Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)

Mon Apr 23 13:27:13 EDT 2001

Is there any documentation on the GUI CD too? If not, where can I find any
documentation about how to configure the SAP solution for lotus notes
connection with workflow?

Thanks.
Flavio.

>From: "Rickayzen, Alan" <alan.rickayzen at sap.com>
>Reply-To: SAP Workflow Users' Group <SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
>To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: Re: Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)
>Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 23:58:55 +0200
>
>Rakesh,
>The Lotus Notes integration downloadable from Lotus does require the LN SAP
>Connector and this does cost money.
>
>However, the SAP version, not only offers additional features BUT ALSO IS
>FREE. All the software comes on the GUI CD. You DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THE LN
>SAP Connector.
>
>Kind regards,
>
>Alan Rickayzen
>SAP AG
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rakesh Dube [mailto:rakesh_dube at pacific.net.sg]
>Sent: Freitag, 20. April 2001 08:34
>To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: Re: Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)
>
>
>Hi ,
>We also have problem related  to Lotus Notes and work item but different
>nature
>Actully we configured the Purchase req. and purchase order workflow
>My client want to approve the PO/PR from Lotus Notes
>
>We demostrated the Workflow connector to him , he was happy but problem is
>only
>2 approver are there and LN SAP connector(Software) is costing him around
>10K S$
>As per him this is very high cost for 2 user.
>
>Can any one suggest some other alternatives method to approve workitem from
>LN
>
>Thanks
>Rakesh
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Kjetil Kilhavn wrote:
>
> > Although Alan and Jocelyn advice you from doing this what you are really
>asking
> > is whether it is possible, and if so how it can be done. I won't say the
>advice
> > against doing it are bad, because I haven't thought much about those
>aspects -
> > but I agree that you need to do a lot of the authorisation checking
>yourself.
> > Just because something isn't always a good idea that doesn't necessarily
>imply
> > it is never a good idea. If you can live with it, then here are some
> > suggestions.
> >
> > You can do this by using the integration tools from Lotus. There are two
>of
> > them, one called the SAP connector (I think) and the other called LSX
>for
>SAP
> > R/3 RFC.
> >
> > We have until now used the LSX for integration (not your scenario), and
>it
>has
> > worked OK with SAP version 3.1, 4.0 and 4.5. With 4.6 we have
>encountered
>a
> > problem, so we will not be using it anymore. However, since our problem
>was
> > related to starting the GUI, you can possibly still use that solution.
>Note that
> > Lotus wants to phase it out, so support is limited.
> >
> > Checked the internet pages, it the LSX and then "Lotus Enterprise
>Integrator or
> > Domino Enterprise Connection Services with the Domino Connector for SAP
>R/3".
> > See their pages at
> > http://lotus.com/products/eibu_knowbase.nsf/eipages/homeconsap
> >
> > The demo of the connector focuses on field mapping. The nice thing about
>the LSX
> > is that the LotusScript extensions give you a fair amount of control.
>You
>could
> > e.g. first call a function to do authorisation checking, and then if
>that
>was OK
> > call a function to do the desired processing. Thereby you would avoid
>the
> > problem Jocelyn mentioned about the workflow continuing even if the user
>wasn't
> > authorised.
> >
> > Another option (to hide password etc also from those who have designer
>access in
> > Notes) is to call an executable program from your Notes form (or
>whatever)
>and
> > use a C++ program to do all the communication towards SAP. I suppose SAP
>keeps
> > updating their C++ toolkit to support every release. It has some nice
>classes,
> > so if you have some developers with a fair C++ knowledge they should be
>able to
> > hatch the egg here.
> >
> > I'd recommend calling your own functions in SAP from Notes (or a C++
>program),
> > and then in those functions do the magic. Then the code outside SAP
>would
>be
> > fairly small.
> > --
> > KjetilK
> >
> > From:  "Dart, Jocelyn" <jocelyn.dart at sap.com>@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> on
>20.04.2001
> >        01:44
> >
> > Please respond to "SAP Workflow Users' Group" <SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
> >
> > Sent by:  SAP Workflow <Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
> >
> > To:    SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > cc:     (bcc: Kjetil Kilhavn)
> >
> > Subject:  Re: Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)
> >
> > Hi Flavio,
> > I've been through this discussion with another customer.
> > I can only support Alan's advice, i.e. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!!!
> > Just because something is technically possible, doesn't mean it's a good
> > idea.
> >
> > Using a generic user to send back the workitem results is very dangerous
> > from a
> > security standpoint.  Even if you are able to record who sent the mail,
>how
> > often
> > will that log be checked?  Given that the executed workitem will
>continue
> > the workflow
> > immediately the results are received, even if you do find an
>unauthorised
> > person
> > has sent the results, how will you catch it in time?  And how are you
>going
> > to reverse what's happened?
> > Especially if there is a monetary or contractual flow on?
> >
> > The classic scenario to explain worst case:
> > a) Authorised person receives email with executable workitem attachment
> > b) Authorised person needs more info before making decision, so forwards
> > copy of workitem
> > with request for more info back to the initiator
> > c) Initiator is now able to execute the workitem attachment - i.e.
>approve
> > their own stuff!!!
> >
> > If it's the licensing that's the issue, suggest you ring your local SAP
> > helpdesk
> > and get someone to discuss the licensing issue with your account manager
>at
> > SAP.
> > If you are on a mySAP licence it may not cost any extra (i.e. it may
>already
> > be
> > included in your current licensing agreement), even if you are on an
> > old licence these are minimal users and should attract a minimal cost.
> > But you have to talk to the licensing experts on this.
> > Regards,
> >         Jocelyn Dart
> > Consultant (BBP, Ecommerce, Internet Transaction Server, Workflow)
> > SAP Australia
> > Email jocelyn.dart at sap.com <mailto:jocelyn.dart at sap.com>
> > Tel: +61 412 390 267
> > Fax: +61 2 9935 4880
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Flavio Oliveira [mailto:oliveiraflavio at hotmail.com]
> > Sent: Friday, 20 April 2001 6:49 AM
> > To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)
> >
> > Alan:
> >
> > The problem is that I have some users that will use SAP very
>sporadically
> > and, some times, they are not locally at our site. Is not interesting
>for
>us
> > to have specific SAP user id's for this kind of sporadicaly users.
> >
> > That is why we are trying to use lotus notes id's.
> >
> > The problems with log information we can try to solve by putting the
>notes
> > id as the user who has realy approved the document. I know that this is
> > possible only by changing standard SAP and we will have to decide what
>is
> > better: either create SAP users for all involved people or try to use
>the
> > lotus notes solution (with all the inconvenient that we know that
>exist).
> >
> > I would appreciate any suggestion.
> > Thank you very much.
> > Flavio.
> >
> > >From: "Rickayzen, Alan" <alan.rickayzen at sap.com>
> > >Reply-To: SAP Workflow Users' Group <SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
> > >To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > >Subject: Re: Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)
> > >Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 14:32:13 +0200
> > >
> > >Flavio,
> > >The problem is that e-mails can be forwarded to anyone and by providing
>a
> > >generic mechanism you completely lose control over who-does-what in the
>SAP
> > >backend system. It would be like creating a user with no password
>control
> > >whatsoever.
> > >
> > >You also lose all accountability in the different workflow logs.
> > >
> > >Why do it via e-mail rather than using the Web Inbox which everyone can
> > >access (via their user id and access control)?
> > >
> > >It would help if you could paint the exact scenario.
> > >
> > >Alan Rickayzen
> > >SAP AG
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: Flavio Oliveira [mailto:oliveiraflavio at hotmail.com]
> > >Sent: Donnerstag, 19. April 2001 14:23
> > >To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > >Subject: Execute workitem from Lotus Notes (no SAP user)
> > >
> > >
> > >I know that is possible to send a notification from workflow to an
>internet
> > >email address.
> > >
> > >But is it possible to execute a workitem from this internet address and
>use
> > >some generic SAP user to actually update the data on SAP?
> > >
> > >Thanks.
> > >Flavio.
> >
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