ABAP stands for Advanced Business Application Programming.
ABAP is a 4th generation programming language. It is SAP’s proprietary programming language and almost all application in SAP system is build using ABAP. It is not case sensitive. ABAP is event driven programming language.
The ABAP programs can only be executed in the SAP environment. The execution of ABAP requires the ABAP runtime environment, only available when you are logged into SAP. The ABAP source programs are stored in the database.
The SAP system is delivered with predefined applications known as standard applications. The ABAP language is used by ABAP consultants to develop custom applications, custom ABAP objects and to perform enhancements of SAP provided functionalities.
RICEF Objects
What is RICEFW ?
RICEFW is not a standard SAP acronym but represents common development objects in SAP ABAP where R stands for Reports, I for Interfaces, C for Conversion, E for Enhancements, F for Forms, and W for Workflows.
R- Reports
SAP reports are executable programs that read data from the database and generate output in a meaningful format based on user input in the selection screen. SAP Report generally does not involve an update to the database. The SAP system has many standard Reports but developing customized reports for business is a usual development requirement in SAP projects.
I – Interface Programs
Interface programs are developed to exchange data between SAP and other systems in an IT landscape. To send the data from SAP to other Non SAP systems are outbound Interface programs and to receive data from non SAP system into SAP system are Inbound Interface programs.
C – Conversion
Conversion in SAP means converting data from non-SAP format into SAP format to be loaded into the SAP system. In an SAP implementation project, we do not trash the legacy data but upload it into the SAP system with Conversions programs’ help. Conversion programming means BDC programming, where BDC stands for Batch Data Communication.
E – Enhancements
Enhancements involve modifying the existing functionality of SAP’s standard business applications or adding our own functionality to SAP’s standard business applications. SAP provides many enhancements techniques to change the functionality of the standard SAP system to meet unique business requirements.
Some enhancement techniques are User Exits, Customer Exits, BADI’s, Explicit and Implicit enhancements, etc.
F – Forms
Many business processes involve displaying data in a form format. Forms can be printed, faxed, or send as an attachment to meet business needs. SAP system comes with many standard forms, but sometimes standard forms will not meet business requirements. Thus custom forms can be developed using various SAP ABAP form development tools like SAP Smart forms, SAP Scripts, and SAP Adobe forms.
W – Workflows
As the name signifies, a Workflow involves a sequence of connected activities or steps to complete a business process. Specific steps in a Workflow may involve user decisions to complete the business process, for example, Approval of Leave Request done by Managers in a Leave application request by a subordinate.
As an ABAP developer, you will mostly be working with any of the RICEF objects. Hence it is good to know the category of development you are involved in.
Many recruiters mention RICEF in their SAP ABAP job postings, and hence knowledge of these different ABAP development objects is a plus to ABAP career. Workflow is optional and is an added skill for ABAPers.