SAP Portal - HTMLB

HTMLB(HTML-Bussiness for Java) provides a full set of easy-to-use Web controls.

SAP recommends Web Dynpro over HTMLB since the former is more powerful. However, from time to time, there are really easy requirements coming in and HTMLB might be less costly.

HTMLB is more likely a SWT or Swing GUI style programming. It contains Form, ControlComponent, Container, and Event.

Form

It is basically the wrapping paper of your page and essential for the data transfer from the web client to the web browser and for the event handling. Controls in the form have unique control names. The control names are generated by the HTMLB renderer. Therefore you cannot use for example, JavaScript to manipulate the controls.

ControlComponent

ControlComponent are GUI elements and are placed in a Form. Every control has different attributes that define the "look" of the control. Controls are checkboxes, radio buttons and grids, etc..

Container

Container contains controls. Container can contain containers - nesting. For example, a "tray" contains a "gridLayout", which contains "textView" and "inputField".

Event

Components can respond to user action. The response is called an event. An event usually causes a submit (sending the form from the web client to the web server). With the control that can create an event you specify the name of the event handling routine. The web server receives the form, analyzes it and calls the event handling routine which does the further processing.