Unicode in SAP Systems - Tapa dura

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.

Nils Burckel studied physics at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, and joined SAP AG in January 1999 in the technical-consulting department. By the time his trainee program ended, his focus was already on the area of globalization. He has provided technical support for many large customers while they were integrating new countries, giving him a great deal of relevant customer experience.In 2002, he moved to SAP Globalization Services. That was just as Unicode was delivered for the first time by SAP. Nils was a member of the Unicode Task Force convened to support the introduction of Unicode. Unicode has become established, but the conversion of complex system environments is still full of challenges. For this reason, Nils leads consultant and customer training and workshops and helps customers with Unicode conversion projects. He also works in the back office for Unicode consultation within SAP. After his studies in electrical engineering and completion of an engineering doctorate at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, Alexander Davidenkoff joined SAP AG at the end of 1992. He started in R/3 basis support and technical consulting and soon concentrated on international topics such as language and code-page technologies in SAP products. He began collaboration with the national organizations in Eastern Europe and Russia, supported colleagues, customers, and partners in numerous activities and projects, and contributed significantly to the improvement of language support in SAP R/3. Since the late 1990s, he has been working closely with the countries in the Asia Pacific region.In 1996, Alexander moved to International Development/Globalization Services at SAP, where he is responsible for project management of country versions, as well as globalization, localization, and translation issues. He now works in SAP Globalization Services as a solution manager for the Unicode rollout, global solutions, time zones, global integrated solutions using SAP NetWeaver, the architecture of complex system environments, and related topics. He also supports, advises, and trains numerous colleagues, clients, and partners in many countries. Dr. Detlef Werner earned his doctorate in 1989 from the University of Hamburg, Germany, as a chemist, where his work included computer-supported analytics. After an international career at medium-sized companies, Detlef joined SAP AG in 1998, working first on construction and conversion of the Internet Business Framework. Other work areas at SAP have included global partner management, the design of marketplaces for customers and partners, and support for customers on issues involving international implementation of business processes and related IT structures.Detlef is currently working as a Solution Manager in SAP Globalization Services, where the introduction of Unicode in SAP has been a core topic for many years. Since 2003, he has taught at the International University of Bruchsal, Germany, as a Visiting Professor for international management and e-business.