CEON ABAP Eclipse Editor

White Paper

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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1. Introduction
ABAP Eclipse Editor is an external ABAP editor for SAP. It is an easy to use development
tool, which successfully extends the ABAP development capabilities of SAP to the Eclipse
development environment (including the SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio environment). It
accelerates time-to-market for developers building ABAP services/applications. The plug-in
connects to SAP like the SAP's SAPGUI using the same user authentication methods.
Because of this, ABAP Eclipse Editor users must be registered in the SAP system as a SAP
developer, like when they are developing with SAPGUI itself.
SAP customers use ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) for their own
developments. Such developments can be important for adapting SAP ERP standard solutions to
specific problems. The ABAP Development Workbench contains all the tools you need to
create and maintain ABAP programs, however, the standard SAP ABAP editor does not
have the features the ABAP Eclipse Editor holds, which enables developers to significantly
improve efficiency of their development work.

Why did we develop the ABAP Eclipse editor?

Main reason is that ABAP development resources are scarce and expensive. Therefore we
wanted to increase efficiency of development work by improving tools that support developers in
carrying out development work. We focused on development processes that take time and are
prone to errors and thus achieved to significantly increase efficiency of development effort.
The best of two worlds...
We have combined the power of the well known Eclipse IDE with the proven functionality of the
SAP ABAP Workbench to develop an innovative new ABAP Editor.
Hereafter we explain and demonstrate a couple of features that are available in the ABAP Eclipse
editor.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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2. Code Assistant
Writing of source code.
Writing of source code will be easier and more effective using the Eclipse editor. While typing the
first few letters of variable names, statements etc. the editor suggests the most likely variable
names/statements etc. you intend to use. This saves a significant amount of effort.

Developer for example

enters SE subsequently a
list of statements
appears.

While writing source code, you frequently need information about different program objects
(global/local variables, method parameter, FIELD-SYMBOLS, INCLUDE etc.).
Simply move the mouse cursor onto an object name (as shown below with the SELECT
statement and transparent table SCARR). The Editor informs you about the program object via a
context sensitively tool tip.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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Data/ABAP Dictionary information can also be retrieved via the Data Dictionary view. The Data
dictionary will be displayed next to the source code so no screen navigation is needed.
Smart navigation between reports, function modules, objects, interfaces, data dictionary objects
etc. is easily been done by holding the ctrl key and pressing the object.
Data Dictionary objects like Domain, Structures, Data element etc. can be maintained with the
Data Dictionary editors included in Eclipse.

Code Template.
Why would you want to type in frequently used lines of code again and again?
Frequently used templates (written by experts) containing hundreds of lines of code are available.
You can also build your own templates.
Predefined statements and combinations of statements are in the background available which
makes it easier to select when needed the respective coding thus improving the effectiveness of
development work.

Developer enters for

example l, a list of
templates now appears.
After clicking the selected
template code is inserted.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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Retrieve methods and attributes from objects.

Methods and attributes from objects can be quickly searched from the selected object and
interface.
This saves costly development effort.

After entry of the object instance

name a list of methods and
attributes of the object type is
shown.

Package Inheritance
Package inheritance enables to drop down from module level to the lowest possible level in order
to retrieve/select module components required for
understanding the module as shown below. Thus it allows
to get a quick overview of the program's package
structure.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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Retrieve components/fields from structures.

Fields of a table or type structures are often used during daily programming tasks.
So why search for the exact field names in the DDIC (e.g. via double clicking)?
The ABAP Eclipse editor helps you interactively:
If you type in a variable of a structure type e.g. lv_sflight- the Eclipse editor displays a pop up
window with all available table fields in the structure (incl. Data element, type, name, description,
length). With the Enter key you can insert the complete field name in one step. No additional
typing is necessary.
As you can see after entry of - a list of components are shown, selecting component CONND
shows characteristics of this component.

Forward navigation
Hold the ctrl key and click on an object to navigate to this object. Or double click on an ABAP
object for example in the Data Dictionary view or Class attribute in the Class Editor etc. and you
will be navigated to this object.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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ABAP Objects
Maintain ABAP classes and interfaces from within Eclipse. With the ABAP Class Editor you can
implement methods, change method interfaces, Add method parameters, inherent superclasses,
change class attributes, maintain class interfaces etc etc.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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3. ABAP Objects UML Diagrams

This feature gives an excellent overview of the structure of ABAP objects. Objects and Interfaces
are shown in a graphical way. Thus it enables developers to quickly understand the structure of
software. It allows as well to easily navigate from a UML-diagram to code and vice versa. From
UML one can update Classes or Interfaces. UML Class diagrams can be imported and exported
in XMI files. The UML Class diagram can be automatically generated from an ABAP Objects
Class or ABAP Objects Interface in the back-end system. Or ABAP Objects classes can be
automatically generated based on the designed class diagram in Eclipse. The UML Class
Diagrams can be easily be maintained in the ABAP explorer.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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4. Close to other development environments

As shown below, editing methods can be done just like SAP transaction SE24. But now with the
combination of both worlds ABAP and Eclipse.
- ABAP Integrated in Eclipse features like To-do/tasks, cheat sheet, help, templates etc.
etc.
- Code generation for other programming languages such as;
C++, Java, PHP etc.
- Familiar development environment.
- Easy accessibility to other development environments.
- Other programming languages can be applied in the Eclipse editor as well.

SAPGUI for Java

integrated in Eclipse.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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5. Debugging
Completed code of new developed functionality can be directly tested from within the Eclipse
editor applying debugging features as shown below.
Code can immediately be modified during debugging.

6. Implement Classic and New BAdi.

Classic and new BAdis (New BAdis only available from NetWeaver 7.0+ based systems) can be
implemented direct from Eclipse.

7. BApi Explorer.
BApi Explorer (transaction bapi) can be used in Eclipse to find the BApi available in the system.
Information about the BApi like which function module and BApi documentation.

8. View Process and ABAP log Overview

Work processes can be monitored via the process overview view like transaction SM50. And
ABAP short/long dump log view like ST22 is available in the log view.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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9. Future developments
In the coming years innovative developments will be made available in future releases to
constantly improve productivity of ABAP developers.
Subscription to a Yearly Maintenance fee of 10% of the purchase price guarantees you benefit
from future developments.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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6. Cost Benefit Analysis

The time to write ABAP source code is reduced Dramatically
According to our statistics approximately 50% of an ABAP program can be automatically
entered by our code completion features. We estimate that you can save 36 minutes per day
compared to a standard ABAP editor.

Time consuming search tasks (e.g. during the conception phase) are reduced
When writing ABAP source code, the programmer often needs to know the exact names of
certain variables, Objects, Methods, Data Dictionary structures (which are often not easy to
remember, e.g. DRAW-DOKNR) and of course the exact ABAP statement names.
Traditionally he/she had to look at many places to get this information (ABAP help, SAP
Data Dictionary, other ABAP include files, etc.). This takes time.
The ABAP Eclipse editor provides much of this information right "at the fingertips" of the
developer. For example, context sensitive information windows (automatically triggered by
entering ABAP code) offer Data Dictionary structures with their explanation. Declared
variable names are automatically shown and can then easily be inserted. Features like the
ABAP Eclipse editor help to query the complete source code of all related ABAP include
members and show you all declared variables right away.
Even if you only spend 2 hours per day to search for this information, we estimate that you will
be able to save at least 7 minutes per day (a conservative estimate in our opinion) by using
the ABAP Eclipse editor.

The quality of ABAP coding is improved, ABAP programs will become

more "readable"
Just by using self-descriptive, informative, longer variable names the source code can
become more readable and provide a better understanding of the program logic. This also
means that training time for external or new programmers (who must understand the ABAP
program first, before they can make changes) can be reduced. Thus the maintenance of the
program is simplified. Developers quickly understand the structure of the software by using
the UML feature.
By using the ABAP Eclipse editor, a programmer can use long variable names at no additional
"typing" costs. He/she just has to enter only the first few letters of the variable name, and the
rest is automatically inserted by the module.
Context sensitive help, live replace functions and the logic group compression further
functions which will improve program handling and reduce the possibility of bugs during the
design phase.
Obviously it is difficult to specify how much time could be saved by improving the quality of
your ABAP code.
We estimate 17 minutes per day. Please, decide for yourself how much time could be saved
here; keep the lifetime of your software (maintenance) in mind.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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Cost of the ABAP Eclipse editor

A Single user version of the ABAP Eclipse editor costs

299,-- (incl. VAT).

The purchase price of the Multi-user version of the ABAP Eclipse editor is;
2 5 users:

265,-- (incl. VAT) per single user

6 25 users:

225,-- (incl. VAT) per single user

> 25 users:

200,-- (incl. VAT) per single user

Yearly maintenance fee (free support, new versions) 50,00 per single user license.
(First year free of charge)
Benefit
Item

Description

1.

Writing of source code

2.

Code template

3.

Retrieve methods and attributes from

objects
Retrieve components/fields from
structure
Package inheritance

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

ABAPTM Objects UML Diagrams

Close to other development
environments
Debugging
Total

Saved man-hours
per year*
15% of 4 hrs * 200 =
120 hrs
3% of 4 hrs * 200 =
24 hrs
2% of 4 hrs * 200 =
16 hrs
2% of 4 hrs * 200 =
16 hrs
1% of 4 hrs * 200 =
8 hrs
Intangible
Intangible
2% of 4 hrs * 200 =
16 hrs
25% of 4 hrs * 200 =
200 hrs per year

Saving in AUD*

AUD

9.000

1.800

1.200

1.200

600

1.200

AUD

15.000

Manpower saving is based on development time spent on coding by a developer.

Appr. 50% of available developers effort is spent on coding.
An average developer works 8 hrs per day and spends 200 days per year on development work.
Assumed hourly rate AUD 75,-- per hour.

Estimated Overall benefit per developer in the first year of purchase

Efficiency improvement per developer per year 12,5%.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

AUD 15,000.

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9. Contact
ABAP Eclipse Editor Website: http://www.ceon.com.au/abapeclipse
Website: http://www.ceon.com.au
Email: info@ceon.nl
CEON Business Systems & Marketing Pty Ltd.
Level 11, George Street,
Sydney, NSW 2000.
Australia
Tel. 02 9262 5599

CEON Business Systems B.V. further does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information,
text, graphics, links or other items contained within these materials.
CEON Business Systems B.V. shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential
damages, including without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits, which may result from the use of these
materials.
The information in these pages is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of CEON Business Systems B.V. in the future. The software products marketed by CEON Business
Systems B.V. and its distributors contain proprietary software components of other software vendors.
Microsoft, WINDOWS, NT, are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. SAP, R/2, R/3,
ABAP, are registered trademarks of SAP AG. Java is registered trademark of Sun Microsystems.

CEON Business Systems and Marketing Pty Ltd.

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