SAP has several layers. The Basis System is the heart of the data operations and should be not evident to higher level or managerial users. Other customizing and implementation tools exist also. The heart of the system from a manager's viewpoint are the application modules. These modules may not all be implemented in a typical company but they are all related and are listed below:

SAP Advanced Planning & Optimization (SAP APO) is a software solution that enables dynamic supply chain management. It includes applications for detailed planning, optimization and scheduling, allowing the supply chain to be accurately and globally monitored even beyond enterprise boundaries. SAP APO is a component of mySAP Supply Chain Management.

After executing T-code SMSY in Solution Manager system, you need to do the following steps:

1. Create a system by right clicking on System entry and select Create new system.
   1. Enter the System Name i.e., SID (3 chars)
   2. Product = SAP ECC (select from the list)
   3. Product Version= ECC 5.0 (select from the list)
   4. Save the entries.
2. Select Menu Item "System--->Other Configuration" and enter the SID which you have created earlier.
   1. Enter the Server Name(hostname)
3. Finally click on Generate "Installation/Upgrade Key Button "

SAP Download and SAP Upload are the more popular keywords around SAP in the search engines.
That means many people are not happy with the current solutions offered.
SAP upload: if you have hundreds of materials to create or to modify, the solutions available are:

• Build a program in ABAP.
• Use one SAP tool called LSMW (Legacy Systems Migration Workbench).
• Use one internal test tool called CATT (Computer Aided Test Tool).
• Use some easy to use third party tools such as Z Option, EzySolutions from Gesix, WinShuttle, or DSM ERP from EPI-USE.
• For some business objects, use the SAP mass maintenance transactions such as MASS or MM17
• If SAPGui scripting is enabled, the user can "script" an upload / modify job by looping through say an Excel table with vbscript. See HOWTO:Use_Script_Recording_and_Playback_to_automate_user_updates. Requires a medium level of skill to edit a recorded script
• Use the GUIXT tool from Synactive Inc. with the InputAssistant add-on (expensive!)

The simplest definition of an R/3 system is "one database." In one R/3 system, there is only one database. To expand the definition, R/3 is considered to be all of the components attached to that one database. One R/3 system is composed of one database server accessing a single database, one or more application servers, and one or more presentation servers. By definition, it is all of the components attached to one database. If you have one database, you have one system. If you have one system, you have one database. During an implementation, there is usually one system (or one database) assigned to development, one or more systems designated for testing, and one assigned to production.