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Author's profile photo Nick Rankin

Creating a new Fiori on EP role including iviews from scratch

Overview

In this blog post, I am going to discuss the various configurations including screenshots required for how to build your own FLP@EP Role, iviews (tiles) from the beginning. The idea of this blog post is to really cover the basis of what is provided within the sample data under this blog post: SAP Fiori Launchpad on Portal – Sample Content for Administrators. I will cover the following processes:

  • Creating a new FLP@EP compatible role
  • Creating new iviews (URL, transaction, wda etc.) and adding to the above role
  • Configuring iviews as required to appear under the Fiori Framework Page on Portal (FLP@EP)
    • Adding iviews to particular device groups
    • Configuring if iview should display be default or not
    • Other useful configurations

 

In this blog post I will not be covering the consumption of application/groups via the ABAP FES.

 

 

1.) Starting off – Creating our FLP Role

 

The FLP role will be assigned to end users whom will be accessing the FLP on Portal. This role will contain the iviews we wish to represent as tiles under the FLP. These iviews may be existing ones already defined under your Portal, or else new ones you may wish to define. All iview object templates are supported here, including URL, WDA, WDJ, Transaction, UI5 etc.

 

  1. Create a new folder under your Content Administration -> Portal content catalog. In my case I’m going to call it FLP
  2. Inside this new folder create a new Freestyle Role, I’m calling mine FLP_ROLE
  3. Open the newly created role, and create a new folder to act as our entry point, in this case I’m going to call it FLP
  4. Activate the Entry Point option for both the Role and the Folder
  5. We should now have a role configured, as below:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flp_role_998006.png
  6. Add the newly created role to your user via User Administration -> http://<host>:<port>/useradmin

 

2.) Assigning the Fiori Desktop to a new URL Alias under the Master Rules Collection

 

Tip: It is recommended to create a new delta link copy of both Fiori Framework Page, Blue Crystal theme, and make a new Desktop. This way, if you decide to make changes to the framework page/theme configurations they will be retained after upgrade.

 

  1. Open the URL Alias Manager via: System Administration -> System Configuration – Portal Display
  2. You may find the alias portal/fiori is already defined. If you are happy to use this alias, you may skip the next step
  3. In this case I want to use http://<portalhost:port>/irj/portal/myflp to access Fiori. Click the New button and for Alias Name enter portal/myflp. We can ignore the other URL Alias options and keep the defaults
  4. Open the Master Rules Collection, System Administration -> System Configuration – Portal Display-> Desktops & Display Rules
  5. Navigate and expand Portal Content -> Portal Administrators -> Super Administrators. Right click on Master Rules Collection -> Open -> Rule collection
  6. Create a new expression via Add if expression button. Here we will set a URL Alias rule, where URL Alias = “portal/myflp”, then launch the FLP@EP desktop
  7. You should have a new rule defined something like the below. Apply the changes to the rule and save the MRC.
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/mrc_998025.png
  8. Optional but recommended step. Navigate to Content Administration -> Portal Display -> Framework Page Configuration. In the drop down menu here select the Desktop/Framework Page combination as chosen above. Disable the personalization option for now (untick Enable personalization).
    Why? Each time a change is made to device groups, setting app for homepage you will need to clear the UCD cache for your user. By disabling personalization while configuring your FLP@EP, you are saving yourself the time of having to do this each time changes are made.

3.) Creating Fiori tile content (iviews)

 

  1. Under our FLP folder, right click and create a new iview. You can choose any type of iview. In this case, I’ll create a URL iview which I wish to point to http://www.sap.com
  2. The iview can be created either under the Role via the New button, or else added via the Portal content catalog. What is important here is the iview is maintained under the FLP folder within our role
  3. We now have a role, containing a iview as below (notice the entry point configurations):
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flp_role_2_998026.png
  4. but we now try to call http://<host>:<port>/irj/portal/myflp and there are no tiles, WHY? In order for an iview to be displayed under the FLP, we must configure it to be a member of a Device Group, simply this means we can target iviews for particular groups of devices, Desktop, Tablets, and Mobile. By default an iview is not a member of any FLP@EP device group
  5. Select the newly created iview and Open the iview Properties (All Properties). Filter the property list for property: Object ID of Device Group. Under this property, we will define the device group to display on all devices, including Desktops, Mobiles and tablets. Device group assignment can be adjusted according to business requirements. In this case, I am using the following properties for Device Group:
    com.sap.portal.dg.desktop;com.sap.portal.dg.smartphone;SmartphoneAndroid
  6. I also want to make this tile appear to all users, by default under the FLP. To do this filter the iview property by Default App in Home Page. Check the checkbox for this property and then save the iview
  7. Lets now call our FLP@EP URL again http://<host>:<port>/irj/portal/myflp). Success! We now have our first Fiori app/iview assigned and functioning:
    Fiori Tile
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flp_init_998051.png
    Upon opening the Fiori tile, URL iview displays
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flp_init_open_998052.png

4.) Customizing our new Fiori “app”/tile

 

At this point I now have a fully working tile/URL iview pointing to website as required. I would like the icon on my tile to display a custom image (in this case the SAP logo) instead of the calendar picture (pictogram).

 

Customizing the FLP@EP tile image

 

  1. Locate a suitable image of choice and resize it as required
  2. Navigate to Content Administration -> Web Resource Repository
  3. To be tidy, I am going to create a new folder in here for my uploads called FLP
  4. Right click on your new folder and choose Upload Resource. At this point browse to your picture location and upload. Steps can be seen highlighted below:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/wrrupload_998071.png
  5. Right click on your newly uploaded image resource, choose properties and locate the location property, as below:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/wrr_props_998078.png
  6. Our location to the SAP logo under the WRR is now pcd:resource_repository/FLP/sap.png. notice the inclusion of pcd:, not included in the above, but we must include to reference our PCD object.
  7. Back to the FLP@EP role, open the iview and filter for property Icon URI For this property we enter the full location to the image including the PCD: prefix
  8. We must now set the Image Type property to equal, image (full width), instead of icon.
  9. correct configuration as expalined above can be found below:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/icon_uri_998080.png
  10. Now, we call our FLP@EP launchpad again, and now we have our custom icon:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/icon_uri_flp_998090.png

Although in the above example we use a URL iview, it is also possible to assign all iview object types, including UI5, WDA/J, Transactional etc. The recommended theme to use in such cases is sap_bluecrystal, and FLP@EP requires Standards rendering mode under MSIE web browser. For details you can refer to this excellent blog post: IE and Portal – Standards/Quirks Mode Evolution (or Love-Hate Relationships).

/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/su01_flp_998136.png
(Pictured: SAP Transaction iview calling SU01 transaction under FLP@EP)

 

5.) Assigning tiles to a category

 

It is possible to assign tiles under up to 20 different categories*.

* If more than 20 categories are required, please refer to SAP Note 2214932.

 

  1. Open the Fiori Launchpad Categories iview stored under the following PCD location:
    Content Administration -> Portal Content -> Portal Users -> Standard Portal Users -> iviews -> Fiori Launchpad
  2. Under this iview, up to 20 categories may be configured. The following properties will apply to each iview:
    Category XX ID
    Category XX Order
    Category XX Title
  3. The ID will be used to reference the category an iview should belong to, the Order will define the order in which categories should display and the title is the Title that you will use for the category.
  4. In the above example, I will add my URL iview to a Category called “Corporate”, while I will have a new category called “Admin” to access my SU01 transaction ivew
  5. I have configured my Fiori Launchpad Categories iview to include the below:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/fior_cat_998194.png
  6. Now open your FLP@EP iviews and filter each by Category Assignment property. Under here, the Category ID you have defined should be added, such as the below example:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/cat_as_998198.png
  7. When you next call your FLP@EP launchpad, rather than the tiles belonging to the General (uncategorized) section, the tiles will now be grouped:
    /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flp_cat_grp_998200.png

Assigned Tags

      13 Comments
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      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Hi Nick Rankin,

      nice blog. thank you!

      I followed your steps and created New Fiori Iview. But in step 5  Master Rules Collection i added expression URL Alias="portal/zfiori"

      But when i open the  http://<host>:<port>/irj/portal/zfiori it open the portal home no the fiori app iview.

      Please let me know do i missed nay steps.

      Thanks you.

      Santhosh

      Author's profile photo Nick Rankin
      Nick Rankin
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Santhosh,

      Thank you for your comment! I would firstly recommend disabling Personalization under your Fiori Framework Page/Desktop configuration to prevent caching issues. Can always reenable when you have configured your full catalog as required.

      Overview summary of process required is below:

      1.) Assign FFP Desktop to your URL alias portal/zfiori

      2.) Create new role, under role a folder. This folder should be set as an Entry Point

      3.) Add iviews you would like to be represented as tiles under this role's folder

      4.) Update the Device Group settings for each of these iviews. You could add com.sap.portal.dg.desktop to ensure Fiori app is displayed on desktop browsers (but not mobile e.g)

      5.) Set your iview property to Default App in Homepage so you should see it with personalization disabled.

      If you have any other problems do let me know,

      Best regards,

      Nick

      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks for the response!

      Now i am using default portal/fiori but still open portal home page:Attached the screens.Please let me know if miss any steps:

      /wp-content/uploads/2016/07/fiori_1002157.png/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/fiori3_1002173.pngfiori 2.jpgfiori 4.pngfiori 5.png

      Author's profile photo Nick Rankin
      Nick Rankin
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Santhosh,

      If you are not consuming UI5 application from an ABAP FES please change SAPUI5 source from ABAP to Java in the Framework Page configuration. Should sort this for you.

      Best regards,

      Nick

      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks..

      i changed SAPUI5 source from ABAP to Java but now the page is blank.Please suggest.

      Regards

      Santhosh

      Author's profile photo Nick Rankin
      Nick Rankin
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Santhosh,

      When you access the FLP are any errors getting recorded under the default trace file? Also please try clearing the UCD cache (SAP Note: 2318445) in the event this could be causing the strange behaviour.

      If issue remains, what Netweaver/SP/Patch level are you on for EP-BASIS & EP-RUNTIME components?

      Best regards,

      Nick

      Author's profile photo Anchal Saboo
      Anchal Saboo

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks for your blog. It is very helpful and by following the above scenario we are able to access the content which we are creating under a new role.

      But my requirement is to access Administration tabs on Fiori Framework Page. Do let me know what are the configurations to be followed. This would be very helpful.

      Thank you.

      Regards,

      Anchal

      Author's profile photo Nick Rankin
      Nick Rankin
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Anchal,

       

      Set the Object ID of Device Group properties (Desktop device group only, administration scenario does not work on mobile devices) for the required roles under:

      Portal Content -> Portal Administrators folder roles as required

       

      Best regards

      Nick

      Author's profile photo Palaniappan Natarajan
      Palaniappan Natarajan

      Hi Nic Rankin,

      Good work. Thanks for sharing the information 🙂

      I'm having one issue. I have followed your steps, but when I'm clicking the tile, it is saying "Could not open app. Try again later". Am I missing something?

      Kind Regards,
      Palaniappan

      Author's profile photo Nick Rankin
      Nick Rankin
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Palaniappan,

      I'm happy to hear you found the blog helpful. What type of iview are you trying to access via your Launchpad? Do check Note 2031108 to see what applications/integration scenarios are supported in FLP@EP scenario.

      Please also clear the UCD always after making changes to your iviews as per Note 2318445.

      Please share with me the "Code Link" property value of your iview, and application type (SAP Standard/Custom etc.) more information and I will look into this for you further,

      Best regards,
      Nick

      Author's profile photo Palaniappan Natarajan
      Palaniappan Natarajan

      Hi Nick,

      I'm trying to access 'URL iview' via Launchpad.

      I have checked the note 2031108 and it seems to be in line with the recommendations.
      I have cleared the UCD based on the note 2318445. Still the issue persists.

      The value of code link property is "com.sap.portal.httpconnectivity.urliviews.runtime"

      Actually I'm trying to integrate one of the Solution Manager tools(Business Process Monitoring) with EP. It is working as expected in custom EP but in FLP we are facing this issue.

      Thanks for your quick response.

      Regards,
      Palaniappan

      Author's profile photo Nick Rankin
      Nick Rankin
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Palaniappan,

      The supported method for integrating SolMan in Portal is using Note 1399645. I would suggest checking this first.

      Please also create a URL iview to point to another URL to test if this scenario is working.

      Best regards,
      Nick

      Author's profile photo Rakesh Kumar
      Rakesh Kumar

      Hi Nick,

      Thanks! It's a very informative blog.

      I am facing a issue in a scenario of FLP integrated on SAP Portal as below:

      I am facing an issue in display of SAP Fiori Launchpad contents when being launched from portal Role (web-dispatcher portal url). I am getting the content as in below screen-shot. Please note that the same content is being launched properly when using direct web-dispatcher fiori launchpad url.

      My EP version is NW7.4SP09 & FLP is NW7.4SP13

      Please help in resolving the same, if anyone has faced similar issue earlier.

      * Web-dispatcher is configured for integration scenario and we are able to access portal using same.

      link to discussion: https://answers.sap.com/questions/228636/flp-content-not-displaying-properly-when-being-lau.html

      Thanks,

      Rakesh