Question:
i am interested in learning EP & XI. can anyone tell me what extent of knowledge is necessary to pursue each? i have knowledge of abap and bw.
Answer:
EP:
Pure Portal Content can be build and deployed without Java knowledge. If you use the Visual Composer (VC), you can build fancy applications without any coding as well. But as soon as you want more (like xApps, WebDynpro) you need to know Java.
XI:
XI can be configured without Java as well. Only the design-time engine runs in Java (but you wouldn't see this), but all Runtime stuff runs in ABAP. So all XI rules, proxies etc are developed in ABAP. However a soon as you need a 3rd party connector, you will end up with Java as well.
Answer:
I'm in the same boat as OP.
Could you guys EP experts give us some wisdom direction about how to break EP?
I'm working with J2EE and seriously learn Netweaver Portal 7.0.
I have been reading a lot articles on www.sdn.sap.com, blogs, etc
* is the content of book below still "Valid" to learn EP 7.0 - the software
included sound OLD to me ?? or just use SAPhelp website??
SAP Enterprise Portal: Technology and Programming (Hardcover)
by Arnd Goebel (Author), SAP Press, 2005
**BONUS CD** Includes tools for portal development: Portal Development Kit 5.0, Eclipse 2.2, Portal Development Kit Plug-in for Eclipse, Apache Tomcat 3.3.1
* is it possible to setup "mini" SAP system on my machine to connect EP to
mySAP CRM or BW for example using Content Integration / Unifiers
Connectors??
thanks in advance
Answer:
Hi.
MiniSAP 640 SR1 on Suse Linux 9.0 (with original configuration) has a Java Stack. But it can't be compared to a real SAP system with EP, BW, SEM, ABAP,.. modules installed.
The software from the mentioned book is "old" in the eyes of a J2EE developer, but they are known as being compatible with SAP. Fortunately, there is another resource, which might be helpful: Mastering SAP Enterprise Portal 6.0 Application Development
Have a look at http://www.sap-hefte.de/katalog/hefte/titel/gp/titelID-1199
Regards M.L.
_________________
Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live. (Damian Conway)
Answer:
You can consider downloading the SAP NW2004S sneakpreview. It comes in various flavours: windows & linux and with or without ABAP. Bear in mind that on order to run them, you need a powerfull PC or laptop. But the J2EE 7.00 gives you the ability to run EP 7.0 with VC and WebDynpro + Development studio. So all you need to develop serious Portal applications. Besides SDN, you will find a lot of example (+ code) on http://help.sap.com as well
SDN download link: https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/downloads