Extend SAP S/4HANA in the cloud and on premise with ABAP based extensions
This document provides an overview on the extensibility options for ABAP-based extensions on SAP S/4HANA in the cloud and on-premise and guidelines for project managers, key users, and ABAP developers. تحميل الوثيقةPUBLIC
Extend SAP S/4HANA in the cloud and
on premise with ABAP based extensions
Guidelines for extension project managers, key users, and
ABAP developers
Version: 2.3
Date: August 2025
Owner: SAP BTP ABAP Product Management
Extend SAP S/4HANA in the cloud and
on premise with ABAP based extensions
Guidelines for extension project managers, key users, and
ABAP developers
Version: 2.3
Date: August 2025
Owner: SAP BTP ABAP Product Management
© 2025 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. See Legal Notice on www.sap.com/legal-notice for use terms, disclaimers, disclosures, or restrictions related to SAP Materials for general audiences. 1 / 55
ACTIVITY LOG
Version 2.3, August 2025
Transformation of 3-tier extensibility to clean core extensibility based on clean core level concept
CHAPTER NOTE
5 Changed technical extensibility recommendations in line with clean core extensibility
guidance from 3-tier model to ABAP Cloud and classic ABAP development
5.1 Changed set up from 3-tier model to governance for the classic ABAP development
5.1.1 Added chapter about SAP classic APIs including matching to clean core levels
5.1.2 Changed ATC setup with clean core checks
5.1.3 Added chapter about clean core governance using ATC exemptions
5.1.4 Added chapter about changelog for SAP objects for assessing upgrade stability if
using SAP internal objects
5.1.5 Updated set up summary considering ABAP Cloud and classic ABAP development
models
5.1.7 Changed custom code use cases relation from 3-tier model to clean core levels
6.1 Changed transformation options for legacy code from 3-tier model to ABAP Cloud and
classic ABAP developments
Version 2.2, April 2024
Repaired broken links in chapter 4.1
Version 2.1, April 2024
Minor changes in text for clarification and better understanding.
Version 2.0, April 2023
CHAPTER NOTE
Document Activity log added.
4.2 Added chapter about analytics in ABAP Cloud.
4.6 Updated recommendations for BC apps for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, and
SAP S/4HANA on-premise.
ACTIVITY LOG
Version 2.3, August 2025
Transformation of 3-tier extensibility to clean core extensibility based on clean core level concept
CHAPTER NOTE
5 Changed technical extensibility recommendations in line with clean core extensibility
guidance from 3-tier model to ABAP Cloud and classic ABAP development
5.1 Changed set up from 3-tier model to governance for the classic ABAP development
5.1.1 Added chapter about SAP classic APIs including matching to clean core levels
5.1.2 Changed ATC setup with clean core checks
5.1.3 Added chapter about clean core governance using ATC exemptions
5.1.4 Added chapter about changelog for SAP objects for assessing upgrade stability if
using SAP internal objects
5.1.5 Updated set up summary considering ABAP Cloud and classic ABAP development
models
5.1.7 Changed custom code use cases relation from 3-tier model to clean core levels
6.1 Changed transformation options for legacy code from 3-tier model to ABAP Cloud and
classic ABAP developments
Version 2.2, April 2024
Repaired broken links in chapter 4.1
Version 2.1, April 2024
Minor changes in text for clarification and better understanding.
Version 2.0, April 2023
CHAPTER NOTE
Document Activity log added.
4.2 Added chapter about analytics in ABAP Cloud.
4.6 Updated recommendations for BC apps for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, and
SAP S/4HANA on-premise.
© 2025 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. See Legal Notice on www.sap.com/legal-notice for use terms, disclaimers, disclosures, or restrictions related to SAP Materials for general audiences. 2 / 55
5.1 Updated recommendations for the setup of the 3-tier model.
5.2 Update on recommendations for wrappers.
5.1 Updated recommendations for the setup of the 3-tier model.
5.2 Update on recommendations for wrappers.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTIVITY LOG ............................................................................................................................................................. 1
1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 MOTIVATION FOR A NEW EXTENSIBILITY MODEL ............................................................................................................. 5
2 THE SAP S/4HANA CLOUD EXTENSIBILITY MODEL ............................................................................................... 8
2.1 OVERVIEW OF THE EXTENSIBILITY OPTIONS FOR SAP S/4HANA CLOUD ............................................................................. 8
2.2 KEY USER EXTENSIBILITY ............................................................................................................................................ 9
2.2.1 On-stack developer extensibility with SAP S/4HANA Cloud ABAP environment ...................................... 11
2.3 SIDE-BY-SIDE EXTENSIBILITY USING THE SAP BTP ABAP ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................... 13
2.4 SUMMARY OF THE EXTENSIBILITY OPTIONS FOR SAP S/4HANA CLOUD ........................................................................... 14
3 WHEN TO USE WHICH CLOUD EXTENSIBILITY OPTION .......................................................................................15
3.1 ADDITIONAL ASPECTS TO CONSIDER ........................................................................................................................... 16
3.2 EXAMPLES ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
3.2.1 Key user extensibility ................................................................................................................................. 17
3.2.2 On-stack developer extensibility ............................................................................................................... 17
3.2.3 Side-by-side extensibility ........................................................................................................................... 17
4 THE ABAP CLOUD DEVELOPMENT MODEL .........................................................................................................18
4.1 THE ABAP RESTFUL APPLICATION PROGRAMMING MODEL ........................................................................................... 19
4.1.1 The big picture .......................................................................................................................................... 19
4.1.2 Extensibility of RAP business objects (RAP BO) ......................................................................................... 20
4.2 ANALYTICS IN ABAP CLOUD .................................................................................................................................... 22
4.2.1 The big picture of embedded analytics in ABAP Cloud .............................................................................. 23
4.2.2 Extensibility for analytical data models .................................................................................................... 24
4.3 CLOUD-OPTIMIZED ABAP LANGUAGE ........................................................................................................................ 26
4.4 ABAP PLATFORM REUSE SERVICES ............................................................................................................................ 26
4.4.2 Technical reuse services ............................................................................................................................ 27
4.4.3 Identity and Access Management ............................................................................................................. 28
4.4.4 Connectivity .............................................................................................................................................. 29
4.5 SAP S/4HANA BUSINESS APIS, EXTENSION POINTS AND EVENTS.................................................................................... 29
4.6 BUSINESS CONFIGURATION (BC) .............................................................................................................................. 30
5 EXTENDING A NEW SAP S/4HANA CLOUD PRIVATE EDITION OR SAP S/4HANA ON-PREMISE SYSTEM ...............32
5.1 SETTING UP THE GOVERNANCE FOR THE CLASSIC ABAP DEVELOPMENT MODEL .................................................................. 33
5.1.1 Classic APIs ................................................................................................................................................ 33
5.1.2 ABAP Test Cockpit setup ........................................................................................................................... 35
5.1.3 Clean core governance by using ATC exemptions ..................................................................................... 37
5.1.4 Assessing upgrade stability for usage of internal SAP objects in custom code ......................................... 38
5.1.5 Setup summary ......................................................................................................................................... 39
5.1.6 Transformation towards ABAP Cloud ....................................................................................................... 40
5.1.7 Custom code use cases and their related clean core level ........................................................................ 40
5.2 CUSTOM WRAPPERS: WHEN AND HOW TO USE CLASSIC ABAP CODE TO MITIGATE MISSING APIS .......................................... 41
5.3 CLASSIC EXTENSIONS............................................................................................................................................... 42
5.3.1 Using classic structure extensions ............................................................................................................. 43
5.3.2 Using classical business logic extension techniques.................................................................................. 43
5.3.3 Modifications ............................................................................................................................................ 43
6 MANAGING AND TRANSFORMING EXISTING CODE IN SAP S/4HANA CLOUD PRIVATE EDITION AND
SAP S/4HANA ON-PREMISE ......................................................................................................................................44
6.1 HOW TO HANDLE EXISTING CLASSIC ABAP CUSTOM CODE IN PARALLEL WITH THE NEW CLOUD READY EXTENSIONS .................... 44
6.2 HOW TO HANDLE EXISTING CUSTOM CODE IN A RAP COMPLIANT FASHION ........................................................................ 47
MORE INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................48
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................................49
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTIVITY LOG ............................................................................................................................................................. 1
1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 MOTIVATION FOR A NEW EXTENSIBILITY MODEL ............................................................................................................. 5
2 THE SAP S/4HANA CLOUD EXTENSIBILITY MODEL ............................................................................................... 8
2.1 OVERVIEW OF THE EXTENSIBILITY OPTIONS FOR SAP S/4HANA CLOUD ............................................................................. 8
2.2 KEY USER EXTENSIBILITY ............................................................................................................................................ 9
2.2.1 On-stack developer extensibility with SAP S/4HANA Cloud ABAP environment ...................................... 11
2.3 SIDE-BY-SIDE EXTENSIBILITY USING THE SAP BTP ABAP ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................... 13
2.4 SUMMARY OF THE EXTENSIBILITY OPTIONS FOR SAP S/4HANA CLOUD ........................................................................... 14
3 WHEN TO USE WHICH CLOUD EXTENSIBILITY OPTION .......................................................................................15
3.1 ADDITIONAL ASPECTS TO CONSIDER ........................................................................................................................... 16
3.2 EXAMPLES ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
3.2.1 Key user extensibility ................................................................................................................................. 17
3.2.2 On-stack developer extensibility ............................................................................................................... 17
3.2.3 Side-by-side extensibility ........................................................................................................................... 17
4 THE ABAP CLOUD DEVELOPMENT MODEL .........................................................................................................18
4.1 THE ABAP RESTFUL APPLICATION PROGRAMMING MODEL ........................................................................................... 19
4.1.1 The big picture .......................................................................................................................................... 19
4.1.2 Extensibility of RAP business objects (RAP BO) ......................................................................................... 20
4.2 ANALYTICS IN ABAP CLOUD .................................................................................................................................... 22
4.2.1 The big picture of embedded analytics in ABAP Cloud .............................................................................. 23
4.2.2 Extensibility for analytical data models .................................................................................................... 24
4.3 CLOUD-OPTIMIZED ABAP LANGUAGE ........................................................................................................................ 26
4.4 ABAP PLATFORM REUSE SERVICES ............................................................................................................................ 26
4.4.2 Technical reuse services ............................................................................................................................ 27
4.4.3 Identity and Access Management ............................................................................................................. 28
4.4.4 Connectivity .............................................................................................................................................. 29
4.5 SAP S/4HANA BUSINESS APIS, EXTENSION POINTS AND EVENTS.................................................................................... 29
4.6 BUSINESS CONFIGURATION (BC) .............................................................................................................................. 30
5 EXTENDING A NEW SAP S/4HANA CLOUD PRIVATE EDITION OR SAP S/4HANA ON-PREMISE SYSTEM ...............32
5.1 SETTING UP THE GOVERNANCE FOR THE CLASSIC ABAP DEVELOPMENT MODEL .................................................................. 33
5.1.1 Classic APIs ................................................................................................................................................ 33
5.1.2 ABAP Test Cockpit setup ........................................................................................................................... 35
5.1.3 Clean core governance by using ATC exemptions ..................................................................................... 37
5.1.4 Assessing upgrade stability for usage of internal SAP objects in custom code ......................................... 38
5.1.5 Setup summary ......................................................................................................................................... 39
5.1.6 Transformation towards ABAP Cloud ....................................................................................................... 40
5.1.7 Custom code use cases and their related clean core level ........................................................................ 40
5.2 CUSTOM WRAPPERS: WHEN AND HOW TO USE CLASSIC ABAP CODE TO MITIGATE MISSING APIS .......................................... 41
5.3 CLASSIC EXTENSIONS............................................................................................................................................... 42
5.3.1 Using classic structure extensions ............................................................................................................. 43
5.3.2 Using classical business logic extension techniques.................................................................................. 43
5.3.3 Modifications ............................................................................................................................................ 43
6 MANAGING AND TRANSFORMING EXISTING CODE IN SAP S/4HANA CLOUD PRIVATE EDITION AND
SAP S/4HANA ON-PREMISE ......................................................................................................................................44
6.1 HOW TO HANDLE EXISTING CLASSIC ABAP CUSTOM CODE IN PARALLEL WITH THE NEW CLOUD READY EXTENSIONS .................... 44
6.2 HOW TO HANDLE EXISTING CUSTOM CODE IN A RAP COMPLIANT FASHION ........................................................................ 47
MORE INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................48
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................................49
© 2025 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. See Legal Notice on www.sap.com/legal-notice for use terms, disclaimers, disclosures, or restrictions related to SAP Materials for general audiences. 4 / 55
LIST OF TABLES ..........................................................................................................................................................49
GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................................................................50
LIST OF TABLES ..........................................................................................................................................................49
GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................................................................50