btexx easyWCM – The Portal Manager

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is easyWCM a SAP-certified solution?

btexx easyWCM has received the "powered by SAP NetWeaver" certificate and the status of a "SAP-Certified Integration" Package which meets all criteria set forth by SAP. btexx easyWCM is completely based on the SAP NetWeaver runtime platform. This means that no complicated interfaces are required for integration.

btexx easyWCM is based 100% on the SAP Portal/KM standard; no modifications to the SAP standard are required. SAP NetWeaver is
the integration- and application-platform und build the technical fundaments for all SAP Partner solutions.

2. What technical requirements are necessary for the use of btexx easyWCM?

btexx easyWCM is installed as a Business Package on the SAP Portal and is not dependent on operating systems or database systems. Depending on the SAP Portal Release, btexx easyWCM is designed for use with SAP NetWeaver04 and NetWeaver04s, with KMC and an optional TREX platform.

3. Which differences are between Web Page Composer and btexx easyWCM?

The Web Page Composer (WPC) extends the SAP NetWeaver Portal with NetWeaver 7.0 SP 13 by features like Drag-and-Drop of iViews, multiple use of content components and offering RSS feeds. The WPC improves the creation of pages and content in KM and renders pages very performant for end users. btexx easyWCM uses these improvements and unites the two worlds KM and PCD in the SAP NetWeaver Portal with comfortable user interfaces and further functions for Portal Content Management. Complex role structures, which are stored in the PCD, can be edited therefore only with btexx easyWCM. Web Page Composer compared to btexx easyWCM »

4. Does your product offer the functionality of SAP by default, e.g. working on content with the help of the front-end?

The handling of content takes place by using the editor KM layoutset with the relevant XML form (modification form). Editors and end-users have the same portal role, but the editor is able to work on content due to his KM write-authorization.

5. Is it possible to have multi-language content available and to switch between languages without going back to the start page?

Yes, this is possible. btexx easyWCM is implemented in a such a way that a language change is recognized (e.g. in the portal header) and the content is then stored automatically in the language currently in use.

6. Is dynamic navigation possible by using a drop-down menu within btexx easyWCM?

Dynamic navigation within the SAP NetWeaver Version SPS 14 does not pose a problem ("External Facing"). btexx easyWCM is already approved for External Facing. btexx easyWCM comes with an External Facing template (e.g. TLN as drop-down menu).

7. Is it also possible to have an internal link checked by btexx easyWCM in connection with the appropriate authorization?

In the old version, we only support standard link management functions. Therefore, the actual version will contain improvements in link management. You may use any type of links (links to portal content, links to knowledge management documents or links to other websites.

8. Is functionality still guaranteed with release changes in the SAP Portal?

btexx easyWCM has been designed and implemented without modifications to the SAP standard. btexx easyWCM works with the releases SAP NetWeaver04 and NetWeaver04s. Modification independence is crucial in offering upgrades to new support packages and releases as effectively as possible. btexx easyWCM is developed in very close cooperation with SAP development. This helps us react immediately to future innovations.

9. Is btexx easyWCM functionality guaranteed?

We offer an optional service contract: For 20% of your license volume per year, you receive a product support along with a service package which contains new functionality and product improvements as well as patches for the SAP Support Packages, if required.

10. What differentiates btexx easyWCM from other solutions?

btexx easyWCM does not require its own runtime environment. Therefore, it is completely integrated in the SAP NetWeaver Portal Server. This is an important argument when taking a consolidated infrastructure into consideration. You only need one software solution (SAP NetWeaver with the btexx easyWCM add-on). An additional, complex server infrastructure may cause interface problems and is not required. This would merely cause additional maintenance and coordination expenditure above and beyond the SAP NetWeaver Support. This is the reason why btexx easyWCM has a lower price and is more productive than other solutions.

11. Does your license model differentiate between users and editors?

The license model depends on the number of editors who edit portal content. The pricing model is very simple and transparent: There are different package sizes, creating so-called "T-Shirt Pricing": S, M, XL & XXL.

12. Who works with btexx easyWCM?

btexx easyWCM may be used by four user groups: administrators, editors, approvers and end-users. All of these users work with the same portal roles and objects, navigational structures do not need to be maintained by more than one person and editors can make "inplace" modifications directly to the portal pages.

13. How do these user groups use btexx easyWCM?

Administrators install and configure btexx easyWCM on the system. They develop content templates and build them on the basis of the XML Form Builder. Editors provide and change content within the portal. Approvers examine the content modified by the editors before its publication and then release the documents. Content is published and made available to the end-users. We support all standard page designs, including the external facing framework, allowing customers to use very creative layouts. We bundle a template for external facing framework design with btexx easyWCM.

14. What is included with the btexx easyWCM product?

The btexx easyWCM iViews are the product's core feature. Forms and layoutsets, which can be placed anywhere inside the Portal (out of the box), are also included with the product. Sample roles, complete with a fully operational navigational structure are delivered in so-called Showcase and Quickstart Scenarios in the Business Package. The package also includes a detailed installation guide with graphics explaining every step required for installation and operation of btexx easyWCM. Editors also receive a manual that includes a comprehensive explanation of the editing process and a list of all of the forms included along with corresponding graphics.

15. What is the difference between PCD navigation and KM-based data retention/navigation?

In direct comparison to KM-based navigation, PCD navigation clearly performs better. The technical reason for this is that each KM navigation change requires several database accesses which are not cached. Another disadvantage of KM-based navigation is that the portal page layouts must be based on KM layoutsets. There is no real flexibility as is the case with new External Facing, which is able to leverage the advantages of the Navigation Tag Library (e.g. for pull-down menus). In navigation based solely on KM, it is no longer possible to integrate portal PCD objects in the pages. However, this is generally desired in business portals (integration of applications along with web content building blocks on one page). PCD navigation is preferred by SAP and all products and Business Packages delivered by SAP are provided on the basis of this technology. Navigation based solely on KM no longer reflects standard navigation design for SAP Portals and is therefore not futureproof.

16. Is btexx easyWCM developed on the basis of SAP Knowledge Management or as an individual solution?

btexx easyWCM is based 100% on the SAP Portal/KM standard and has been implemented as a Business Package for the SAP NetWeaver Portal. Additional third-party products and servers are not required. btexx easyWCM was developed exclusively with Java and on the basis of portal APIs approved by SAP.

17. Is it possible to use btexx easyWCM under Release 2004s?

btexx easyWCM was designed and developed to work without modification (see also question 7). A SAP NetWeaver04 or NetWeaver04s release usually takes place about two weeks after a new SAP release becomes generally available.

18. Does the use of btexx easyWCM increase the operating load?

The operating load is not increased by the use of btexx easyWCM, since btexx easyWCM iViews are built on the basis of KM navigation iViews and create configuration parameters without additional effort. The base SAP Portal is the primary factor affecting performance. There are a variety of options available to increase the performance of the SAP NetWeaver Portal and the SAP KMC. The CPU performance is a crucial aspect when operating a high-performance SAP portal.

19. How will btexx easyWCM respond to an update?

btexx easyWCM is 100%-compatible with old btexx easyWCM versions, extending its functionality. No migration is necessary. From the customer perspective, installing the new version simply provides a variety of new features.

20. Is it possible to assign different form templates for each assigned iView?

Allocation designates which forms are visible under which circumstances. It can be set quickly and easily using KM standard customizing for each KM folder. Starting with btexx easyWCM, these settings can be performed directly via the btexx easyWCM iView using parameters. In principle, both methods (SAP KM standard customizing and btexx easyWCM iView parameters) may be used simultaneously.

21. Is it possible to assign the authorizations for editors to each iView assigned?

Both KM authorizations and KM services (e.g. versioning) may be adjusted individually by using different btexx easyWCM root folders. In addition, all properties of the btexx easyWCM root folder can be inherited by subfolders. However, these can be individually modified at any time. Authorized editors can modify the KM authorizations themselves using the btexx easyWCM iView.

22. Are special PCD authorizations required for editor access or will assigning authorizations to the KM folders suffice?

btexx easyWCM uses the authorization methods set forth by SAP without exception. No further or competing authorization concepts are implemented. Within the btexx easyWCM iViews, the editor access to web content is dependent on the respective KM authorizations. The remaining authorizations used in the PCD are essential in order to block an btexx easyWCM iView within a portal role.

23. Is the editor able to influence the detailed navigation?

With the new btexx easyWCM version, editors can comfortably modify the detailed navigation "inplace". In the old btexx easyWCM release, each change is made directly within the page or menu structure in the Portal Content Studio. Both methods can be applied simultaneously.

24. How quickly will new SAP NetWeaver support packages and/or release changes for NW04s and subsequent releases be approved?

The approval generally takes place two weeks after general availability of a new release, providing that no problems are identified during our tests. In general, approval has been quite rapid (< 2 weeks) for the support packages that have been delivered by SAP thus far.

25. Is it possible to use btexx easyWCM without tabs; e.g. simply within a detailed navigation structure?

Yes, it can be used on any PCD level. btexx easyWCM can be integrated anywhere in the portal. You select the PCD level and integrate the btexx easyWCM iViews. It can also be used together with applications such as SAP BW, all on a single portal page.

26. How many steps are needed to publish a new piece of content?

1. Navigate to the relevant portal page you want to edit.
2. Switch to editor mode by using the "edit" switch.
3. Add a new iView on this page or edit an existing one
(there is no need to switch to the Portal Studio or use any other tools).

Then you may find what you are looking for here. Otherwise, simply send a short message to easyWCM@btexx.com and you will receive an answer to your question promptly.