VClipse – Xtext-based IDE for the SAP Variant Configurator
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VClipse is an Eclipse-based IDE for modeling configurable products using the SAP Variant Configurator (VC). It provides a textual modeling language called VCML that can be used instead of the transaction-based tools in SAP. VClipse addresses issues with the SAP tools like lack of overview, poor version/change management, and inability to work offline. It allows validating models, comparing versions, and mass changes. Customers like Nokia Siemens Networks have built modeling environments on top of VClipse for product-specific needs.
VClipse – Xtext-based IDE for the SAP Variant Configurator
- 1. VClipse – Xtext-based IDE for the SAP Variant Configurator Tim Geisler webXcerpt Software GmbH tg@webxcerpt.com Eclipse DemoCamp Juno 2012, Walldorf 2012-06-20
- 3. SAP Variant Configurator (LO-VC) ● Configuration engine in SAP ERP (ABAP) ● Used by several thousand companies ● Input: value assignments to characteristics ● Output: bill of materials, routings, pricing, characteristics ● Product configuration can drive sales, manufacturing, … ● Configuration engine also in CRM: IPC (Java) ● Uses same data model and modeling environment as VC
- 4. Product Modeling for the VC / IPC Model: Objects and Dependencies ● Classification system (classes, characteristics) ● Materials, bill of materials, routings ● Dependencies: ● Constraints (declarative), preconditions, selection conditions, procedures ● Can be attached to a variety of objects ● ABAP / Java calls and access to tabular data inside dependencies from LO-VC documentation
- 5. Product Modeling for the VC in ERP Tools: Single Transactions, PMEVC ● For each object type one set of dialogs ● Different modes for create, read, update, delete ● All-in-one (almost) transaction PMEVC
- 6. Problems ● Model is not a document, but „slice“ of database content ● Lack of overview ● 3 screens for editing a constraint (header, source, explanation) ● Lack of teamwork support ● Jointly modify database contents, locking for synchronization ● Complete history of product model? ● Engineering Change Management in SAP shows only history of single objects ● Comparing models? Comparing versions of models? ● Mass changes? ● No offline modeling ● Product modeling is like software development, but with inadequate tools.
- 7. VClipse ● Eclipse-based textual product modeling environment − For VC and IPC − Based on Xtext / EMF ● Open source (EPL) − www.vclipse.org − Hosted on EclipseLabs − Available since 2 years
- 8. VClipse - VCML ● Textual language for SAP objects − Own „invention“ ● Embedded languages for dependencies (procedures, conditions, and constraints) − Same languages as in SAP system
- 9. IDE for VCML Validation Content Assist Quickfixes Cross References
- 11. Interface to SAP ECC (ALE, RFC) ● RFC interface − Create, Read, Update, Delete on single objects − Extract recursively: complete model extraction ● ALE interface − Sending complete models via IDocs (Product Data Replication, PDR) ● Delta calculation − Compute and send only changed objects ● „One-click delta deployment“ − Send delta via PDR, automatic processing in SAP
- 12. Use Case „Textual Modeling Environment“ ● Product modeling using Xtext-based editor features ● Mass maintenance ● Validating product models ● Checking certain restrictions ● Compatibility with LO-VC and / or IPC ● Storing product models in version control ● Comparing product models ● From different versions ● From different SAP systems
- 13. Use Case „Customer-Specific Modeling Environment“ ● Specific validation rules (naming and modeling conventions) ● Specific templates (modeling patterns) ● Target language for product-model migration from legacy configurators
- 14. Use Case „Base for Integrating Tools“ ● Integration of ConfigScan test suite from Fysbee SAS ● Integrated language for specifying test cases ● JUnit-like view for test execution ● Enables test-driven product modeling
- 15. Use Case „Implementing own Modeling Language“ ● Create own domain- specific language for product modeling ● Use model-to-model transformations to map to VCML ● Use VClipse as backend to SAP ECC RFC Editor/IDE Editor/IDE Own Modeling Environment VClipse Own DSL VCML Code Generation
- 16. Example: Nokia Siemens Networks ● Use of IPC in SAP CRM for sales configuration ● Hundreds of complex products and services (telecommunication equipment for network operators) ● NSN-specific modeling environment ConfigModeler ● Different integrated NSN-specific languages for product model, UI, test cases, and help system ● 2/3 of all products on productive CRM system modeled with ConfigModeler
- 17. Discussion ● Doing open source is difficult in SAP ERP area: ● Very slow adoption by SAP configuration community ● Technological and legal issues: no downloadble distribution due to SAP JCo licensing ● SAP Code Exchange: incompatible licensing with EPL ● SAP adopts Xtext-based product modeling: ● The new „Solution Modeling Environment“ is also implemented using Xtext. ● Special non-overlapping use case (solution configuration using advanced mode of the IPC) ● Eclipse update site for SAP JCo would be nice ● Textual DSLs for other areas in SAP landscape?
- 18. Further Information ● www.vclipse.org ● Project homepage ● Links to further presentations ● www.configuration-workgroup.com ● User community for product configuration in SAP ● Discussion forum ● Bi-annual conferences ● Document share for all conference talks ● Variant Configuration with SAP. Uwe Blumöhr, Manfred Münch und Marin Ukalovic. SAP PRESS, 2011 ● Contact me for a live demo of VClipse or the solution build for Nokia Siemens Networks on top of VClipse