PI Eclipse(NWDS) based tool user interface perspectives - introduction

[nageshwar_reddy]

For PI developers, there are two different set of tools. They are classified as Swing based tools(traditional) and Eclipse environment based( NWDS). By now, many of us already know that PI 7.31 offers enhanced support for developing and configuring PI objects using SAP Netweaver Developer Studio(NWDS). There are multiple additional improvements in 7.31 SP04 which was released recently. The aim of this blog is to briefly introduce different perspectives and views that are available in 7.31 SP04 onwards and provide links for more information.

There are three perspectives available for PI developers. These views try to provide one single place to handle PI development, configuration, monitoring and administration.

1. SAP Process Integration Administration perspective

This perspective is customized for administrative activities. There are primarily three different views that serve different administration purpose. The three views are Transport Log, PI Landscape and Recent Update. I am yet to fully explore these views.

2. SAP Process Integration Designer perspective:

The main views here are Enterprise Service Browser and PI Explorer. Enterprise Server Browser provides functionality that is similar to Enterprise Service Builder. Enterprise services browser displays objects from Enterprise Service Repository. This will be used for designing PI objects.

PI Explorer provides functionality that is similar to Integration builder. PI Explorer displays objects from Integration Directory. This will be primarily used for configuring integration scenarios.

3. SAP Process Integration Runtime perspective

This perspective has PI runtime explorer, Value mapping and Alert rules views. PI runtime explorer enables us to do message monitoring and channel monitoring right from NWDS.

Please note that this is just a introduction so that you are aware of the new perspectives that are available. For details please refer to SAP Help - Understanding  NWDS PI user interface. Also you can refer to release note available @ SAP Library - What's New in SAP NetWeaver 7.3 EHP1 (Release Notes).

Basics:

Connection to PI from NWDS:

To connect to PI server from NWDS, you need to provide server details in Windows => Preferences => PI Tools configuration / Connections. You can provide an alias and URL or manually enter the Host / host port.

After that click on connect button.

You are all set to explore  different perspectives.

Where should I get latest NWDS from?

You will need a SMP user. If NWDS is already being used in your landscape, your company may have a specific requirement to use a particular version.
https://nwds.sap.com/swdc/downloads/updates/netweaver/nwds/nw/731/