Question:
Hello,
Is there a way to avoid to download a custom abap? We need that for very valid reasons.
The only method I see is to copy SE38 prg and to modify this copy by deactivating the download function.
Thanking you in advance
Henry
Answer:
That will not stop them either, you are in a windows environment so they can cut and paste or use the copy to clipboard functions and import it anywhere, they can also print it to a file.
You cam control which code they can view with S_DEVELOP so they cannot even see it, they can always run it in SA38. Further if they have access to create an ABAP or write abap code ( se30, SE37) they can still get the code.
Answer:
That would not stop copy and pasting or screenshotting.
You need to remove S_DEVELOP activity 03 - but then there is no display (and execute) available either.
Ned
Answer:
Infact, you can print and see the code without even having S_DEVELOP 03 PROG.
Why don't you print the code for these persons and let them look at it. Then take the documents with you again?
Answer:
The other option, is to make the code more dificult to download so what you see is not all the code.
Example
REPORT ABAP1.
...
PERFORM SOME_FORM(ABAP2) TABLES xxx USING yyy yyy5 .
CALL FUNCTION some_custom_FM
EXPORTING....
...
SUBMIT ABAP3 with xxx.
...
This will require them to know the code and downloading what they see on the screen will not be sufficient to execute the report.
Answer:
Isn't the concern here that the persons could take the code (intellectual property) and not that they could execute it?
Blocking out the parameters of a call function will either not provide protection or it will not privide enough information.
Additionally, if the person knows what they are doing, the copy and paste function in the human brain would be enough to take the grand idea with home...
Answer:
PRevention is the best option , but raising the bar to make it more difficult to get all the peices is valid as well. The idea alone is not sufficient, the code that deciphers the SAP data may be more valuable, such as getting the SM59 back into ST03 data or getting the table a user looked at into ST03.
Downloading one report is simple , finding all the peices makes it more difficult and for some not worth the effort.
Of course you can always hide the code, it is still possible, but that makes a lot of people angry...
Answer:
Henry2,
Assuming that you want to sell this code to the people who are looking at it, why don't you explain the logic flow to them and either test the program without displaying the code to show that it works, or have it independently "certified" to achieve that which the requirements and logic flow state?
Ned
Answer:
Found this looking for something else: http://www.kabai.com/abaps/z93.htm
I am not an abap'er, so I have no idea if this works...
Answer:
This code does not realy hide the program only the reference to it. you can still use the READ report features and get the code.