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JSF using Web Dynpro Java

Former Member
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Hello,

our customer is no longer satisfied with the UI offered by WD Java. So we think about to migrate to JSF.

Since many applications use a R/3 system as the source for the model layer, we don't want to rewrite all the coding generated in our model proxies. This is one of the good parts of WD Java and we are discussing how to preserve this.

Has anyone ever tried to integrate WDJ into a JSF application? I mean just to use the model layer of WDJ for JSF. Can the model be encapsulated within an EJB?

Any answer or idea will be appreciated.

Thanks

Christian

Accepted Solutions (1)

Accepted Solutions (1)

Qualiture
Active Contributor
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Or you could use NetWeaver CAF. You import your backend RFC's and expose them as EJB / WS to your frontend application

Former Member
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Hello Robin,

thank you for your answer. We will try it out and come back with the results.

So long

Christian

Former Member
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Hello Robin,

as promissed, we tried it out. However, it's the same Connector Framework in CAF as can be used for any J2EE app. What we thought of is to use/encapsulate our WDJ model proxies without generating them again. With model proxies I don't also mean the model generated in WDJ it self, but also methods like execute(), setting logging entries, context mapping, initializing and so on.

Nevertheless, thanks for the suggestion.

Regards

Christian

Sharathmg
Active Contributor
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Well, a WDJ DC is accessible or exposed to another WDJ DC. Unless SAP allows WDJ DC to be exposed other than public part then its difficult to accomplish your goal.

Did you try for a Java/J2EE DC where the public part of the existing WDJ DC is added? ( Just a crazy thought , which I myself am not sure works )

Regards,

Sharath

Answers (2)

Answers (2)

junwu
Active Contributor
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This message was moderated.

Qualiture
Active Contributor
0 Kudos

Yeah, good answer, because WDA/FPM looks totally different from applications developed in WDJ... Not!

Jun, please stop your quest against Web Dynpro Java, at least in this forum. I know you despise WDJ, but there are still people, companies and enterprises who still do WDJ development and are happy with it.

junwu
Active Contributor
0 Kudos

despise???how come? i am WDJ developer

for what reason, i would like to despise the one which fill my belly???

I am just telling them the reality...it is not good idea to use WDJ for new development... nothing else.

junwu
Active Contributor
0 Kudos

Dear moderator

I said wda is much better thatn wdj,    for that, which forum rule it violates, that makes you hide my reply.

BR

Jun

Sharathmg
Active Contributor
0 Kudos

Well, if you requirement is to use just WDJ f for the model proxies, then in my opinion its like using a gun to kill a mice ( Forgive my poor analogy )

You can make use of the SAP Enterprise Connector project where you make use of the Java Connectors defined in portal to generate proxy classes for the backend RFCs. Then, add the necessary library/api's related to JCo to the Java project.

Now, you are free to encapsulate/use this java project within your JSF application.

Most standalone Java based applications make use of this feature to build the proxy connector classes for the RFCs.

Regards,

Sharath

Former Member
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Hello Sharath,

our requirement is not to use WDJ solely for the model proxies. In our project WDJ is now used for many years and we are satisfied so far (appr. 100 WDJ DCs). But, more and more the users are asking for a flexible UI. And for this case we are looking for some alternative.

We are now just searching what is possible to be able to provide a prototype. For this we divided the problem into three parts keeping the MVC pattern in mind. A defensive strategy could be this:

  1. Only change the View-layer of WDJ
    1. Maybe there is some JSF integration into WDJ?
    2. Maybe UI5 can be used in some way in WDJ? (but this you negated). On the other hand SAP offers in NW 7.4 an interoperability between WD ABAP and UI5:
      http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw74/helpdata/en/60/ea991fb7574b7484ff01819424d045/content.htm?frameset=...
    3. Maybe SAP opens the UI even more (in NW 7.3 we have this WebWidget UI element. We also played a little bit with this. But, that's the wrong starting point.)
  2. Just keep the WDJ Model-layer. JSF is the main application and uses the WDJ model proxies
    1. As suggested in this discussion, CAF could be an approach.
  3. Use JSF as the target technology
    1. This means a functional migration of the whole WDJs of course with a lot of effort.

Again, we are just collecting information to be able to provide a prototype with a modicum of effort. Each approach has it's advantages and disadvantages!

Hope it's more clear now.

Regards

Christian

Sharathmg
Active Contributor
0 Kudos

Its pretty clear now. thank you.

As you describe the challenge seems to be to carry forward the existing business logic/code in WDJ and use a separate UI. So WDJ DC/components behave like a model .

As you would know, WDJ exposes its functions as a public part and this PP is used by other DCs.

The brief intro to JSF-WDJ seems interesting option which I personally have no experience.

However, I am not really sure whether WDJ DCs are allowed to be encapsulated in a a way understandable by other JAVA DCs. Also, how will those business logic existing in component controllers(available through interface controller) be available for access to Java components. Nice effort to explore existing options before jumping to re-creation.

One thing for sure, keep us posted on your attempts and I will be tracking it keenly.

All the best in your effort.

Regards,

Sharath