How should I start learning about SAP? [closed]

Question

I'm working as a MS developer working to provide bridging products between MS technology and SAP.

I'm used to the MS space which seems to have an absolutely different philosophy than SAP. And this is starting to be an issue - I can't "get" SAP.

So, what are good materials to "grok" SAP? - understand why people buy it, how it is used from a business standpoint, how to look at the architecture from a technology standpoint, learn how it is structured, what are the important tools in SAPGUI, and gasp how do I learn how to read ABAP? shudder

I know enough SAP to do my job - I know the runes to incant in SAP. But that isn't enough, and SAP SDN and Help is really not enough for the big picture view (it also isn't great for small picture view, but that is another discussion for somewhere else).

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

First, SAP is so vast you will never be able to know every part of it. There are so many functionnal subjects and technologies that this is mind-numbing.

Courses can be used either for a first introduction (but this is costly for such a use) or for extremely advanced subject (better).

SAP is a full environment. The code for most of the content is available. Thus, checking how SAP has done something can/may/will help you understand the technology or the subject. (Btw, a lot of comments are in German...) in-system transaction se80 is particularly useful in this aspect, as it show all related data to a program.

Also, SDN is your friend. forum, how-to, white papers are present... it will help you. A few in-system transactions (se83) are to be used as example for coding technics.

Answer 2

SAP is a beast to wrangle down .. some suggestions:

• For a programmer: Get a decent ABAP programming book. Most concepts will be pretty familiar, and they give you a good starting point to better understand the system.
• For a "business user": Other than going to an expensive course (mostly wasted time/money in my opinion), sit down with a user and have him/her explain too you what they are doing for an hour or two.
• For a "customizer": This is where things get really difficult as there are a gazillion of steps and choices and places to change things. Having someone more experienced helps. As you noted, books/articles are mostly not very helpful as they are usually at a loss to explain concepts.

A couple of things to keep in mind as well:

• SAP is "so big" that it is impossible to "know it all".
• SAP is written by some smart and some not so smart people. Your inability to "grok" things may be caused by some really bad programmer building a bunch of stupid solutions to problems he hasn't understood.
• SAP is notorious for coming up with their own language or by repurposing buzzwords and adding their own special meaning. This adds to the magic and confusion.

Just get started, ask questions, try out some things, don't be afraid by the size of it. Pretty soon you'll get better at it ...