The document discusses using Rhomobile, an open source mobile application development platform, to build apps that access SAP backend systems. It provides an overview of Rhomobile's components like Rhodes and RhoConnect, demonstrates connecting to SAP workflows via a REST service, and shows building a mobile app to approve purchase requisitions from SAP. The presentation evaluates Rhomobile positively but notes documentation and backend integration require some manual effort.

1. From SAP to app using Rhomobile
Mark Teichmann, Info AG
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2. Mobile Application Development Platforms
What is a MADP?
=> Suite of products and services that enable development of
mobile applications
Typical Features
• Cross-platform support
• Middleware for Data Sync, Security, App Provisioning
• Graphical Editor / Code generation
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3. Mobile Application Development Platforms
Overview of well known Vendors
• Antenna Software
• Appcelerator
• IBM Worklight
• Kony Solutions
Rhomobile
• Rhomobile
• Sybase Unwired Platform
• Syclo (will be merged into Sybase Unwired Platform)
• Verivo
• …
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4. Components of Rhomobile
Source: http://www.rhomobile.com/products/
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5. Mobile Process
Approval of a Purchase Requisition
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6. Live Demo
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7. Livedemo continued…
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8. Livedemo continued…
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9. Components of Rhomobile
• Design mobile apps using Ruby and Eclipse
• Synchronize data with backend systems
• Build apps for all platforms in the cloud
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10. Rhodes
• Open Source Framework for building mobile applications
• Ruby MVC
• Rhom Database Object Mapper
• UI is HTML5/CSS/JS
• Rendered in native browser app
• Available for Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone
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11. Rhodes Framwork Architecture
Source: http://docs.rhomobile.com/rhodes/introduction#framework-architecture
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12. Ruby MVC
Model
Controller View
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13. Rhom
Mini Database Object Mapper
• Easy data handling
• No database schema
• No data migrations needed
• Data model extendable by code
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14. Rhom Example Code
Added Property get_banfpos_list to the model
Built-in Sync functionality
Model is easily
expandable
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15. Usage of Workflow.get_banfpos_list
Source code of View index.rb
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16. Corresponding
View
Source code
<li><div data-role="collapsible”>
<h3>Bestellpositionen</h3>
<ul data-role="listview" data-inset="true" >
<% @workflow.get_banfpos_list.each do |pos| %>
<li data-role="list-divider" >Position <%= pos['bnfpo'].to_i %>
<span class="ui-li-count"><%= pos['menge'] %></span>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Material: <%= pos['matnr'] %></strong></p>
…
…
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17. RhoConnect
Source: rhomobile.com
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18. RhoConnect
Data Synchronization with Source Adapters
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19. Source Adapter for Workflow object
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20. SAP Business Workflow
One-Step PR Approval Workflow
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21. SAP Objects
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22. RESTful Controller
SDN blog by Uwe Kunath
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23. REST Service in SAP
Transaction SICF
rest_result = RestClient.get("#{@base}/sap/zrest/banfdemo/workflows/#{current_user.login.upcase}").body
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24. Workflow document in Browser
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25. Workflow document stored in Rhoconnect
Redis based NoSQL Sync Server
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26. RhoHub
Build native apps for all platforms
• Git Repository for your source code
• RhoHub Editor for working in the Cloud (optional)
• Build app for different Mobile Platforms
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28. Example iOS Build
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29. RhoHub Editor
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30. RhoGallery
App Store in the Cloud
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31. Lessons learned
• Learning Ruby is straight forward
• Implementing SAP backend needs manual work
• Documentation of Rhomobile could be better and more up to date
• Good support via Google Group and @adamblum (CEO)
• jQuery Mobile slows apps down -> jqMobi is possible but much
manual work needed
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32. Thanks for your attention!
MARK TEICHMANN
mark.teichmann@info-ag.de
@thulium3
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