Text Enhancement of any Data Element F1 Help from Functional Perspective!
Many times being at Functional side having some technical knowledge is a great way to make a big skills move in SAP. When you’ve a real passion for some particular area then I believe it’s equally important to start focusing on development efforts against your particular module along with functional role so sharing this document which I’m sure will be helpful for many of us.
WHY SUCH REQUIREMENT??
Question arises that why there’s a need to modify F1 documentation for any Data Element/Keyword and the answer is sometimes you need to display a Custom message for that particular field, sometimes you want to display the F1 help in Multi-languages and sometimes it’s just that more Documentation is required according to the user level.
SAP provides its own documentation for each of the data elements which we can view as an F1 help for screen fields based on the particular Data Element. This documentation can be enhanced via T-code CMOD.
STEPS:
First we need to get the data element of the corresponding field for which we want to change F1 Help and the 1st step is knowing the data element. Suppose in Customer Master, I want to change the F1 help for ‘Data Line’ Text box and in order to get the Data Element the same press F1 and then click on Technical Information Icon.
Execute T-code CMOD
Now click on Goto –> Text Enhancements –> Data Elements –> New DE cust. docu.
You’ll get the below mentioned screen, copy the data element that you’ve got after clicking Customer Master ‘Data Line’ field.
Click on the Mark icon or press enter, following screen will appear.
Give unique name in Modification Name Text box while creating the same. It depends upon you as if what starting point you want will it be the Original Text or as a Template. This will be copied into the modification screen which can further be changed accordingly.
In below mentioned screen I’ve defined customized usage of this field as I don’t want other fields to be displayed so deleted them. Moreover, you can use other features like formatting, paragraph style etc. Don’t forget to activate this Modification after saving.
After activating it, click on F1 help of ‘Data Line’ field in Customer Master and you can see the changes in below mentioned screen.
Now this ‘Data Line’ field name might be confusion for many of the End users who are responsible for maintaining Customer Master Record hence we can also change the keyword as per our requirement using CMOD once again.
Click on Goto –> Text Enhancements –> Keywords –> Change; mention the Data Element once again as shown in below screenshot.
This is the default description that you will be going to see after clicking on the Mark icon.
You can make the changes in above mentioned text fields as per your requirement.
Go to XD02/XD03 and you will see the changes that you’ve made are reflecting against that particular field.
We can cross verify the done changes in SE11 by entering the structure name as ADDR1_DATA, press F7 for the view and you can clearly see the changed short description like in below mentioned screen shot.
WHERE TO USE CMOD:
This enhancement technique mentioned above can be used to fulfill business requirements however before applying such changes we need to be careful as changes made through CMOD are directly linked to the dictionary object and the same will be reflected at all those places wherever that particular field is available.
I hope it will be helpful for those who always are ready to meet client’s requirement at any cost or where there’s a Top Management demand to fulfill wishes like that for their reporting purpose. Fruitful comments of all valuable members are most welcome. Thanks.
This is nicely presented and explained process. It means we can change F1 help of any standard field as well. Right? I knew about customized fields but its new for me that we can change for standard fields too. Thank you for sharing this and yes this will be helpful for many users.
Thank$
Thanks ' MoazzaM ' and yes we can change F1 Help for any standard field as well but we need to be careful while doing this as such global changes can be made only when business wants it at any cost and this is the shortest option that we can pursue with to achieve the same. Thanks.
Thats great. We shouldn't change standard texts but we can add our text below standard by some distinction point. But this is a new learning point. Thank you again for sharing.
Thank$
Yes you're rite it would be better to add distinct content than to change the Standard one. Like in our company we were having the requirement to change MVGR 1-5's names description of MMR for reporting purposes so i hope you'll understand that Management's wish is on top always. They want things to be done whatever it takes to accomplish them 🙂
Yes I know this very well 🙂 and I know these kind of requirements are common here in our clients. We should always be prepare for every kind of requirements so it will be helpful for many users,
Thank$
The way you presented is very good and also nice to see another way to change the SAP text. But I feel, whatever F1 help, SAP has provided, it is all user friendly and one can easily understandable but nevertheless, as I said, we always, should know some alternates as you described. Keep sharing.
Coming to your comment
wont you accept non-fruitful comments 😀 Just kidding
G. Lakshmipathi
Dear Sir, it's always good to see your worthy comments and your opinion matters a lot. As I've mentioned that such Enhancement needs to be done where client rules over functional consultant's mind 🙂 .
Coming to the non-fruitful comments they are also most welcome as there's always room for improvement but at least they should be constructive one. Thanks.
Thanks Ammarah for sharing helpful document. Keep sharing. 🙂
Thanks Srinu S. I'm continually trying to share such things that are helpful for all.
Thanks ammarah for sharing, this is new learning for me. Good presentation & nicely summarized .
Thanks
Sukant Chakraborthy
Thanks Sukant and i really appreciate receiving your thoughts on this.
Nice document and the topic. But, its possible for you to change the case of the title, which is posted in all CAPS. Or I should do it for you.
Thanks, JP
Thank you sir and the comments have been duly noted and acted upon.
Very Nice Sir !. Loved going through the steps that you presented in a clean concise way. Hope to see some more soon.
Thankyou Anwer for such a valuable comments and taking out the time to read this document.
Dear * Ammarah * (Away),
Impressive One, Keep posting such type of valuable Blogs which helps other in their daily routine. much appreciated.
Best Regards
Mohsin Abbasi
Thank you Mohsin Abbasi.
Interesting "SAP hack". 🙂 Well described, one can especially appreciate the first section providing the business background.
Regarding the address fields I'd just note that caution should be exercised in any modifications because this is kind of a cross-function feature - the same functionality is used for both Vendors and Customers, for example.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Jelena Ma'am i'm so honored and beyond thankful for your valuable comments. It means a lot to me to have your words on this.
And yes you're absolutely right that we should be careful while doing this enhancement technique as this will gonna effect dictionary object directly and particular changes effect globally in all SAP related applications after the object activation so we should pursue with these label/description changes requirement where there's an urgent need to do so. This naming convention is better only when you want some distinction.
Thanks.
Dear * Ammarah * (Away) Its really worthwhile and valuable document and presentation of document is very easy and understandable for everyone. thanks a lot for your effort. This is very useful but i will suggest that we key users always try to add something if we want to rather than over writing the SAP Help 🙂 . Thanks a lot for sharing...
Best Regards,
Suhaib Bin Aziz
Thanks Suhaib Bin Aziz for a bucket of praise 😕 and yes you're rite it's better to keep the existing one along with the new addition. Thank you once again for the remarks.
Ammarah,
You are doing fabulous job here.Thanks a lot for this.I have one doubt in this case.
Do we have any options to check in which places, this enhancement has been effected in SAP.Actually,I have changed route field of sales order as route in sap but I can see some places it is route (ex delivery level ) and some places it is route in SAP.I am not able to findout ,its effect in SAP.
Thanks,
Naren
Thanks Narendra and you can check out the changes by following this path. Execute CMOD, then click on Goto --> Text Enhancements --> Keywords --> Display and this will show you the original Data Element and changed Data Element info.
Hi,
Thanks, for responding on this.I know what you said but I think you didn't get my point.
Ex:Field is Route ( data element has taken from sales order ).Now in thru CMOD,I have changed that field as "Route in SAP".Now ,I went to sales order to check that it has changed or not.I have seen that field as "Route in SAP" but in delivery level ( see in transport tab ,there is roue field ) , I am still seeing that field as "Route" not as "Route in SAP".In SAP ,Route field can be available in so many places.In all places,it has to be"Route in SAP" instead of "Route" but I didnt get like that way.Now ,do we have any options to see that field how many places it has changed .
Thanks,
Naren
Dear Narendra, It's working perfectly at my end, i've just changed 'Medium Field Label' in Keyword Text Enhancement and the same name is reflecting in Shipping Tab of Item Level in Sale Order (VBAP-ROUTE) and Transport Tab of Outbound Delivery (LIKP-ROUTE). Please confirm the Workbench Request once again as if the changes have been taken place or not, do hit back with your findings. Thanks.
Hi,
I will check and update here.
Thanks a lot for your inputs on this.
Naren
There is 'where used' functionality available in the Data Dictionary (SE11) where we can check where the data element is used. It is feasible in the screens to override the dictionary description, although in standard SAP it would be rather unusual.
Thank you so much for your replay on this Mam.I will check ,what you said .
Thanks,
Naren
Hi,
useful and helpful document.
Thanks for sharing.
Ivan
Thanks Ivan Marconato.
Very informative. Thanks
Tamil
Thanks Tamil V 🙂
Simply super dear
hats off to u
Thanks Geetha 🙂
Simply super ,,, no words to say 🙂
Thanks venu gopal 🙂
Ammarah
i have visited ur profile and i found all of ur documents very informative and interesting for newbies like me. thnx 4 sharing.
Thanks junaid ali 🙂
Hello,
I have did everything according steps here, but the text does not change 🙁 . Any solution please? Thank you.