- The customer letter from Karl-Heinz Hess states that new SAP applications delivered after the end of 2006 will be "Unicode only" – what does this exactly mean?
- What does "new installation" exactly mean– can you give an example?
- If I want to install a new installation of SAP ERP 6.0 in the year 2008, do I have to use Unicode ?
- If I want to upgrade to SAP ERP 6.0 in the year 2008, do I have to convert the system to Unicode ?
- Does SAP already offer any software that is "Unicode only“ even in 2006 ?
- I plan to use SAP ERP 6.0 (single code page) without Unicode until the end of maintenance – will there be enhancement packages requiring Unicode ?
- I am going to convert my SAP ERP system to Unicode, but I have other non- Unicode – systems (e.g. CRM) connected to ERP:
- If we decide to convert our system to Unicode – what does this mean exactly?
- I can only afford a downtime fitting into a weekend – how long will the Unicode conversion take?
- I still have open questions, what can I do ?
The customer letter from Karl-Heinz Hess states that new SAP applications delivered after the end of 2006 will be "Unicode only". What does this exactly mean?
For new SAP software products and new releases of existing software products new installations will be possible only with Unicode.
What does "New Installation" exactly mean- can you give an example?
An example for a new installation would be a new SAP customer installing his first SAP ERP 6.0. An upgrade from R/3 4.6c to ERP05 is notconsidered as "new installation".
If I want to install a new installation of SAP ERP 6.0 in the year 2008, do I have to use Unicode?
Yes, with new installations based on SAP NetWeaver 7.0 installation package SR 3, Unicode is mandatory. For all installations with lower releases SAP highly 6:40 PM 27/May/08recommends to make use of Unicode.
If I want to upgrade to SAP ERP 6.0 in the year 2008, do I have to convert the system to Unicode?
No, if you are using only a single code page (which is supported according to SAP Note 73606, for example the Western European code page) Unicode is highly recommended, but in general not mandatory (for details see note 73606).But: especially if you are running more than one code page (e.g. MDMP) or a Blended code page, the conversion to Unicode is mandatory.
Does SAP already offer any software that is "Unicode only" even in 2006?
Yes, for example MDM, PCI or the Portal 7.0
I plan to use SAP ERP 6.0 (single code page) without Unicode until the end of maintenance - will there be enhancement packages requiring Unicode?
Please have a look at SAP note 2033243. New SAP NetWeaver Releases (i.e. releases following SAP NetWeaver 7.40) and products based on it will be Unicode only. Upgrades of non-Unicode systems to releases higher than SAP NetWeaver 7.40 without prior Unicode conversion will not be supported.
I am going to convert my SAP ERP system to Unicode, but I have other non-Unicode systems (e.g. CRM) connected to ERP:
Unicode data can be converted into non-Unicode during the transfer. If the RFC-User is configured properly, this will be handled fully automatic (single code page); for MDMP systems please have a look at SAP Note 745030.
If we decide to convert our system to Unicode - what does this mean exactly?
style="font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit;">The Unicode conversion is similar to a system copy and consists of 3 steps:1. Unload of Database with automatic conversion to Unicode2. Installation of empty Database and Unicode version of (e.g.)ERP3. Reload of converted database content
Beside these steps customers have to check their own developments for Unicode-compliance and MDMP systems require a pre-analysis of the Database. SAP provides all tools covering and simplifying these steps free of charge.
For details please have a look at SAP Note 548016 and SAP Note 551344.
I can only afford a downtime fitting into a weekend - how long will the Unicode conversion take?
The downtime of a Unicode Conversion depends on many factors. SAP offers a large selection of tools to minimize the downtime. For a rough downtime estimation please have a look at SAP Note 857081.
I still have open questions, what can I do?
Please send a mail to globalization@sap.com.