During data transfer between ARIS and the SAP® system, the mandatory hierarchical structure is created as defined in the default method configuration of the project or branch. The method configuration determines how database items are displayed in ARIS after they have been downloaded from SAP®projects and branches or after SAP® synchronization. The ARIS administrator can customize the default method configuration for projects and branches. This makes it possible to use different element types, for example, BPMNTM diagrams.
Hierarchy
The hierarchical structure of SAP® Solution Manager elements is structured in ARIS by means of the defined assignment structure. Structural elements are represented by SAP functions. The hierarchical structure is handled by functions with distinct SAP function type attributes, database subgroups, and models with related SAP model type attributes. The default symbol used for functions depends on the model type selected for the assignment. The SAP function type attribute of a function must match the SAP model type attribute of the assigned model. This model must only contain function occurrences of the next lower SAP function type. You can assign several models of the same type, such as EPC or Function allocation diagram, to a function. If you use BPMN diagrams, only one assigned BPMN diagram is allowed. The SAP model type attribute must be specified only for the one model relevant to synchronization, and the assignment structure must be consistent.
In SAP® Solution Manager 7.1, the process structure below the project node is fixed on a 3-level hierarchy: Scenarios > Business Processes > Process Steps.
To objects of the SAP function type:
models are assigned of the SAP model type:
These models contain objects of the SAP function type:
Project
Project
Scenario
Scenario
Scenario
Process
Process
Process
Process step
As this structure is mandatory for SAP synchronization, in ARIS new SAP functions can be created using a wizard. This allows you to create all assignments automatically (see different procedures for SAP Solution Manager 7.1 or SAP Solution Manager 7.2).
With SAP® Solution Manager 7.2, this structure below the branch node is still mandatory. By placing elements in an arbitrary nested folder structure, there can be as many levels as required. In ARIS SAP folders are handled by subgroups, functions with the Folder SAP function type attribute value, and models with the Folder SAP model type attribute value. You can use folders to structure scenarios as well as the Process Step Library (PSL) and the Interface Library. Below the Business process structure, folders can only have scenarios or folders as subordinate elements. Superior elements can either be a folder or a root node. The same rules apply for the PSL. But since scenarios or processes are not available in the PSL, Process steps folders can only have process step originals as subordinate elements.
In ARIS, folders are handled like all other SAP structure elements branch, scenario, process and process step. For folder items, you can use the new Folder, Process steps folder, Executables folder, and Interface folder SAP function types and SAP model types.
Hierarchy
SAP model type/ SAP function type
Subordinate
Superior
Branch
Project
Folder
Process steps folder (PSL)
Executable folder
Interface folder
-
Folder
Folder
Folder
Scenario
Branch or folder
Scenario
Scenario
Process
Folder
Process
Process
Process step
PSL Occurrence*
Scenario
Process step
Process step
-
Process
Process steps folder (PSL)
Process steps folder
Process step original (PSL)
Process steps folder (PSL)
Process step original (PSL)
Process steps folder
-
Process steps folder (PSL)
Executable folder
Executables folder
Executable folder
Executable folder
Interface folder
Interface folder
Interface folder
none**
Interface folder
*In contrast to SAP, in ARIS you can use occurrences of process step originals as subordinate elements of processes.
**In contrast to SAP, interfaces in ARIS are not mapped as structural elements, but as assignments. This example shows how this SAP solution is mapped in ARIS.
The Development branch of the DEMO_ARIS Branch solution was downloaded to the SAP database subgroup. The top structure always starts with a root function of the Project SAP function type. This root function, as well as the subgroup containing the branch's content, always has the same name as the SAP project or branch.
The subgroup stores the content in hierarchical levels.
It contains the Business Process, Process Step Library, Roles, and System landscape subgroups.
By default, the hierarchical structure is mapped without using a method configuration as follows. If you want to use BPMNTM, for example, you must customize the method configuration accordingly.
SAP® Solution Manager projects and branches are represented in ARIS by start objects. Objects of the Function type are created automatically. You cannot change this setting. For the start objects, the Project SAP function type attribute value is selected automatically. Models of the Project SAP model type are assigned to the start objects.
By default, a model of the Value-added chain diagram (VACD) type and a model of the Function allocation diagram (FAD) type are automatically assigned to start objects. The assigned application systems are listed in the FAD. The business scenarios are displayed in the VACD. Depending on the model type, the symbols representing occurrences of business scenarios change. These project models of the Project SAP model type may only contain business scenarios. By default, business scenarios are represented as objects of the Scenario SAP function type with the SAP® value-added chain symbol. You can also select other model types instead of VACD and use user-defined function allocation diagrams.
SAP® Solution Manager branches are represented in ARIS by start objects. Objects of the Function type are created automatically. You cannot change this setting. For the start objects, the Branch SAP function type attribute value is selected automatically. Models of the Branch SAP model type are assigned to the start objects.
By default, a model of the Value-added chain diagram (VACD) type and a model of the Function allocation diagram (FAD) type are automatically assigned to start objects. The assigned application systems are listed in the FAD. The business scenarios are displayed in the VACD. Depending on the model type, the symbols representing occurrences of business scenarios change. These project models of the Project SAP model type may only contain business scenarios. By default, business scenarios are represented as objects of the Scenario SAP function type with the SAP® value-added chain symbol. You can also select other model types instead of VACD and use user-defined function allocation diagrams.
Objects of the Function type are created automatically in ARIS for SAP® Solution Manager business scenarios. You cannot change this setting. The value Scenario is selected automatically for the SAP function type attribute for business scenarios. Models of the Scenario SAP model type are assigned to the business scenarios.
By default, a model of the Value-added chain diagram (VACD) type and a model of the Function allocation diagram (FAD) type are assigned automatically to business scenarios. The executables, documents, end user roles, organizational units, or master data are connected to SAP functions occurring in the FAD. The business processes are displayed in the EPC. Depending on the model type, the symbols representing occurrences of business processes change. These scenario models of the Scenario SAP model type may only contain business processes. By default, business processes are represented with functions of the Process SAP function type with the SAP function symbol. You can also select other model types instead of the EPC or use user-defined function allocation diagrams.
By placing elements in an arbitrary nested folder structure, there can be as many levels as required. In ARIS SAP folders are handled by subgroups, functions with the Folder SAP function type attribute value, and models with the Folder SAP model type attribute value. You can use folders to structure scenarios as well as the Process Step Library (PSL) and the Interface Library. Below the Business process structure, folders can only have scenarios or folders as subordinate elements. Superior elements can either be a folder or a root node. The same rules apply for the PSL. But since scenarios or processes are not available in the PSL, Process steps folders can only have process step originals as subordinate elements.
Objects of the Function type are created automatically in ARIS for SAP® Solution Manager business scenarios. You cannot change this setting. The value Scenario is selected automatically for the SAP function type attribute for business scenarios. Models of the Scenario SAP model type are assigned to the business scenarios.
By default, a model of the Value-added chain diagram (VACD) type and a model of the Function allocation diagram (FAD) type are assigned automatically to business scenarios. The executables, documents, end user roles, organizational units, or master data are connected to SAP functions occurring in the FAD. The business processes are displayed in the EPC. Depending on the model type, the symbols representing occurrences of business processes change. These scenario models of the Scenario SAP model type may only contain business processes. By default, business processes are represented with functions of the Process SAP function type with the SAP function symbol. You can also select other model types instead of the EPC or use user-defined function allocation diagrams.
Objects of the Function type are created automatically in ARIS for SAP® Solution Manager business processes. You cannot change this setting. The value Process is selected automatically for the SAP function type attribute for business processes. Models of the Process SAP model type are assigned to the business processes.
By default, a model of the Event-driven process chain (EPC) type and a model of the Function allocation diagram (FAD) type are assigned automatically to business processes. The executables, documents, end user roles, organizational units, or master data are assigned to SAP functions occurring in the FAD. The process steps are displayed in the EPC. You can also select other model types instead of the EPC or use user-defined function allocation diagrams. Depending on the model type, the symbols representing occurrences of process steps change. These process models of the Process SAP model type may only contain process steps. By default, process steps are represented with functions of the Process step SAP function type with the SAP function symbol.
Objects of the Function type are created automatically in ARIS for SAP® Solution Manager business processes. You cannot change this setting. The value Process is selected automatically for the SAP function type attribute for business processes. Models of the Process SAP model type are assigned to the business processes.
By default, a model of the Event-driven process chain (EPC) type and a model of the Function allocation diagram (FAD) type are assigned automatically to business processes. The executables, documents, end user roles, organizational units, or master data are assigned to SAP functions occurring in the FAD. The process steps are displayed in the EPC. You can also select other model types instead of the EPC or use user-defined function allocation diagrams. Depending on the model type, the symbols representing occurrences of process steps change. These process models of the Process SAP model type may only contain process steps. By default, process steps are represented with functions of the Process step SAP function type with the SAP function symbol.
Objects of the Function type are created automatically in ARIS for SAP® Solution Manager process steps. You cannot change this setting. The value Process step is selected automatically for the SAP function type attribute for process steps.
Process steps represent the lowest hierarchy level and may have occurrences only in process models. By default, process steps are represented with functions of the Process step SAP function type with the SAP function symbol.
Objects of the Function type are created automatically in ARIS for SAP® Solution Manager process steps. You cannot change this setting. The value Process step is selected automatically for the SAP function type attribute for process steps.
Process steps represent the lowest hierarchy level and may have occurrences only in process models. By default, process steps are represented with functions of the Process step SAP function type with the SAP function symbol.
The PSL has a similar structure but uses different element types.
Assignments will be included if the SAP ID, SAP function types, and SAP model types match between object definitions and assignments that have already been synchronized.
Assignments are also included if no SAP ID exists (that is, object definitions have not yet been synchronized), and if SAP function types and SAP model types match between object definitions and assignments. All assignments without an SAP function type or SAP ID will not be included.