This book is specifically targeted at developers who are fluent in SAP’s programming language, ABAP, and are looking to learn the Java language. Although targeted at the less experienced Java developer, this book is a great resource for more experienced programmers who need to build applications with SAP’s Java connector (JCo).

Austin Sincock has been a strong proponent for the development and use of Enterprise Java to provide access to SAP R/3 systems for the last 4+ years. He has managed product application suites and technical projects around implementing this functionality for major R/3 environments for the last 7+ years. His projects have included Kraft Foods, Volvo - Sweden, and DirecTV. In addition to designing and marketing Java-based SAP applications, Austin evangelizes the use of SAP/Java technologies through both public speaking and Web/print publications. He is a frequent speaker at seminars that address the issues of Web-enabling SAP, for instance at the Web Enabling Summit 2001, SAP TechEd 2001, and the SearchSAP SAP Developers Summit 2002.

In addition to spending a lot of time with JCo, this book also offers insight into the open source tools, available for free on the Internet, that are not normally useful in an SAP environment. It shows you how to apply the best practices embodied in these tools and how to use them to kick start your Java development effort. The only prerequisite you need to process this information is ready access to an SAP system that can be used as a sandbox or for development.

Chapters 1–3 of Enterprise Java for SAP describe the fundamental principles of object-oriented and Java development and allow you to transition smoothly from the more procedural view of SAP development.

Chapter 4 introduces SAP’s JCo, including a step-by-step review of what it takes to connect to an SAP system from a Java application. The JCo connector is one of SAP’s core components in its larger Enterprise Java development platform. Learning the ins and outs of programming with JCo will give you greater insight into future SAP technologies.

Chapter 5 shows you how to build a desktop client application for SAP using a Java user interface toolkit. Based on the Java Swing toolkit, this application can be used to support requirements for a custom application that must reside on the user’s desktop.

Chapter 6 takes you through the steps for deploying a Java application server and details a basic SAP login application from a Web browser. The Java application server acts as the foundation on which you can build and deploy Enterprise Java components tailored for access to your SAP system.

Chapter 7 demonstrates Struts, an open source framework that you can use to build highly maintainable Web applications for SAP. Struts is an effective means to minimize your Java development effort and create components that can be easily reused in future development efforts.

Chapter 8 teaches you how to deploy and configure an open source database system, called Hypersonic SQL (hsql). In addition, it shows you how to build a material catalog that retrieves information from both SAP and the Hypersonic database.

Chapter 9 walks you through some advanced Java programming techniques specifically tailored to SAP’s JCo. These topics include server development, connection pooling, and custom Java tags.

The appendix covers the development of custom Remote Function Call (RFC) interfaces and how to access these interfaces through the JCo connector. This appendix is helpful if your SAP system does not implement the RFC interfaces required by the tutorials in Chapters 4–8.