System and Method for Modular Business Applications

• US 20120158788A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: KEMMLER, Andreas, KAMENZ, Torsten
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/792
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99941 Database schema or data structure

Abstract

A method of adding a program module to an installed program code. A data object having an interface for importation of data into and exportation of data out of the data object, the data object further comprising the program module, a switch identifier and a specification of a call to be inserted into the installed code is provided. Insert the call as specified by the specification of the data object into the installed program code and receive a setting for the switch from a user and storing the setting in a database table.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of adding a program module to an installed program code comprising:

providing a data object having an interface for importation of data into and exportation of data out of the data object, the data object further comprising the program module, a switch identifier and a specification of a call to be inserted into the installed code,

inserting the call as specified by the specification of the data object into the installed program code,

receiving a setting for the switch from a user and storing the setting in a database table,

wherein upon execution of the installed program code the data object is called by execution of the call that has been inserted into the installed program code, wherein the setting of the switch is retrieved from the database table using the switch identifier of the data object as an access key, in case the switch setting indicates a first logical state of the switch, exporting the unmodified data, in case the switch setting indicates a second logical state, executing the program module for processing of the imported data, and exporting of the processed data via the interface.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising updating of the installed program code after the program module has been added by providing an update for the installed program code, the update comprising the call as specified by the specification of the data object, and installing the update whereby the call that had been inserted into the installed program code is overwritten by the same call comprised in the update without affecting the setting of the switch stored in the storage means.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising updating the program module by the steps of

providing an updated data object comprising the interface, the switch identifier and the updated program module, the updated data object being devoid of the specification,

overwriting the data object by the updated data object without affecting the installed program code and without invoking an installation program.

4. A computer program product, in particular a digital storage medium, storing computer executable instructions for performing a method of claim 1.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the add-in definition object is associated with a switch and is configured to be transitioned between a switched on state and a switched off state and/or wherein the foundation application is configured as a plurality of code objects, and wherein the add-in definition object is a separate and independent code object.

5. A computer system comprising:

an electronic processor for execution of an installed program code,

storage means for storing a data object having an interface for importation of data into and exportation of data out of the data object, the data object further comprising the program module, a switch identifier and a specification of a call to be inserted into the installed code, a database table for storing a setting for the switch received from a user,

an installation program for installation of the data object comprising inserting the call as specified by the specification of the data object into the installed program code, and

a user interface for receiving a setting of the switch from a user and for storing the received setting in the storage means using the switch identifier as an access key,

the electronic processor being operable to execute the installed program code with the inserted call by calling the data object upon execution of the call that has been inserted into the installed program code, wherein the setting of the switch is retrieved from the database table using the switch identifier of the data object as an access key, in case the switch setting indicates a first logical state of the switch, exporting the unmodified data, in case the switch setting indicates a second logical state, executing the program module for processing of the imported data, and exporting of the processed data via the interface.

6. The computer system of claim 5, the storage means storing an update for the installed program code, the update comprising the call as specified by the specification of the data object, wherein the installation program being operable to update the installed program code by the update stored in the storage means, wherein the call that has been inserted into the installed program code is overwritten by the same call comprised in the update without affecting the setting of the switch identified by the switch identifier stored in the storage means.

7. The computer system of claim 5, the storage means for storing updated data object comprising the interface, the switch identifier and the updated program module, the updated data object being devoid of the specification, the computer system being operable for

overwriting the data object by the updated data object without affecting the installed program code and without invoking an installation program.

8. A method for creating an add-on application, comprising:

creating, with an electronic processor and in an electronic storage medium, an add-in definition object within an add-on application development environment, wherein the add-on application is based on a foundation application, and wherein the add-on application requires at least one function that requires code modification within a modified object of the foundation application;

defining, with the electronic processor, a method in the business add-in definition object for the at least one code modification to provide the at least one function;

inserting a call to the add-in definition object in the modified object;

responsive to completing development of the add-on application, copying the add-in definition into the foundation application; and

responsive to a new version of the foundation application being created, copying the add-in definition into the new version.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

waiting for the modified object to be updated during a regular development cycle of the foundation application before integrating the at least one function into the foundation application.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein inserting a call includes importing variables and/or wherein inserting a call includes changing pre-existing variables of the foundation application and/or where defining a method and inserting a call are configured to modify a pre-existing execution sequence in the foundation application, wherein the add-on application preferably includes a plurality of add-in definition objects.

12. A system for creating an add-on application, comprising:

an electronic processor configured to;

create an add-in definition object within an add-on application development environment, wherein the add-on application is based on a foundation application, and wherein the add-on application requires at least one function that requires code modification within a modified object of the foundation application;

define a method in the business add-in definition object for the at least one code modification to provide the at least one function;

insert a call to the add-in definition object in the modified object;

responsive to completing development of the add-on application, copy the add-in definition into the foundation application; and

responsive to a new version of the foundation application being created, copy the add-in definition into the new version.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:

wait for the modified object to be updated during a regular development cycle of the foundation application before integrating the at least one function into the foundation application.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein inserting a call includes importing variables and/or wherein inserting a call includes changing pre-existing variables of the foundation application and/or where defining a method and inserting a call are configured to modify a pre-existing execution sequence in the foundation application and/or wherein the add-on application includes a plurality of add-in definition objects and/or wherein the add-in definition object is associated with a switch and is configured to be transitioned between a switched on state and a switched off state and/or wherein the foundation application is configured as a plurality of code objects, and wherein the add-in definition object is a separate and independent code object.

15. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions configured to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the performance of a method, comprising:

creating, with an electronic processor and in an electronic storage medium, an add-in definition object within an add-on application development environment, wherein the add-on application is based on a foundation application, and wherein the add-on application requires at least one function that requires code modification within a modified object of the foundation application;

defining, with the electronic processor, a method in the business add-in definition object for the at least one code modification to provide the at least one function;

inserting a call to the add-in definition object in the modified object;

responsive to completing development of the add-on application, copying the add-in definition into the foundation application; and

responsive to a new version of the foundation application being created, copying the add-in definition into the new version, where defining a method and inserting a call are preferably configured to modify a pre-existing execution sequence in the foundation application.