Whether you are dealing with a new installation, an upgrade or a system consolidation - migration to the Unicode standard can lead to many questions, all of which are competently answered in this comprehensive guide.

After an introduction to the basics of Unicode and to the support of languages in the SAP system, you'll uncover the steps required to carry out a Unicode installation, a combined upgrade, or conversion projects - depending on your current release (SAP R/3 4.6C and earlier, SAP R/3 Enterprise, SAP ERP 2004/2005). The authors focus on the ABAP Enabling of existing custom developments, the customization of interfaces, and the description of native SAP Unicode tools. In addition, readers learn about the country-specific prerequisites for which Unicode implementation is mandatory. An entire chapter is devoted to customer-specific translations. Plus, numerous codepage tables, useful notes, and volumes of exclusive tips and tricks that cannot be found elsewhere further complement this extensive reference.

Highlights

• Language Support in the SAP System: Concepts, Technologies, Solution Approaches
• Unicode with SAP: Basics, Data Exchange, Formats
• Unicode Conversion: System Consolidation, Data Export and Import, Frontend and Printer Solutions
• Upgrade Projects: Release-Related Process and Best Practices
• ABAP and Unicode: Syntax Changes, Data Types, Tools
• Communication and Interfaces: Homogeneous vs. Inhomogeneous, RFC, File Transfer
• Languages and Translations: Language Installation, Tools, Objects, Customizing

About the Author(s)

Nils Bürckel, Alexander Davidenkoff, and Detlef Werner work in the field of SAP Globalization Services. They actively took part in the introduction of Unicode in SAP, both in internal projects and in the support of SAP customers worldwide.

Table of Contents

Preface ... 11

1. Introduction ... 13
... 1.1 Globalization and Localization ... 13
... 1.2 Language Support in IT Systems ... 16
... 1.3 Unicode ... 19
... 1.4 Summary ... 25

2. Language Support in SAP Systems ... 27
... 2.1 From Single Code Page Systems to Unicode ... 27
... 2.2 Combination of Languages in a System ... 36
... 2.3 Unicode in the SAP System ... 48
... 2.4 Transition to SAP NetWeaver and Enterprise SOA with Unicode ... 52
... 2.5 Summary ... 55

3. Implementing Unicode in SAP Applications ... 57
... 3.1 Unicode Architecture ... 57
... 3.2 Unicode Conversion ... 60
... 3.3 Upgrades and Unicode Conversion ... 109
... 3.4 ABAP and Unicode ... 128
... 3.5 Communication and Interfaces ... 154
... 3.6 Expansion into New Countries with Unicode ... 217
... 3.7 Summary ... 228

4. Guidelines for Unicode Projects ... 233
... 4.1 New Installation ... 233
... 4.2 Unicode Conversion ... 234
... 4.3 Release Changes and Unicode Conversion ... 248
... 4.4 System Consolidation ... 251
... 4.5 Summary ... 252

5. Languages and Translation ... 253
... 5.1 Language and Translation Management ... 254
... 5.2 Customer-Specific Translations ... 257
... 5.3 Summary ... 273

6. Summary ... 275

A. Code Page Tables ... 279
B. Languages in an SAP Unicode System ... 287
C. Literature References and Other Support ... 299
D. Glossary ... 305
E. The Authors ... 311

Index ... 313