This book provides you with the practical guidance needed to develop intuitive user interfaces and customer-specific, next generation Internet applications for SAP NetWeaver Portal, using Adobe's Flex Application Framework.

First, get a concise introduction to the basic principles of Rich Internet Applications in the SAP environment, followed by complete details on the development environment for Flex applications: Adobe Flex Builder. Using clearly structured examples you'll quickly learn to understand the syntax of the Flex programming languages, ActionScript and MXML, plus how to securely use their commands and components. Then, you’ll find out exactly how to directly apply your new skills using the examples provided. Readers get detailed coverage of the backend connection to the SAP system, data communication functions, and learn how best to generate charts. In addition, the book describes concepts regarding usability and performance optimization, offline applications, push data services, and the integration of multiple backend systems, giving you the step-by-step expert advice needed to implement your own Flex applications.

Highlights

• Developing Rich Internet Applications in the SAP Environment
• Adobe Flex Builder: Getting Started
• Syntax Diagrams, ActionScript, Commands and Components of MXML
• Dynamic ActionScript Extensions
• Comprehensive Sample Application from Design to Portal Integration
• Offline Applications, Push Data Services, and Creating Dynamic Screens

About the Author(s)

Armin Lorenz and Gunther Schöppe are members of the board of directors at IXULT AG, Rosenheim, Germany. Along with their co-authors they have implemented numerous customer projects based on Adobe Flex in the recent past.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ... 11

2. Adobe Flex in the SAP Environment ... 15
... 2.1 Developing Business Applications ... 15
... 2.2 Rich Internet Applications ... 18
... 2.3 Adobe Flex ... 22
... 2.4 Summary ... 35

3. Getting Started with Adobe Flex Builder ... 37
... 3.1 Adobe Flex Builder ... 37
... 3.2 Flex Files ... 46
... 3.3 Flex Samples Explorer ... 48

4. MXML ... 51
... 4.1 Syntax ... 52
... 4.2 Layout Components ... 54
... 4.3 Navigation Components ... 60
... 4.4 Control Components ... 68

5. ActionScript ... 85
... 5.1 Syntax ... 86
... 5.2 Data Types ... 93
... 5.3 Variables ... 103
... 5.4 Operators ... 112
... 5.5 Control Structures ... 117
... 5.6 Loops ... 118
... 5.7 Arrays ... 120
... 5.8 Objects and Classes ... 123

6. ActionScript Extensions ... 127
... 6.1 Audio and Video Objects ... 127
... 6.2 Date Objects and Timer Objects ... 137
... 6.3 Mathematical Functions ... 144
... 6.4 Keyboard Events ... 146
... 6.5 Text Fields and Text Formats ... 148
... 6.6 Other ActionScript Packages ... 153

7. Developing a Sample Application ... 155
... 7.1 Concept ... 155
... 7.2 Developing in the SAP Environment ... 163
... 7.3 Developing Using Adobe Flex ... 213
... 7.4 Integration into SAP NetWeaver Portal ... 260
... 7.5 Final Remarks ... 264

8. Enhancements and Outlook ... 267
... 8.1 Offline Applications ... 267
... 8.2 Push Data Services ... 269
... 8.3 Dynamization of Screens ... 271
... 8.4 Integrating Multiple Back-end Systems ... 272
... 8.5 Integrated Deployment Options in SAP NetWeaver ... 273
... 8.6 Summary and Perspective ... 277

Appendix ... 281
The Authors ... 291
Index ... 293