UNIVERSAL CLIENTS FOR ACCESSING SAP SYSTEMS
SAPGUI is the GUI client in SAP R/3's 3-tier architecture of database, application server and client. It is software that runs on a Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh or Unix desktop, and allows a user to access SAP functionality in SAP applications such as mySAP ERP and SAP Business Information Warehouse (now called SAP Business Intelligence). It is the platform used for remote access to the SAP central server in a company network.
SAP GUI is SAP's universal client for accessing SAP functionality in SAP applications such as - SAP ERP, SAP Business Suite (SAP CRM, SAP SCM and SAP PLM), SAP Business Intelligence and so on. SAP GUI functions like a browser. It gets information from the SAP server like what, where, when and how, to display contents in its window. All members of the SAP GUI family have unique attributes that make them especially suited for different user environments. SAP GUI comes in the following three different flavors:
SAP GUI for Windows
SAP GUI for Windows is an implementation especially designed for the Windows operating system, providing a Windows-like user experience and integration with other applications, based on OLE interfaces or ActiveX controls.
SAP GUI for the Java Environment
SAP GUI for the Java environment is a unified SAP frontend for multiple platforms. It is based on a platform-independent architecture and Java implementation. As a major benefit, it provides access to SAP applications that are based on Control-Enabling and therefore used to be reserved for Windows users in the past. Please, note that SAP GUI for Java is also available on Windows.
SAP GUI for the Java environment is a unified SAP frontend for multiple platforms. It is based on a platform-independent architecture and Java implementation. As a major benefit, it provides access to SAP applications that are based on Control-Enabling and therefore used to be reserved for Windows users in the past. Please, note that SAP GUI for Java is also available on Windows.
SAP GUI for HTML
SAP GUI for HTML automatically maps the screen elements in SAP transactions to HTML using HTML Business functions available within the SAP Internet Transaction Server. A web browser is sufficient to access almost all transactions. Please note: Since SAP GUI for HTML is an application running on the ITS, you find corresponding information on theITS page.
SAP GUI for HTML automatically maps the screen elements in SAP transactions to HTML using HTML Business functions available within the SAP Internet Transaction Server. A web browser is sufficient to access almost all transactions. Please note: Since SAP GUI for HTML is an application running on the ITS, you find corresponding information on theITS page.
- SAP GUI for the Windows environment
- SAP GUI for the Java(TM) environment
- SAP GUI for HTML / Internet Transaction Server (ITS)
- Requires Internet Explorer or Firefox as a browser; other browsers are not officially supported by SAP.
]For Microsoft Windows releases
| Release | Release date | End of life | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | – | – | First "GUI" for SAP software; no graphical elements like checkboxes, radiobuttons and icons |
| 1.1 | – | – | Field length indicated by background colors; fast paths in menus |
| 2.0 | – | – | New GUI for Windows 3.1; System and Application Toolbar added; icons in System Toolbar |
| 2.1 | – | – | New graphical elements: checkboxes, radiobuttons, group boxes and push buttons on screen |
| 3.0 | – | – | Table control introduced; icons added to buttons |
| 3.1 | 1996 | – | Windows95-look with flat buttons; tabstrip control and ABAP List Viewer (ALV) introduced |
| 4.0 | – | – | Screens contain more information to reduce navigation |
| 4.5 | – | – | Active X elements introduced; ALV is now based on grid control |
| 4.6D | July 2000 | – | GUI is re-designed; multiple-areas are introduced to reduce need for screen changes |
| 6.10 | July 2001 | – | – |
| 6.20 | March 2002 | – | – |
| 6.40 | June 2004 | 31/12/2010 | Unicode support extended; accessibility and usability improved |
| 7.10 | February 2007 | 12/04/2011 | Support for Microsoft Vista and Office 2007; new "Tweak SAP GUI" tool; new ABAP front-end editor |
| 7.20 | April 2010 | – | Support for Windows 7 and Office 2010; Built with Visual Studio 2008 |
The following list contains the latest news on the SAP GUI family members.
Date | Description |
|---|---|
January, 2011 | SAP GUI for Windows 6.20 is now out of support. Please, upgrade to release 7.20 as soon as possible (release 7.10 will be out of support as of 12th of April 2011). |
December, 2010 | SAP GUI for Windows 7.20 Patchlevel 4 is now available for download on SAP Service Marketplace. Patchlevel 4 adds a new feature to the SAP GUI Security Center: Starting SAP GUI using SAP Shortcuts, command lines, or structured documents can now be controlled by administrator-defined or user-defined rules. See the updated SAP GUI Security Guide for more information (in the Literature section below). |
November, 2010 | SAP GUI for Java 7.20 rev 4 is available for download on SAP Service Marketplace (see also Downloads and Release Information section below). |
October, 2010 | End of support for both SAP GUI for Windows 6.20 and SAP GUI for Windows 7.10 is approaching:
If you are currently using any of these releases, we recommend starting to plan an upgrade to release 7.20 as soon as possible. |
April, 2010 | SAP GUI for Windows 7.20 is available for download on SAP Service Marketplace. Among others, the following new features are available:
You find detailed information in the Downloads and Release Information sections below. |
Nov. 2009 | SAP GUI for Windows 7.10 is released on Microsoft Windows 7. The minimum requirements in regards to SAP GUI patchlevels to be used on Windows 7 are as follows:
More information can be found in SAP note 1412821 (SMP login required!). |
Nov. 2008 | SAP Signature Design has been released which was designed in order to harmonize the user interfaces of SAP products. To find information on the use, availability, and the anatomy of the SAP Signature design, clickhere. |
]For Single Sign-on
SAPGUI on Microsoft Windows or Internet Explorer can also be used for single sign-on. There are several portal-based authentication applications for single sign-on. SAPGUI can have single sign-on with SAP Logon Ticket as well. Single sign-on also works in the Java GUI.[1]
Criticism of using SAPGUI for authentication to SAP server access
SAP is a distributed application, where client software (SAPGUI) installed on a user's workstation is used to access the central SAP server remotely over the company's network. Users need to authenticate themselves when accessing SAP. By default, however, SAP uses unencrypted communication (although almost all packets are compressed and look encrypted by first sight), which allows potential company-internal attackers to get access to usernames and passwords by listening on the network. This can expose the complete SAP system, if a person is able to get access to this information for a user with extended authorization in the SAP system. Information about this feature is publicly accessible on the Internet.
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