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take you to your typical search parameters. Just ll in the criteria you’re looking for
(the release of SAP you are working with and the application area), and the appli-
cable SAP Notes will be returned to your screen. If you nd a note that applies to
the problem at hand, download a copy to your hard drive for yourself, then let one
of your Basis teammates know which note you would like applied. Unless you are
very experienced, don’t try to apply SAP Notes yourself. SAP Notes oen deal with
changing and adding to core SAP source code. Changing SAP programs is strongly
advised against and can impact the support SAP provides to you. We will explore
this in greater detail in the next section, “Modications to SAP Source Code and
User Exits.”
In addition to SAP Notes (bug xes, workarounds, and minor functionality
enhancements), the Service Market Place has other purposes. As mentioned, you
can log questions to SAP. Other uses include checking SAP training class schedules,
reviewing new information and releases from SAP, and looking up information
about Hot Packs.
NOTE In simple terms, Hot Packs are groups of SAP Notes that SAP recommends you
should apply based on bugs in the system or on additional functionality provided by the
notes. Instead of applying individual notes one by one, you can use Hot Packs to apply a
group of SAP Notes.
Modifications to SAP Source Code and User Exits
e golden rule of packaged soware and of SAP in particular is this:
Do Not Modify e Source Code!
Always try to live by the golden rule; a modication to SAP source code is a bad
idea, to say the least. Once you modify the source code of a program, SAP generally
will not support the program and related business processes and may not support
your entire installation. Source code modications also make for a nightmare when
you’re applying Hot Packs and are even more of a problem when you’re trying to do
upgrades. Some SAP clients have made modications to source code and have paid
the price: they are now trying to remove the modications to get back to “core” code
in order to regain support from SAP.
If standard SAP functionality just doesn’t work for your business, there are other
options. SAP has developed specic Industry Solutions (ISs). ere are prefabricated
ISs for certain industries, such as IS-Aerospace & Defense, IS-Oil, IS-Retail, and
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