Components of the R/3 System

There are four main components within the R/3 System.

• Application modules
• Interfaces
• Basis System
• SAP Technology

SAP Technology

SAP Technology is the SAP software technology that enables R/3 to handle business management tasks throughout all parts of an organisation.

The parts that make this technology can be installed in a wide variety of computers, and can be expanded into new computer systems as required by the company. Changes in the structure of an organization can also be handled by this technology. For example, changes may occur which require data processing to be more centralised or decentralised. SAP technology will handle either equally well.

SAP Technology has also been designed for organisations made up of several corporations.

One R/3 System can administer several legally independent corporations. Even if the corporations themselves have subsidiaries, they can all be handled within a single system.

International companies choose R/3 because it is multi-lingual, reflects national taxation laws and accounting practices, and supports multiple time zone operations.

Basis System

The Basis system is the component responsible for defining the screens, checking entries, and make sure data goes to the right place. The Basis System is made up of four components:

• The Screen Interpreter
• The ABAP/4 Interpreter
• The Data Dictionary
• The Flow Control.
• The screen interpreter is responsible for layout of the R/3 screens, checking user input and providing error messages.

ABAP/4 is a programming language developed by SAP, all of the SAP application modules are developed using ABAP/4. ABAP/4 Interpreter is responsible for the dialog with the user. The role of the ABAP/4 Interpreter is to process the input data and edit the output data.

The Data Dictionary is where R/3 looks for definitions.

The Flow Control helps ensure the efficiency of R/3 applications through the general management of a work session. For example, the Flow Control ensures that your data is saved. Or, if you have asked the system to perform a series of tasks, the Flow Control will handle this in what is known as a batch process.

To summarise, your dialog with the R/3 System is supported by the four parts of the Basis System: the Screen Interpreter, the ABAP/4 Interpreter, the Data Dictionary, and the Flow Control.

Interfaces

The interfaces are the connections that the R/3 System makes with its environment. There are different versions designed for each type of computer and software. It is the interfaces which enable the R/3 System to appear the same, no matter what computer system is being used. There are three main types of interface:

• The System Interface,
• The User Interface,
• The Communications Interface.

The System Interface is the connection that R/3 makes with the existing software used by the organisation.

The User Interface ensures that the screens appear the same to users on different types of computer. Instructions from the screen interpreter are modified by the user interface to match the particular computer being used.

The Communications Interface enables electronic data transfer between computers.