The SAP R/3 Handbook

One of my long standing complaints about computer software books is that they so often eliminate the first forty pages or so that explain just what this software is and what is supposed to do. This book (at 606 pages it's a lot more than forty pages) is essentially the front end description that explains what SAP ERP is and what it si supposed to do. The subtitle of the book is 'Essential Skills for SAP Technical Consultants.' It appears to be aimed at the individual who is trying to decide what SAP can do for them. It's much less concerned with the detail of how to do it. I found this to be of great help, as SAP is a huge software system. It has perhaps a thousand components (does anyone really know) from various vendors that can be tied together to handle most ERP problems. If you're going to use SAP, just which of all these components are you going to pull together to solve your particular set of problems. After you know what you're trying to do, then there are other books and manuals that will give you the details about how to do it. So if at this point you are wondering just what is the difference between SAP R/3, and mySAP.com, and SAP Web Application Server, and SAP NetWeaver, this is the place to start. All in all, it's good to see such a book. I hope this is a trend getting started and that we can see other books coming on other big software packages that's more aimed at what can be done.

I waited for the second edition to come out after having so many people recommend this author to me. Jose writes clearly and accurately, explaining the topics at hand well. In less than 1000 pages, he manages to cover all the basics of SAP R/3 Basis administration for Unix and NT systems alike. An excellent read for a technical manual. Highly recommended. I feel it is far better than the Liane Wills text on the same material.

A great book after you have taken basic courses. It helps you to clarify concepts, it has all the important commands and the daily administrators functions. All the chapters have good tips and comments.

This book is about the only good book out there for BASIS. Still very useful even though you are on 40x although I wish Jose would upgrade the book to 40x, even better, 4.5. I highly recommend it. If you are on 31x then 5 stars, 40x or more, 4 stars. I am giving it 5 stars because nothing else comes close to it. P.S Liane Wills is also pretty good. Read my review.

The author exhibits excellent command over SAP R/3 concepts and is well written as well.However the book does not go in details of many advanced features of ABAP like RFCs and other interface technologies offered by R/3 system, essential for any Technical Consultant.