ABAP WebDynpro in mobile solutions

Hi Experts,
Is it possible to use ABAP Web Dynpro to create web applications that can be run on PDAs or mobile devices that run web browsers?
Best regards,
Magnus

Hi,
You have this options:
-WebDynpro Java (Not ABAP)
-ITS Mobile
-J2EE Apps.
-BSP Applications.
Regards,

Similar Messages

Accessing Webdynpro ABAP application using Mobile Device..........

Hi,
Can any please let me know if we can access Webdynpro ABAP application using mobile device. If yes, what are the steps/procedure to be followed.
Thanks.
NP

Hello,
after 4 years in 2012, i bought a tablet pc (aldi lifetab), installed a firefox-browser, the add-on cert-manager, installed a client certificate. After doing this i can accces webdynpro for abap applications without any problems.

ABAP webdynpro with interactive form - launching failure

We are doing some prototype in the solution manager box using ABAP webdynpro and Adobe Interactive Form. I created a webdynpro with a very simple Adobe form embedded in an view.
But when I test the webdynpro, I got the following error page in internet browser, any idea?
Error when processing your request
What has happened?
The URL http://md1as086.medimmune.com:8001/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/z_wd_bookflight_gebo/ was not called due to an error.
Note
The following error text was processed in the system SMT : WebDynpro Exception: ADS: Request start time: Tue Mar 06 11:53:06 EST 2007(200.101). ?ꯂ.RuntimeProcessor.process(RuntimeProc
The error occurred on the application server MD1AS086_SMT_01 and in the work process 0 .
The termination type was: RABAX_STATE
The ABAP call stack was:
Method: RAISE of program CX_WD_GENERAL=================CP
Method: CREATE_PDF of program CL_WD_ADOBE_SERVICES==========CP
Method: IF_WDR_VIEW_ELEMENT_ADAPTER~SET_CONTENT of program /1WDA/LADOBE==================CP
Method: IF_WDR_VIEW_ELEMENT_ADAPTER~SET_CONTENT of program /1WDA/LADOBE==================CP
Method: IF_WDR_VIEW_ELEMENT_ADAPTER~SET_CONTENT of program /1WDA/L8STANDARD==============CP
Method: IF_WDR_VIEW_ELEMENT_ADAPTER~SET_CONTENT of program /1WDA/L8STANDARD==============CP
Method: IF_WDR_VIEW_ELEMENT_ADAPTER~SET_CONTENT of program /1WDA/L8STANDARD==============CP
Method: IF_WDR_VIEW_ELEMENT_ADAPTER~SET_CONTENT of program /1WDA/L7STANDARD==============CP
Method: CONV_VIEW_INTO_VE_ADAPTER_TREE of program CL_WDR_INTERNAL_WINDOW_ADAPTERCP
Method: SET_CONTENT_BY_WINDOW of program CL_WDR_INTERNAL_WINDOW_ADAPTERCP
What can I do?
If the termination type was RABAX_STATE, then you can find more information on the cause of the termination in the system SMT in transaction ST22.
If the termination type was ABORT_MESSAGE_STATE, then you can find more information on the cause of the termination on the application server MD1AS086_SMT_01 in transaction SM21.
If the termination type was ERROR_MESSAGE_STATE, then you can search for more information in the trace file for the work process 0 in transaction ST11 on the application server MD1AS086_SMT_01 . In some situations, you may also need to analyze the trace files of other work processes.
If you do not yet have a user ID, contact your system administrator.
Error code: ICF-IE-http -c: 200 -u: CHEUNGJ -l: E -s: SMT -i: MD1AS086_SMT_01 -w: 0 -d: 20070306 -t: 115305 -v: RABAX_STATE -e: UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION
HTTP 500 - Internal Server Error
Your SAP Internet Communication Framework Team

Hi,
Is you ADS Configured ?
Check that out.
Regards
Raja Sekhar

ABAP webdynpro app not redirecting using Outbound plug in portal

Scenario-
There is one Abap webdynpro application APP1 calling another abap webdynpro component Comp 2 through outbound plug on a button click. This is working fine if service is tested independantly.
SAP ECC system is having a webispatcher and the application should be accessed using webdipatcher only i.e. ECC should not be called directly.
SSL has been configured b/w ECC and webdipatcher.
The Abap webdynpro application APP1 is integrated into portal using Abap webdynpro iview.
Setting in Portal system are reffering to Webdipatcher for ECC system instead of ECC system directly.
Issue-
App1 is loading successfully into portal and all the data is coming properly but when trying to navigate to second component on button click it is not navigating. iview is getting refreshed but not redirecting to required component and is still on the same application.
Please suggest the reasons and solutions if anyone has clue about it.
Regards
Deepak

Hi,
Please refer to these links -
How to secure WDA over an external facing portal
WebDynpro ABAP and Portal Navigation
WebDynpro ABAP and Portal Navigation problem
Please check for the portal eventing between the applications.
Regards,
Lekha

Calling an ABAP WebDynpro Popup from a BSP view

I need to know if the following is possible.
I have a requirement to call an ABAP WebDynpro Popup from a BSP view.
When the Popup is triggered (eg via pushbutton) the BSP will pass data to the Popup, before the Popup is closed the Popup will pass data back to the BSP to be displayed in the BSP view.
I do not want to rely on Portal Events as Portals may not be used, would really appreciate a clean simple solution.

Hi,
any webdynpro application has a URL behind it. Haven´t you tried to call that URL with Javascript code ??
script language="Javascript"
url = "test_page.htm" + "?field=" + param;
window.open(url, "F4window", "width=400, height=400");
/script
You can pass data to the WD application using parameters as I show you after the "?".

How to create interactive forms in ABAP WebDynpro

Hi Experts,
we are trying to create our first interactive form with the "how to guide for ABAP WebDynpros".
Unfortunatelly we have a big problem on Step 17, where we want to save the created WebDynpro Application. After safing the system shows a pop up with following error message:
"you are not authorized to use function - Netzwerkadministration". Although we have all the necessary access rights in the system (ERP/Developer User).
But if we go on and create a service call (it's a guided procedure) for an existing BAPI, we can't select the function module interface parameters that we want to add to the context via checkboxes. There are no checkboxes available. but the how-to-guides shows checkboxes.
is maybe the first error the reason that we can't select the function modules? Please help. If you need the how-to-guide, please give me your eMail and I will provide it to you immediately.
Thank you very much in advance and regards,
H.-J. Kersten

Hello
I got the same problem when i try to create WD ABAP application.
Did you find the solution?
Regards
Nir

Problem in retriving workitem id from uwl in abap webdynpro

Hello,
Curently, I've a problem similar with this post : Problem in retriving workitem id from uwl in abap webdynpro
But unfortunatelly there is no answer :/
I've followed this tutorial : http://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/WDABAP/IntegratingWebDynproABAPapplicationswithUWLforworkflowin+Portal
And I have a problem in my WD Abap. The WI_ID field is empty (initial).
Here is my XML :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE UWLConfiguration PUBLIC '-//SAP//UWL1.0//EN' 'uwl_configuration.dtd'
>
<UWLConfiguration version="1.0">
 <ItemTypes>
 <ItemType name="uwl.task.webflow.TS90000087.ED1CLNT100" connector="WebFlowConnector" defaultView="DefaultView" defaultAction="launchWebDynPro" executionMode="default">
 <ItemTypeCriteria systemId="ED1CLNT100" externalType="TS90000087" connector="WebFlowConnector"/>
 <Actions>
 <Action name="launchWebDynPro" groupAction="" handler="SAPWebDynproABAPLauncher" returnToDetailViewAllowed="yes" launchInNewWindow="yes" launchNewWindowFeatures="resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,status=yes,toolbar=no,menubar=no,location=no,directories=no">
 <Properties>
 <Property name="WebDynproApplication" value="zps_pnpi"/>
 <Property name="newWindowFeatures" value="resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,status=yes,toolbar=no,menubar=no,location=no,directories=no"/>
 <Property name="DynamicParameter" value="WI_ID1=${item.externalId}"/>
 <Property name="openInNewWindow" value="yes"/>
 <Property name="WebDynproNamespace" value="sap"/>
 <Property name="System" value="ED1CLNT100"/>
 <Property name="display_order_priority" value="5"/>
 </Properties>
 <Descriptions default=""/>
 </Action>
 </Actions>
 </ItemType>
 </ItemTypes>
</UWLConfiguration>
Here are the parameter defined in my application :
WI_ID 000000000000 SWW_WIID
WI_ID1 ${item.externalId} STRING
And, i've made the test with both the WI_ID and the WI_ID1 in the XML but everytime, no value at all.
Could you please help me ? It's been three days I'm looking for a solution to get my Workitem ID in my Webdynpro ...

In fact, it's quite strange, I added the menu and toolbar display and I can see that my url contains the data ...
http://<begin_of_the_url>DynamicParameter=System%3DED1CLNT100%26wi_id%3D000000629442%26WI_ID%3D000000629442%26WI_ID1%3D000000629442<end_of_the_url>
So ... how is it possible ?
And the next question, how can I get the full url so I can parse it myself ?

Display Smartform Pdf output in ABAP Webdynpro application

Hello,
there is a solution for displaying Smartform output in Java Webdynpro application in this forum. Since i want to start an project in ABAP Webdynpro i need a solution for this technology since i don't want to recreate all the paperwork again using Adobe. Is there any solution available?
Thanks
Udo Ahle

Hello,
this is the solution which i was able to implement using the hints given by Heidi and Thomas. Thank you for the support. With this solution it is possible to reuse oldstyle sapscripts and smartforms in todays environment. Here is the sample code which solves the problem:
In WDA you define for example a pushbutton to start the display of the PDF.
In the onaction method you implement:
method ONACTIONSHOW_PDF .
data LX_pdf type xstring.
* get PDF from existing sapscript or smatform
call function 'Y_PDF_GET' destination '46c'
 IMPORTING
 ex_PDF = LX_PDF.
* append the pdf to the response
cl_wd_runtime_services=>attach_file_to_response(
 i_filename = 'Hello.PDF'
 i_content = lx_pdf
 i_mime_type = 'application/pdf'
 i_in_new_window = 'X'
 i_inplace = 'X' ).
endmethod.
The function 'Y_PDF_GET' is implemented as follows:
FUNCTION Y_PDF_GET .
*"*"Local interface:
*" EXPORTING
*" VALUE(EX_PDF) TYPE XSTRING
*" TABLES
*" ET_OTF STRUCTURE ITCOO OPTIONAL
data: lf_filesize type i,
 lt_otf type table of ITCOO,
 lt_lines type table of tline,
 tline type tline.
* start sapscript or smatforms and return
perform make_otf.
CALL FUNCTION 'READ_OTF_FROM_MEMORY'
 TABLES
 OTF = lt_otf
 EXCEPTIONS
 MEMORY_EMPTY = 1
 OTHERS = 2
et_otf[] = lt_otf.
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERT_OTF'
 EXPORTING
 FORMAT = 'PDF'
* MAX_LINEWIDTH = 132
* ARCHIVE_INDEX = ' '
 IMPORTING
 BIN_FILESIZE = lf_filesize
 TABLES
 OTF = lt_otf
 LINES = lt_lines
 EXCEPTIONS
 ERR_MAX_LINEWIDTH = 1
 ERR_FORMAT = 2
 ERR_CONV_NOT_POSSIBLE = 3
 OTHERS = 4
IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
* MESSAGE ID SY-MSGID TYPE SY-MSGTY NUMBER SY-MSGNO
* WITH SY-MSGV1 SY-MSGV2 SY-MSGV3 SY-MSGV4.
ENDIF.
* convert tline to xstring as needed in
* in web dynpro
field-symbols <X>.
data: st(268) type c.
data l1 type i.
data len type i.
data maxline type i value 134.
l1 = 0.
loop AT lt_lines INTO tline.
 clear st.
 st+l1(maxline) = tline.
 len = maxline + l1.
 l1 = maxline - strlen( tline ).
 ASSIGN st TO <x> TYPE 'X'.
 CONCATENATE ex_pdf <x>(len) INTO ex_pdf.
endloop.
ENDFUNCTION.
The make_otf for sapscript is the following:
* the next attribute enables the otf output.
* no other output will be generated
options-TDGETOTF = 'X'
CALL FUNCTION 'OPEN_FORM'
 EXPORTING
* APPLICATION = 'TX'
* ARCHIVE_INDEX = ARCHIVE_INDEX
 ARCHIVE_PARAMS = ARCHIVE_PARAMS
 DEVICE = DEVICE
 DIALOG = ' '
 FORM = FORM
 LANGUAGE = language
 OPTIONS = OPTIONS
* IMPORTING
* LANGUAGE =
* NEW_ARCHIVE_PARAMS =
* RESULT =
 EXCEPTIONS
 CANCELED = 1
 DEVICE = 2
 FORM = 3
 OPTIONS = 4
 UNCLOSED = 5
 OTHERS = 6.
*... make some write forms
data lT_OTF type table of ITCOO.
* get the otf data
CALL FUNCTION 'CLOSE_FORM'
* IMPORTING
* RESULT = result
 TABLES
 OTFDATA = lt_otf
 EXCEPTIONS
 UNOPENED = 1
 OTHERS = 2.
* put otf into memory for later usage
if not lt_otf is initial.
 CALL FUNCTION 'SAVE_OTF_TO_MEMORY'
* EXPORTING
* MEMORY_KEY = 'DEF_OTF_MEMORY_KEY'
 TABLES
 OTF = lt_otf.
endif.
For Smartforms technology it is possible to implement the same concept.

A Guide for Testing SAP NW MI & its Mobile Solutions (MAM, MAU, MTT, ...)

Hi Guys,
As per my experience, there is no enough Methodology & Tools to test the SAP Mobile solutions landscape. There are scattered documents from SAP, which are neither enough nor sufficient to carry out the different required tests from Unit test till the stress & volume tests before the Go-Live in a reliable way!
I would appreciate it very much if we combine all our experiences to compile a guide about this topic, which we can all share and even continue updating it as SAP guys further develop their Mobile Technology.
I would suggest that this SAP Mobility Solutions Test Guide should contain the main sections:
- Testing NW MI MW server.
- Testing the ECC as a MI backend system
- Critical business processes of the mobile scenario (MAM for example)
- Testing the Mobile Applications on clients devices (MAM, MAU, MTT, )
- Performance tuning tips for all the involved software components
- Performance tuning tips for the all involved servers.
The guide should contain methodologies, tools, reference to SAP documents, sample actual testing results, ...
I would volunteer to compile your feedback into final master document and publish the final guide in SDN for all of us.
If somebody compiled such guide, it would be great if you publish it in the SDN.
Your feedback about this idea and contents for this guide is much appreciated & sure will help all of us to deliver better quality.
Thanks
Ahmed El Adl

Hi Ahmed,
Its a nice thread to start with. We shall do the same.
We are testing MI for past 1.6 yrs.
<<<<- Testing NW MI MW server.
- Testing the ECC as a MI backend system
- Critical business processes of the mobile scenario (MAM for example)
- Testing the Mobile Applications on clients devices (MAM, MAU, MTT, )
- Performance tuning tips for all the involved software components
- Performance tuning tips for the all involved servers.>>>>
Testing NW MI MW server----The entire backend side developed application can be automated(covering many features)
We have been executing few standard test cases and enhancing them.
So can you explain more clearly about what sort of methodologies you are talking about.
We generally analyze customer raised messeges and try to pump in more test cases to cover the features.
May be this is the starting to get more enchaments methodologies to improve MI.
FYI..In Newyork release MI architecture is going to be changed a bit...so can expect better performance(Webdynpro from client side)
Cheers,
Karthick

ABAP webdynpro or webservices

hi all,
I have an question. I have a system where i can use the ABAP webservices or the ABAP webdynpro to send data to a flex application.
But which of those 2 is the best solution? Or doesn't it matter which one i choose?
Do you have found some (dis)advantages for the solution with the webservices or do you have found some (dis)advanteges found with the solution with the ABAP webdynpro?
Kind regards,
Anton Pierhagen

Hi Anton,
If comparison done between Web Dynpro having Flash Island for Flex components and Independent Flex application communicating with R/3 via RFCs then in many aspects Web Dynpro is better option.
If backend is R/3 then anyways you have all required infrastructure in place no need of any other servers in case of WD. But if you go for 2nd option then may be for hosting swf files you need WAS or any other server.
There might be some cases where you need to fetch lots of data from DB then using SOAP way i.e. RFCs could give you time-out during data retrival at Flex frontend ( very rare case but there is possibility).
You can use your WD to handle all business logic and Flex components only for presentations like charts, interactive components etc.
One majot advantage of WD will be security aspect which can be handle very easily ( even with Single-Sign-On) whereas in independent Flex application you might end-up with extra security inception other than basic authentication of RFCs on load.
these are few differences out of many others which i can tell you.
Though both options you are thinking are good and feasible but i would suggest Web Dynpro. (Anyways being SAP Partner also we should promote SAP investments )
Regards,
Vivek
Edited by: vivek khedekar on Sep 23, 2010 6:08 AM

Theme customization in ABAP WebDynpro

>server metnioned above : is it portal server and port details
No this isn't the portal server. If you are running in the portal then you don't need this approach at all. The iView will automatically take on the customized portal theme as long as you have maintained the portal support package level along with the backend ABAP AS SP level.
>and what is the <application> here in the url..
Your web dynpro ABAP application.
><folderOfYourCustomTheme>---here we need to give the folder name of our application in WebDynpro ABAP
No. The MIME folder where you stored your customized theme.

Hi..
I tried this approach and also the approach mentioned in below link
[Re: How to call custom themes for Web Dynpro ABAP Application?;
still unable to get the solution.
I tried the method to run a report WD_THEME n upload the theme. getting version mismatch error.
Request some one to clearly explain the step by step process to use the custom themes in ABAP WebDynpro.
Regards,
Syed Umar

Print button in ABAP WebDynpro

Hello all,
The client has requested a 'Print' button in our webdynpro application - ie a simple button that triggers the browser command Ctrl P.
I have searched the forum, and it seems that this is not possible, because WebDynpro cannot execute browser commands (or indeed, javascript).
Can someone please suggest a solution - OR - confirm that this functionality is not possible?
thanks
Paul
Note: Note: We do NOT want to use ALV, Adobe or Smartforms. We just want to print what's on the webdynpro screen.

Micky,
I thank you for that clear response: It is not possible to print from ABAP WebDynpro.
> What should that printbutton do?
We want it to do the same as Ctrl P, which is to print the entire web page. (We don't have frames etc)
>WD4A is normally intended to be used with Adobe Interactive forms
This is news to me! Is this an accepted view in the SAP communit... that WebDynpro requires Adobe to achieve full functionality? That is disappointing, to say the least. And a step back from BSP.
We are building multiple online calculators, and it would be a huge overhead to have to develop (and maintain) an Adobe form for each calculator, simply to enable the user to print the contents of the screen....
I have read in SDN that you can invoke a browser Print command from Java Webdynpro. A class WDPrintService has been provided.
Printing in Web Dynpro, finally
How can it be that this functionality is "not possible" for one flavour of WebDynpro, but plainly available in the other....?
cheers
Paul

Text Symbols in ABAP WebDynpro

Hi All.
       I am completely new to this ABAP WebDynpro Coding, i have a requirement, when i am cliking on field i need to display pop up window with some text, it's working fine, the below one is the code for displaying Pop Up:
data lo_window_manager type ref to if_wd_window_manager.
data lo_api_component type ref to if_wd_component.
data lo_window         type ref to if_wd_window.
lo_api_component = wd_comp_controller->wd_get_api( ).
lo_window_manager = lo_api_component->get_window_manager( ).
lo_window         = lo_window_manager->create_window(
                   window_name            = 'W_TEXT_POPUP_SPEDIS'
                  title                  = 'ABAP WebDynpro'
                 close_in_any_case      = abap_true
                   message_display_mode   = if_wd_window=>co_msg_display_mode_selected
                 close_button           = abap_true
                   button_kind            = if_wd_window=>co_buttons_ok
                   message_type           = if_wd_window=>co_msg_type_none
                   default_button         = if_wd_window=>co_button_ok
lo_window->open( ).
in the above code, there is one line called title = 'ABAP WebDynpro' that is Pop Up window name, actually i hard coded that one, but my client wants that title name through Text Symbols, i found some thing but it is not working, i really don't know how to do this one, if any one know with step by step solution please help me.
Really i appreciate.
Thanks in Advance.
Thanks and Regards,
Abhiram.

hi Abhiram ,
go to this help ful SAP online content :
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_NW70EHP1/helpdata/en/43/1f6442a3d9e72ce10000000a1550b0/content.htm
& check for Working with Text Symbols in Web Dynpro ABAP
with the instance attribute WD_ASSIST, you can access text symbols of the assistance class from within each controller of your component. When the method is called, the three-digit ID of the text symbol is passed to the KEY parameter.
data: data: my_text type string.
my_text = WD_ASSIST->IF_WD_COMPONENT_ASSISTANCE~GET_TEXT( KEY = '001' ).
Text symbols in the assistance class can be maintained from any controller. To do this, choose Goto ->Text Symbols.
rgds,
amit

Configuration of UWL with Abap webdynpro

Hi,
We are doing configuration of UWL with Abap webdynpro. Our purpose to launch Abap webdynpro application , once clicked to a worlitem in UWL iView. we are unable to do due to following errors.
We have done in this way.
1.Created ECC system in EP
2.register the uwl.webflow
3.create ABAP iview(for test purpose still getting error when preview) (N/A)
4.clear cache
4.import xml file
<ItemType name="uwl.task.webflow.TS91000006.UWLECCCLNT530" connector="WebFlowConnector" defaultView="urliview" defaultAction="viewDetail" executionMode="pessimistic">
 <ItemTypeCriteria systemId="UWLECCCLNT530" externalType="TS91000006" connector="WebFlowConnector" />
 <Actions>
 <Action name="launchWebDynProABAP" handler="SAPWebDynproABAPLauncher">
 <Properties>
 <Property name="WebDynproApplication" value="em_wipm_app" />
 <Property name="WebDynproNamespace" value="kgo" />
 <Property name="System" value="UWLECCCLNT530" />
 <Property name="DynamicParameter" value="WI_ID=${item.externalId}" />
 <Property name="display_order_priority" value="5" />
 </Properties>
 <Descriptions default="" />
 </Action>
 </Actions>
 </ItemType>
5.Getting error,when I click task to perform dynpro abap screen.
6.WI_ID not been received.
Plz let me know the solution.
Thanks,

Hello,
I think you have to import the xml-file before clearing the cache again. Your new xml-file needs a higher priority then the default view.
You have just defined a new ItemType in your new xml-file. I am not sure, but I think that you will have to define in this file also a new view for this ItemType. Because otherwise it is not defined how this new ItemType should be shown.
Regards,
Iris

Your opinion on: BSP or Java Webdynpro or ABAP Webdynpro?

Could you please give me your opinion on the business scenario we have here:
We are implementing SRM 4.0 with backend R/3 4.6C, WAS 6.4 and Portal 6.0. SRM has its typical shopping cart applications mainly for procurement and the workflow trail displaying the approval. The client wants us to build a few custom forms on the web frontend of SRM (or may be in Portal). The idea is to store these forms and display when needed with the status info just like a shopping cart.
Now the requirements for these forms are as follows:
1. These forms will have multiple fields which need to have the F4 kind of help. (the F4 options will reside in SRM or R/3)
2. The form should have some kind of a ALV grid (autoexpanding feature) which will allow the user to put in multiple line items so that they could submit more items on one form.
3. Users need to be able to attach a spreadsheet to the form which should not be editable once the form is submitted. The attached spreadsheet should be stored. (We are planning on using Archivelink Filenet for this)
4. Upon submission, a workflow will be kicked off as per the defined Org structure for approval of the form.
5. After submission, the user should be able to go and view the approval status of the form and also print the summary of the values that he entered in the form. (may be a smartform could be provided for this)
We looked at different options to accomplish this task:
BSP:
Creating BSP pages and giving access as links to the user on the webfrontend of SRM. Now, if we go the BSP route, we need to develop in SRM as the R/3 4.6 c does not have BSP development capabilities. If we take this approach, I am not sure if all the above requirements (specially like attaching spreadhseets) will be met with BSP pages.
SAP Webdynpro Java:
It seems that the Webdynpro is easier to use because of the graphical tools available. But the only problem if we go this route is that we will have to find a java guy.
SAP Webdynpro ABAP:
We currently have WAS 6.4. As per the documentation, the ABAP Webdynpro development tool is available from NW04s onwards. So, we are still not sure if we could use it. But, we want to push towards upgrading if necessary. Being an old time ABAPer, developing ABAP Webdynpro seems do-able. (i know it may not be that easy).
Last but not the least, DIALOG Program:
Creating a dialog program in R/3 or SRM seems fairly simple. Then, an iview could be created on the portal for this transaction, though at this point I am not sure how a spreadsheet could be attached and stored within a dialog program.
The creation of the workflow may not be that bad after the original form is designed. The graphical display of the approval trail might be difficult, but we might get away with a report for that. For printing the details of the form, I guess I could develop a smartform and put out a button on the screen to print it out in the display view.
Could you please give me your opinion / best approach for accomplishing this task, keeping in mind the complexities of these new dimension products?
Thanks
Sri

I would say that all four solutions to solving your tasks are technically feasible. Here are some thoughts that I had however:
First ABAP Webdynpro: it is true that ABAP webdynpro is only available with Netweaver04s. 04S is still in ramp-up which means that only a subset of the customer base is allow to implement it. It will not become generally available until later this year (check the service marketplace for current release estimates). That being said, it probably elimintes WDA as a possiblity for your project unless you are will to wait and to upgrade.
However having worked with WDA for a while it is probably the best tool to custom develop what you describe. It has excellent built-in F4 value help. It also has a damn fine ALV grid implementation. The spreadsheet could be just as simple as file upload in binary or your could try your hand at office integration. Finally for the form you could use Adobe Interactive Forms which also has very nice integration into WDA.
Now to Dialog Programming: You could of course use dialog programming. It seems a little bit of a waste to custom build something so large if WDA is in your near future. There are obvious disadvantages (little OO structure, no MVC, etc). You would have ALV grid, office integration and of course F4 help. You could still use Adobe forms if you implement this on the 640 system. However there are integration points with dialog and Adobe Interactive Forms. You could still use printed forms however. If you did the dialog program on the 640 system, you could use the integrated ITS to expose it to the web. The integrated ITS in my experience has quite nice performance although the look and feel remains just like the SAPGui.
The Java Webdynpro route: Well you hit the nail on the head - if you don't have a Java programmer already and you don't have the bandwidth to invest in learning Java, this can be a problem. The Java Webdynpro environment is quite nice. There are some things I like better than ABAP and some things that ABAP is defintely still better at. However when it comes to heavy integration with an ABAP backend - ABAP Webdynpro is still the way to go. Java Webdynpro does have a help feature (OVS), but it isn't "for free" or nearly as nice as the ABAP Webdynpro (perhaps it will get there some day). That is one of the major advantages of WDA - its closeness to the business data brings several framework advantages like F4 and field help. WebDynpro Java in 640 also doesn't have an ALV grid implementation. I am sure that this is something both environments will eventually have, but right now ABAP has the advantage. On the other hand, Webdynpro Java has equal support when it comes to office integration, file upload, and Adobe Forms support. You would have a more difficult time integration SmartForms however.
Finally we come to BSP. Honestly if I were in your position I would probably choose BSP (unless you could wait for the ABAP Webdynpro upgrade). You could build a nice MVC OO application using BSP (stateful or stateless). The BSP product is mature and quite well documented thanks to SDN. You have the BSP Extensions which when used in Design2003 use the Unified Renderer. That means that your output will look nearly identical to the same UI elements in Webdynpro. Also BSP supports portal integration (session management, eventing, and themes).
The downside to BSP is that it isn't a full framework (also one of its advantages). You can insert all your own html and javascript (unlike webdynpro). But this also means that SAP doesn't delivery as many framework services. For instance there is no ALV or Value Help. There is no Office Integration or Adobe Forms integration. There is some farily good Smart Forms integration. Now the upside- many people have already hit these limitations and overcame them. In the weblogs on SDN and in a certain SAP Press book (cough, cough) you will find out of the box solutions for many of these problems. You can find ready to use solutions for Adobe Integration, Office Integration (using Microsoft Office Web Controls), and F4 help. It will mean investing a little more time up front to get this "home grown framework" up and running - but it is perfectly feasible.
There is a learning curve to all these new technologies however. This sounds like an abmious project. I wouldn't want to try and tackle this project in any of these technologies if I was new to them. With Webdynpro or BSP - consider giving yourself time to learn the environment and cut your teeth on some demo apps before jumping into such a huge development.

ABAP WebDynpro in mobile solutions

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