Briefly explained: Pre- and post-work for SAP system refreshes using "Shortcut for SAP systems"

"Shortcut for SAP systems" (Sc4SAP for short) is a Java application that can be installed on your local Windows computer or a Windows server. No installation is required within the SAP system itself. Sc4SAP connects to the SAP system via the SAP Java Connector.

Shortcut for SAP systems connects to SAP

In addition to the GUI application, there is a command-line tool that allows almost all Sc4SAP functions to be executed at the operating system level. The functions to be performed are defined in XML files.

The (somewhat simplified) process for an SAP system refresh is as follows:

1: Backup of the target system's system-specific configuration data (RFC connections, ALE, SAP Connect, etc.)
2: Database copy or restore from the source system to the target system
3: Deletion of some data such as update requests, short dumps, etc., on the target system (cleanup)
4: Restore of the system-specific configuration data on the target system

Sc4SAP enables the execution of steps 1, 3, and 4 by utilizing the command-line tool in conjunction with (extensive) XML files. Backup, deletion and restore of system-specific configuration data are performed using the SAP system program R3trans. Database copy / restore cannot be performed using Sc4SAP.

With Sc4SAP also XML files are supplied that can be used for tasks such as locking and unlocking SAP users, deactivating and activating batch jobs, and so on.

The set of system-specific tables depends on the SAP release and installed components. Therefore, we also provide an ABAP program that identifies the components and their associated tables, subsequently generating the XML files required for export, import, and cleanup operations.

Executing the pre- and post-work with Sc4SAP essentially involves executing the command-line tool for steps 1, 3, and 4.