Thursday, October 25, 2012

Software maintenance terminology in terms of BusinessObjects


SAP is not good in maintaining names for its software. We see very often changes (or XI->PI, etc.) in products names. Similarly also in case of integrating products originally developed outside of SAP and gained by acquisitions there are also issues. This time I just focus on terminology within software maintenance in terms of BusinessObjects’s products. Traditionally SAP’s software products based on NetWeaver are being patched by Support Packages (SP). In case of BusinessObjects there are more “packages”:

Service Pack (SP) – Complete program installation (a new software version).

Feature Pack (FP) or "patch" or a "hot fix" – term used in past. It was support pack with a number of new features. FP is finally contained in SP. Probably only used in ramp-up programs for new BOBJ software. This term should be abandoned going forward.

Fix Pack (FxP) - Used to identify patches on BOBJ’s BOE XI 3.X platform and earlier.  In version BI 4.0, SAP adopted standard SAP naming: Patches and Support Packs.  Not a full installation only partial installation delivering subset of SP. In BOBJ’s world while installing  FxP make sure you you install it over correct SP. If FxP releases for SP (full version) 8.00c.08.00, it would be numbered 8.00c.08.01.

Therefore don’t be confuse if you come across notes like following :-)

1602665 - SAP BusinessObjects BI Suite 4.0 Support Pack 2 Release Notes
1685879 - SAP BusinessObjects BI Suite 4.0 Feature Pack 3 Release Notes
1727458 - SAP BusinessObjects BI Suite 4.0 Support Pack 4 Release Notes

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