Also, with help from Joachim, I've added a static function sapnwrfc_removefunction(<sysid>, <function name>) to the PHP connector that allows the removing of function definitions from the local cache. this is most useful when developing RFC applications in PHP, as you can modify your RFC definition without having to restart the web server everytime. This is available from version 0.09 here.

For Moodle integration, Erlend Strømsvik of Ny Media AS, developed an authentication plugin, which I've made a number of changes to around configuration options, and Moodle session integration. This has now been documented and added to Moodle Contrib to give it better visibility to the Moodle community at large. Documentation is here and the contrib entry is here.

Additionally, I've had some time to put together a proper cookbook style set of examples in the sapnwrfc-cookbook. These examples, while specifically for Perl, are almost identical for sapnwrfc for Python, Ruby, and PHP too.

It's not easy getting it up and running (need to setup datasources, build Modrian schemas, design MDX queries, and then implement the xaction), but once you are there, there is so much potential. The ability to tune the queries interactively using the Pivot reporting engine, and the drill down features are excellent.

Having just finished the Order to Cash cycle, and then followed it through on the Financial reporting. and cost account side, I'm finding that there is nothing missing that I would have expected to find from SAP - I'm excited, as I feel that OpenSource may have finally reached prime time in the ERP world.

Next up will be Compiere, which will have to go a long way to win me over I think.

Note: on reflection, I should add that this is in the context of SMB.

So - what did I learn?

I spoke to the man who is developing the fastest car in the world
I learnt about solar powering my house
Where the Geek Community thinks we are headed in the current climate
Network Theory
Perl 5.10, and Perl 6
Section 92A
Software in Education
OpenSource advocacy, and how to go main stream
telecommuting
Programming the G1
Irish folk music
Werewolf
and many more things that escape me right now.

Many thanks to the organisers (Nat, Jenine, and Russell), and also to all the other people who attended and helped out, to make it a truly excellent event.

Download from: http://www.piersharding.com/download/php/sapnwrfc/

This enables SAP authenticated logins, and the use of SAPs SSO via Logon Tickets.

The module is available at: http://www.piersharding.com/download/php/.

Moodle is PHP based, so when it came to the question of integrating this with SAP, we had a stumbling block.  The existing connector is a very good one, but it doesn't give full UNICODE support, and it doens't take advantage of the NetWeaver RFC SDK such as complex structures, and strings.

To this end I've written sapnwrfc for PHP.

You can download sapnwrfc from here.

Follow the INSTALL instructions, and here is a bit of a taster:

 <?php
dl("sapnwrfc.so");
echo "sapnwrfc version: ".sapnwrfc_version()."\n";
echo "nw rfc sdk version: ".sapnwrfc_rfcversion()."\n";
$config = array('ashost' => 'ubuntu.local.net',
                'sysnr' => "01",
                'client' => "001",
                'user' => 'developer',
                'passwd' => 'developer',
                'lang' => 'EN',
                'trace' => '1' );

// we must have a valid connection
try {
    $conn = new sapnwrfc($config);
    $fds = $conn->function_lookup("STFC_DEEP_STRUCTURE");
    $fdt = $conn->function_lookup("STFC_DEEP_TABLE");
    $parms = array('IMPORTSTRUCT' => array('I' => 123, 'C' => 'AbCdEf', 'STR' => 'The quick brown fox ...'));
    $results = $fds->invoke($parms);
    var_dump($results);
    $parms = array('IMPORT_TAB' => array(array('I' => 123, 'C' => 'AbCdEf', 'STR' => 'The quick brown fox ...')));
    $results = $fdt->invoke($parms);
    var_dump($results);
    $conn->close();
}
catch (Exception $e) {
    echo "Exception message: ".$e->getMessage();
    throw new Exception('Assertion failed.');
}

 sapnwrfc is a work in progress, so testing and feedback is welcome.

A discussion has been started in the forums here.

The new SAP NetWeaver RFCSDK is now available for official download - this opens the way for supported next generation Open Source Connectors such as sapnwrfc for Perl, and sapnwrfc for Ruby.

Where to get it?

You need to go to the SAP service Portal for Software downloads, and follow the path of: Download -> Support Packages and Patches -> Entry by Application Group -> Additional Components -> SAP NW RFC SDK -> SAP NW RFC SDK 7.10 -> SAP NW RFC SDK 7.10 .

There is an accompanying OSS note: 1025361.

Impact on Connectors

Clearly - this is SAPs way forward in the RFC area of closely bound system integration, so all existing connectors (and 3rd party products) will eventually have to migrate to it.

This is also true of code that is based on the existing connectors for Perl and Ruby. For Perl - there will be a migration from SAP::Rfc -> sapnwrfc, and likewise for Ruby moving from saprfc -> sapnwrfc (The client side implementation for the new sapnwrfc connector for Python is nearly finished, with the same implications).

My thanks and congratulations go out to the SAP NW RFC Team (NW AS ABAP Connectivity) - through their efforts, and willingness to engage the community, they have made it possible for us frustrated hackers to have a little more fun :-)

This means that eventually - all the RFC connectors, and 3rd party products will need to be updated to use the new under-carriage.

So whats the big deal?

New Features

• unicode in the core, with utf-8 to utf-16 conversion tools
• intelligent ABAP <=> X helper functions to ease type translations
• deep structures
• interface discovery
• interface, and structure caching

This has lead to a complete overhaul of the Ruby, and Perl Connectors, with the aim to take advantage of the new NW SDK features, and to produce connectors that create a more intuitive bond between the underlying RFC API, and the natural features of each Dynamic Language.

Call for testers

Obtaining the Connectors, and Netweaver RFC SDK

For Ruby - download from the RAA. Follow the instructions in the included README file. Documentation is available Here. A GEM install package for Win32 has been built available here.

For Perl - download from CPAN. Again - follow the instructions in the included README file. Documentation is available Here. A PPM install package for Win32 has been built available here.

If you are interested in trialling/testing the new connectors, then along with the installing the new connectors (above) you will need to obtain the new Netweaver RFC SDK. in order to do this, please register your interest with me, ensuring that I know how to contact you, and what your platform requirements are, and with the help of the NW RFC team at SAP I will get the relevant details to you.

Ruby Examples

 # specify a YAML base config file or pass connection
 #   parameters directly to rfc_connect()
 SAPNW::Base.config_location = './config_file.yml'
 SAPNW::Base.load_config
 conn = SAPNW::Base.rfc_connect

 # get the system and connection details
 attrib = conn.connection_attributes
 $stderr.print "Connection Attributes: #{attrib.inspect}\n"

 # lookup the dictionary definition of an Function Module
 fds = conn.discover("STFC_DEEP_STRUCTURE")
 $stderr.print "Parameters: #{fds.parameters.keys.inspect}\n"

 # create an instance of a Function call
 fs = fds.new_function_call

 # populate the parameters - structures and table rows now take hashes of field name/value pairs
 fs.IMPORTSTRUCT = { 'I' => 123,
                     'C' => 'AbCdEf',
                     'STR' =>  'The quick brown fox ...',
                     'XSTR' => ["deadbeef"].pack("H*") }

 # execute the RFC call
 fs.invoke
 $stderr.print "RESPTEXT: #{fs.RESPTEXT.inspect}\n"
 $stderr.print "ECHOSTRUCT: #{fs.ECHOSTRUCT.inspect}\n"

Config file (refer to the sap.yml file in the download):

ashost: ubuntu.local.net
sysnr: "01"
client: "001"
user: developer
passwd: developer
lang: EN
trace: 2

Test it out - and give your feedback.

Perl Examples

 use sapnwrfc;
 use Data::Dumper;

 # specify a YAML base config file or pass connection
 #   parameters directly to rfc_connect()
 SAPNW::Rfc->load_config;
 my $conn = SAPNW::Rfc->rfc_connect;

 # lookup the Function Module
 my $fds = $conn->function_lookup("STFC_DEEP_STRUCTURE");

 # initialise a call instance
 my $fs = $fds->create_function_call;

 # set the parameters
 $fs->IMPORTSTRUCT({ 'I' => 123,
                     'C' => 'AbCdEf',
                     'STR' =>  'The quick brown fox ...',
                     'XSTR' => pack("H*", "deadbeef")});

 # invoke the Function Module and then play with the results
 $fs->invoke;
 $stderr.print "RESPTEXT: #{fs.RESPTEXT.inspect}\n"
 $stderr.print "ECHOSTRUCT: #{fs.ECHOSTRUCT.inspect}\n"
 print STDERR "RESPTEXT: ".Dumper($fs->RESPTEXT)."\n";
    ok($c eq 'AbCdEf');
 print STDERR "ECHOSTRUCT: ".Dumper($fs->ECHOSTRUCT)."\n";

 # cleanup
 $conn->disconnect;

Config file format is the same as for Ruby - refer to the sap.yml file in the download:

ashost: ubuntu.local.net
sysnr: "01"
client: "001"
user: developer
passwd: developer
lang: EN
trace: 2

Test it out - and give your feedback. The best place would be to carry on the discussion through the Forums.

Special thanks go to:

• Ulrich Schmidt for fielding all my questions, and the whole of the NW RFC Team (NW AS ABAP Connectivity), for their support, and quick response.
• Olivier Boudry - building and testing
• and lastly (but by no means least) Craig Cmehil for tirelessly getting people together and making it all possible.

Notes/Updates: