Exploring Web Dynpro Java: Goals, Concepts, Benefits - SAP NetWeaver CE 7.11 EhP1

[BeGanz]

New Web Dynpro Java material with sample application on Web Dynpro Java's Goals, Concepts and Benefits

 

In this WebLog I want to announce our new presentation/exercise/sample combination on "Exploring Web Dynpro Java:   Goals, Concepts, Benefits". Download this new material based on SAP NetWeaver CE 7.11 EhP1 to understand and apply important concepts and practical guidelines for developing Web Dypro view layouts:

• In-depth technical presentation: Exploring Web Dynpro Java: Goals, Concepts, Benefits - Presentation
• Exercise document: Exploring Web Dynpro Java:   Goals, Concepts, Benefits - Exercises
• Software Component Archive: Exploring Web Dynpro Java:   Goals, Concepts, Benefits - Zipped SCA Archive  (with Web Dynpro DCs to implement and run the Web Dynpro exercise application)
• SAP NetWeaver CE 7.11 EhP1: EHP1 for SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.1 - Preview Version

This new Web Dynpro Java learning material was first presented at SAP TechEd '08, lecture COMP165 on "Exploring Web Dynpro Java: Goals, Concepts, Benefits". 

Enjoy Web Dynpro Java,

Bertram Ganz, Senior Product Specialist, NW Core UI&AM F, SAP AG

Abstract

In this presentation you will explore the real goals, concepts and benefits of the Web Dynpro Java UI framework for building business web applications.

We highlight particular features of Web Dynpro like  its client-agnostic user interface concept to run the same application on different client-devices, its rich UI element library with in-built Ajax functions, its value help, message and personalization services,  its model-based development environment with maximized code-generation,  its component model, its integration into the SAP NetWeaver Portal and its model interface to consistently integrate EJBs, Web Services or RFC modules.

We illustrate how these functions yield benefits in respect of UI consistency, client-device-independence, accessibility, component reuse as well as reduced total costs of development and maintenance. We further clarify the key differentiators of Web Dynpro Java compared to other Web frameworks like JSF and demonstrate its openness to rich client UI technologies like Adobe Flash by using the new Web Dynpro Flash Islands introduced in SAP NetWeaver CE 7.1.

We finally conclude this session with a short comparison to the other Web Dynpro flavors Web Dynpro for Visual Composer and Web Dynpro for ABAP.

Table of Content

1. Web Dynpro Basics at a Glance: What is Web Dynpro Java, Product History, Some Technical Facts, Goals and Concepts at Glance
2. Programming Model: Model-Driven Development, The 80/20 Model/Code Principle, Web Dynpro Java Development Process, A Simple Web Dynpro Application Explained, Design Time View, Run Time View, Web Dynpro Phase Model and the Hollywood Principle, What We Learnt From This Simple Example
3. User Interface: Client Abstraction, Client Device Independence, Rich Web Dynpro Java UI Element Library, What about writing HTML or JavaScript Code in Web Dynpro Java? Custom UI Element Development Not Possible, Web Dynpro AJAX Client Succeeds HTML Client in SAP NetWeaver CE 7.11 EhP1, New Ajax Functions, Adobe Flash Islands for Web Dynpro Java, Web Dynpro Openness and Integration Capabilities, Web Dynpro Java JSF Integration, Data Binding between UI and Context Elements, Adapting the Design of UI Element Containers with pre-defined design Property Values, Web Dynpro UI Element Positioning, Containers, Layouts, Cells and UI Elements, Why Web Dynpro Java Does not Support Pixel-Perfect Design, Generic UI Services
4. Component Model: The Web Dynpro Component is the Main Building Block in Web Dynpro Development, Think in Web Dynpro Components To Modularize Web Dynpro Business Applications, Web Dynpro Java Development Is Fully Integrated into the SAP NWDI, Component Interface Definitions for Loose Web Dynpro Component Coupling, Component-Based Architecture in Web Dynpro Java Business Applications, Read SPJ Article Series on Component-Based Architecture in Web Dynpro Java
5. Backend Connectivity: How Web Dynpro Realizes Backend Access, Web Dynpro Model, Context-To-Model Binding, Data Transport and Model Execution, Context Mapping, Analyzing the Binding Chain from UI To Model, Executing a Model Object In Controller Class To Communicate with Backend
6. Web Dynpro Flavors and Differentiators: Web Dynpro ABAP, Web Dynpro Java, Web Dynpro 4 Visual Composer, Comparison Between WD ABAP and WD Java (Design Time, Run-Time and Overall), Web Dynpro For Visual Composer, Comparison Between Web Dynpro Java and Visual Composer (Design Time Aspects, Programming Model, Runtime Aspects) 

Exercises

Three hands-on exercises enrich this presentation based on a SCA archive comprising Web Dynrpo DCs to be imported into the SAP NetWeaver CE 7.11 EhP1 Developer Studio:

Exploring a Very Simple Web Dynpro Java Application

1. Zooming into a Web Dynpro Application inside the Web Dynpro Tools
2. Deploying and Running the Very Simple Web Dynpro Application
3. Running the Sample Application in another Session Locale (German)
4. Entering Invalid Data in Input Field

Using the AnalyticsChart UI Element

1. Running the AnalyticsCharts Web Dynpro Application
2. Exploring Data Bindings
3. Exploring Context Mappings
4. Exploring Action Binding

Using an EJB Model in a Web Dynpro Java Application

1. Application Using an EJB Model
2. Reimporting the EJB Model EJBStudsModel
3. Exploring the Binding Chain from UI to Model Layer
4. Exploring the Application Logic

Slide Galery

Web Dynpro Java UI Technology  Goals and Concepts at Glance

The 80/20 Model/Code Principle of  Web Dynpro Java Programming

More Openness in Web Dynpro Java -   Adobe Flash Islands for Web Dynpro Java

Analyzing the Binding Chain from UI To Model