In addition to the flexible catalog publication features provided by the MDM Publisher UI client, something which has been thoroughly explained in a recent starter's guide and an advanced user's guide, SAP NetWeaver MDM 7.1 comes with another versatile option for creating product publications - and this is based on specific Java Publishing APIs.

These MDM Java Publishing APIs provide an interface for managing MDM publishing activities enabling 3rd party applications to access and modify publishing/layout data to automate their publishing process. 

Currently, there are two specific use case scenarios for the MDM Java Publishing APIs:

1. Retrieve and modify layout data for various reports and Web layouts:
   Used to simply change already existing publications that for example have been created with the MDM Publisher (or via the Publisher APIs), receive the publication information in XML format, and provide it for example as XSLT to 3rd party consumers that expose the data as a Web representation.
2. Automatic massive generation of data layouts:
   Used to determine the products to be collected into a publication, assign layout properties, and expose it to the appropriate output device (print or Web), all without manual intervention or preceding layout definitions in the MDM Publisher.

Both scenarios are perfectly suited to quickly set up and launch, for example, ad hoc Web marketing campaigns for specific products. The MDM Java Publishing APIs provide an easy-to-manage environment that is geared towards "light" publishing purposes where users can quickly and effectively obtain the desired output.  

More details about the Java Publishing APIs can be found in the latest edition of the MDM Java API Guide for SAP NetWeaver MDM 7.1 at the SAP Documentation Center on SAP Service Marketplace.

For a quick overview of the key features of SAP NetWeaver MDM in the publishing area, you may watch the eBook on publishing features with SAP NetWeaver MDM 7.1. I hope you benefit from the flexible publishing options offered.

Regards,