Proposed methods for solving selected problems regarding the integration of information systems and their use in teaching within a university
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Proposed methods for solving selected
problems regarding the integration of
information systems and their use in
teaching within a university
Rudolf REHÁK
Slovak University of Technology – Faculty of Material Science and
Technology in Trnava, Paulínska 16 street, Trnava, 917 24, Slovakia
Tel: +421 908 664 281, Email: rudo.rehak@gmail.com
Abstract: The techreport is concerned with proposed methods and solving selected
problems regarding the integration information systems. In the first part of the work are
described reasons of creating methodologist, characteristics troubleshooting and primal
information. The second part contains ground knowledge with work settings, form of
chosen problems solution and as work is written under the auspices of external company
ACE enterprise Slovakia, Ltd., also description of selected technology from ACE. The
next part includes real solution of these problems. It is concerned with integration within
SAP system, work in this system with its basic features and tables and integration SAP
system with geographic information system (GIS). The last part of report involves
creating documentation for the purpose of use in teaching within an university.
Conclusion includes valuation and pointing out advantages and disadvantages of applied
solution.
Keywords: SAP, ERP, integration.
1. Introduction
Integration of information systems have plenty forms today. Many world-known
companies are interested in, that knowledge and know-how does not contain any tutoring
on any school. In a few cases it will come to connection between school and companies so
by those great basics are prepared for students and alumni of universities. Acquiring
important informations about work in real world is very necessary in these days. All sides
get benefit from it, school attractives teaching process, external firm obtains free
advertisement and chance to look around for future employees and students gain skills and
practice.
Concerning contents of the work, it is devoted to integration problems with SAP
system. SAP is top product moving on the foremost places in the valuation market tansies.
For solving problems are used technologies by company ACE enterprise Slovakia, Ltd. In
1
successive steps work devotes oneself to manipulation with SAP, his main functions,
manipulation with SAP tables and detailed description of progress in integration of this
system with other. It also contains many pictures (mainly screenshots) following those is
the objective of given action better overview represented, which would otherwise be
described very awkwardly. In the next phase is described example of integration between
systems SAP and GIS and its analyse. Last chapter is documentation. It contains suggested
layout (practically certified) of solution to more sessions. End of the work is dedicated to
recapitulation, reviews and comparisons of advantages and disadvantages.
Possibilities of solutions are of course lot more, even though we will show
exemplary solution in such a way it was tested and practically attested so we consider it as
optimal.
2. Objectives
The main objective of the work is to solve selected problems regarding the integration
of information systems. Formation of proposal methods is also considered as objective. The
work is divided into following 4 sections:
1. Describe problem area regarding the integration of information systems
2. Propose the methods for solving selected problems of integration using tools of
company ACE enterprise Slovakia, Ltd.
3. Realize proposed solution using ACE technologies
4. Design a solution documentation for its use in teaching integration of information
systems on the school
3. Methodology
At the beginning is necessary to declare right series of steps. The work spreads on 2
parts, theoretical and practical. In theoretical part are exposed basis of the SAP, its history,
utilization and technical parameters. Also there is illustrated why all the work is needed,
what is the viewpoint of school, company and students to a given issue and what the term
integration means. Basically we are given to understand all essential information. It is
important to show in this part, that the right result is reached, when student understand
principle of the work he is doing, he will remember procedure instead of “single clicking on
mouse”. Therefore it is necessary comprehend general knowledge about ERP, SAP, GIS
and company technology which is available in this theoretical part.
In practical part is minutely explained work with SAP starting with SAP R/3,
communication methods inside the SAP, SAP tables , BAPI / RFC up to integration itself
with other system using the technology ACE Enterprise Integrator Visual Designer. There
is also shown example of integration between SAP system and GIS.
24. Technology Description
ACE Enterprise Integrator is technological background, which is intended for creating
and servicing integration solutions. This professional integration tool, certified by SAP,
allows visually creating even the most sophisticated integration projects without need of
programming. Besides that it is possible to integrate various heterogeneous systems without
its deeper knowing. The whole solution is based on the basis of the most modern developed
platform Microsoft .NET, which allows to use technological trends such a multithreading,
pipelining or load auto – balancing. ACE Enterprise Integrator consist of a massive server,
where runs realization of integration projects and client application ACE Enterprise
Integrator Visual Designer, which allows visually design projects. Using “Drag & Drop”
technology is very simple not to only display data, but also find required data e.g. from
SAP system, and then transfer them to other system – or wherever it is needed. Use of ACE
Enterprise Integrator is the best method, how to work active with data and thereby use all
other systems using in the society. [1]
Using this tool requires its own platform. The solution is SAP NetWeaver. It provides
technological ground for SAP applications. Besides that it brings also quite a number of
corporate technologies, which allow extend the applications, make them available for more
people and enhance them with a new processes, devices and disposal models. SAP
NetWeaver also helps to improve team productivity and company integration, enables one
manage easier and more effective IT environment and lower operating expenses. Thanks to
this will release the sources from IT department, which may focus on company
innovations.[2]
4.1 ACE enterprise Slovakia
Because the work is made with cooperation with company ACE enterprise Slovakia
Ltd., let me briefly introduce to you main information about ACE:
ACE enterprise Slovakia Ltd. is market leader in modern integration of information
systems for Utilities, modern solutions of intelligent metering and PDA applications for
inspections and maintenance of Utility networks, as well as worldwide professional
consulting in this area. ACE enterprise is the author of unique technology for quick
modeling of central integration hubs and generating complete professional applications for
metering and maintenance support over existing systems, mainly SAP. For this purpose
ACE created a group of software products, which together make up a complex of solutions
for a wide range of enterprise applications. These are nowadays being used in a large
number of Utility companies.
ACE enterprise won numerous certificates and awards. It orientates on its own
technology of integration big information systems and modeling complex Cross
Application Solution. Thanks to this method it gained many foreign assessments such as the
3„SAP certified integration" certificate from SAP A.G. for ACE Enterprise Integrator
product. Another success is the „Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year" from Ernst & Young in
2006 or European Business Awards „Ruban d'Honneur" in two consecutive years 2008 and
2009. In 2009 ACE enterprise earned the "Executive of the Year in Europe" Finalist
Certificate, International Business Awards. In 2010 ACE´s entry to the "European IT
Excellence Awards" in ISV Category: Enterprise Application has been judged to be a
Winner. In the same year, Alex Cimbalak, CEO of ACE, was awarded as Distinguished
Honoree in 2 categories of worldwide-known International Business Awards 2010:
"Executive of the Year in Europe" and "IT Executive of the Year". In 2011 ACE enterprise
Slovakia Ltd. has been selected as a Finalist at the international competition European IT
Excellence Awards 2011 in category "Independent Software Vendors - Enterprise
Application". The company has been classified to the top 5 most successful IT projects of
the year 2011 thanks to the unique solution and business benefit for customers. Worth
mentioning to say, that ACE enterprise Slovakia Ltd. was the only slovak company
nominated for this year in this contest and it vie against companies such as Dell, SAP,
Oracle, IBM, Cisco Systems, Avnet, Excell, etc.
CEO and also the owner of ACE enterprise Slovakia Ltd. , Ing. Alexander Cimbalak
is also learning at Paneuropean University – Faculty of Masmedia, subject „Creative
Business“. His form was judged as „the future of modern academical education“. The
priniciple is retrieving experience not only from theory, but mainly from real practiceThe
company has been classified to the top 5 most successful IT projects of the year 2011
thanks to the unique solution and business benefit for customers. Worth mentioning to say,
that ACE enterprise Slovakia was the only Slovak company nominated to this competition.
ACE here contested for a prize with companies such as Dell, SAP, Oracle, IBM, Cisco
Systems, Avnet, Excell, etc.
Nowadays has company projects on four continents, its solutions are used by famous
companies in China, New Zeland, USA, Germany, Mexico, North America or South Africa.
ACE enterprise Slovakia is also collaborating with UNI 2010 organizing lectures for the
students at Slovakia’s and foreign Universities. Alexander Cimbalak is moreover from 2009
member of „Board of Advisors“ by foreign students organization AIESEC.
4Figure 1 : ACE Enterprise Integratr, author : ALEXANDER CIMBAĽÁK,2010
4.2 SAP
The name SAP is acronym for Systems, Applications and Products in Data
Processing. It is an extremely complicated system where no one individual can understand
all of it. It runs on a fourth generation programming language called Advance Business
Application Programming (ABAP). It have many of the features of other modern
programming languages such as the familiar C, Visual Basic, and Power Builder. The
programs name conventions begins with a letter yxxx or zxxx. SAP graphical user interfaces
(SAP GUI) runs on Windows / NT / Unix / AS400. SAP have move towards the Windows
Explorer Screen Format (all the Menu on the left of your screen).SAP is also an enterprise
resource planning (ERP) software product capable of integrating multiple business
applications, with each application representing a specific business area. These
applications update and process transactions in real time mode. It has the ability to be
configured to meets the needs of the business.[3]
4.3 GIS
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer based information system used
to digitally represent and analyse the geographic features present on the Earth' surface and
the events (non-spatial attributes linked to the geography under study) that taking place on
it. The meaning to represent digitally is to convert analog (smooth line) into a digital form.
5"Every object present on the Earth can be geo-referenced", is the fundamental key of
associating any database to GIS. Here, term 'database' is a collection of information about
things and their relationship to each other and 'geo-referencing' refers to the location of a
layer or coverage in space defined by the co-ordinate referencing system.
It is an information system designed to work with data referenced by spatial /
geographical coordinates. In other words, GIS is both a database system with specific
capabilities for spatially referenced data as well as a set of operations for working with the
data. It may also be considered as a higher order map. GIS technology integrates common
database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and
geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other
information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises
for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies. (ESRI) [4]
5. Results
The result of the work is completely in detail scheduled process of integration SAP
system with PM system and later with geographical information system (GIS). This
description retains the main work in SAP system using ACE Enterprise Integrator
technology.
Figure 3 : Integration between 2 systems (tables)
It includes various specification of SAP functions, tables or communication methods
which are SAP GUI, Remote Function Call (RFC), Business Application Programming
Interface (BAPI) and communication using Intermediate documents (IDoc).
6Figure. 2 : Example of communication method BAPI
Extremely important is work with tables, because they are base of successful
operating with the data. In the entire process it explained, what is where, why, what does it
do and what influence does it have on the system. The result is also complete package as
background papers for its use in teaching at university. Thereby it is not necessary to ensure
the high educated pedagogic but suffice ordinary lecturer or graduand.
7Figure 4 : Example of using technology Ace Enterprise Integrator Visual Designer
6. Conclusions
We have found out that using ACE technology regarding the integration between two
systems simplify the whole process of its creating. Nowadays it is really necessary to
combine successful companies with schools in order to improve education process and
bring so essential practice to the universities. This work can be used on various high
schools, universities and colleges as a background papers, in spite of that it is solving just
some chosen problems. It is recommended to learn main function of each system and have
basic knowledge in integration, what does the term means and how this process works.
This work also provides common review about integration systems in the world, their
short specification and assimilation. It also monitors the situation on the market and
demonstrates us that we are working with top high-quality product used by many
companies all over the world.
8References
[1] ACE Enterprise Integrator [online] [cit. 2011-03-16]. Available on the internet
[2] SAP NetWeawer; Adaptive Technology for the Networked Enterprise [online] [cit. 2011-
03-18]. Available on the internet
[3] SAP basis [online][cit. 2011-03-20]. Available on the internet
[4] GIS Tutorials : Overview of GIS [online] [cit. 2011-03-22]. Available on the internet
9You can also read
