5es are used with multiple selection fields.

7. adio :utton6 adio buttons are used with single selection fields /you canselect only one option0.

2ields are the areas on a screen that contain specific data used in the SAP database.They contain items, such as information about customers, employees, vendors,e*uipment, and orders. %nformation can be entered in the form of te5t, numbers,dates, or codes. Some entries can also be in the form of ranges that may be used for searching within the data.

An advantage of SAP is that once you enter data, it can be shared among variousscreens, transactions, and applications.

Alisa observes that a tab page comprises several screens organi4ed as tabs for clarity and ease of access. She also notices that different fields re*uire different types

of input, such as an input field, chec)bo5, and a radio button.



$nput ont"ols %o" +ields

The three types of input controls for fields are6

1. !andatory6 'ata entry is re*uired to proceed with processing a transaction.!andatory fields are often indicated by a bo5 and chec)mar) within the field /thismay vary by transaction or company0.

;. 'isplay6 'ata will automatically populate in these fields. %t is not possible tooverwrite the information in these fields.

7. >ptional6 'ata entry is not re*uired in these fields to proceed with processinga transaction.

Alisa observes that the different fields on an SAP screen may be mandatory, oroptional, or may automatically display data. The three types of input control for fieldson an SAP screen are mandatory display, or optional. A field value can default to amandatory or optional field.

+ield Navigation

se )eyboard functions to move between fields6

• p and down )eys to move between fields

• Tab )ey to advance to the ne5t field



• Shift and tab )eys to move bac) to the previous field

• "eft and right arrow )eys to move within a field

Alisa finds that she can navigate between fields on a screen by simply clic)ing in adesired field. She discovers that she also can use the )eyboard to move betweenfields.

• To move between fields, you can use the up arrow and down arrow )eys.

• To advance to the ne5t field, you can use the Tab )ey.

• To move bac) to the previous field, you can use the Shift and Tab )eys.

• To move within a field, you can use the left arrow and right arrow )eys.

*ultiple Sessions in SAP



9ow that Alisa has become more familiar with the SAP components and structure,she has more confidence, and is reali4ing possibilities to underta)e her tas)s moreefficiently in the system.

Alisa can create a new session at any time after she has logged on. She creates anew session by clic)ing on New Session. The ma5imum number of sessions per logon is si5.

Alisa finds that she can use a session to create or change data while using another session to display data. She can also copy data between sessions. This is especiallyhelpful when she is in the middle of a transaction and needs to verify information inanother transaction to complete the former.

Session Navigation

9avigate between sessions6



1. $olds down the Alt )ey and then presses the Tab )ey. A dialog bo5 appearswith the names of the open sessions.

;. Presses the Tab )ey until the desired session is highlighted.

7. eleases the Alt )ey.The chosen session becomes the active window by moving in front of all the other session windows.

Create up to si5 sessions6

1. Each session is independent of the others.

;. Closing the first session does not cause the other sessions to close.

7. Any session can be closed by clic)ing E5it on the Standard toolbar for that

session.

Alisa finds it useful to minimi4e the sessions that she is not using. She can reopen aminimi4ed session using the 3indows status bar. She also finds that using the Alt ?Tab 3indows function allows her to toggle between the open sessions. The chosensession becomes the active window by moving in front of all the other sessionwindows. Also, she can create up to si5 sessions. 3hile she is logged on to SAP, shecan move between sessions without losing any data. $owever, before ending asession, she must save any data that she wants to )eep.

Summa"&




• 9avigate between fields in an SAP screen

• Create multiple sessions

Documents

1.1 Introduction to the SAP Enterprise Core Component