Introduction and initial configuration for Portal service in SAP cloud Platform : Part 2

In the first part of this blog, https://blogs.sap.com/2018/11/05/introduction-and-initial-configuration-for-portal-service-in-sap-cloud-platform-part-1/, we discussed how we configure Portal service and Custom Launchpad in SAP Cloud Platform (Neo Environment). In this part we shall dig deeper and play with the Launchpad components.

As a definition we can say, “SAP Fiori launchpad is the entry point to SAP Fiori apps on mobile and desktop devices and gives all the relevant information you need at a glance. The launchpad provides the apps with services such as navigation, personalization, embedded support, and application configuration.”

In the next few sections we shall do some activities and understand the end-to-end configurations to make a UI5 application accessible to the end users through Fiori Launchpad.

In above image we can get a simplified idea of Fiori Launchpad Architecture. We shall deploy an UI5 application to SAP Cloud Platform and shall integrate the same in the Fiori Launchpad. Also, we shall check the end result as an end user to the system.

So, let’s begin….

In a first we need a UI5 application working locally which is deployed in SAP Cloud Platform in the same sub-account where we have our Fiori Launchpad configured through Portal service.

We already developed a custom demo UI5 application which has been deployed to SAP cloud platform and we have the direct URL for the stand-alone custom application.

We can run the URL and see if the application is running successfully without any hassle.

Next, we go to Launchpad Admin space (which we created and configured in Part 1 of this blog) and configure accordingly for the Demo application which will be accessible through Fiori Launchpad Tile.

As we are in the Admin space, first we need to understand the mapping scenario of the main Admin components, like Apps, Catalogs, Groups, Roles etc.

Here we can see the Tile, which is the App Launcher, is associated with two other components Catalog & Group. Catalogs are authorization objects. We assign both roles and apps to a catalog. Rather than assigning each app to a role, we can bundle them into a catalog and then assign one or more roles to each catalog. The end result is that users who are assigned to a particular role, will have access to the apps that are assigned to the same catalog as their role.

Depending on their role, users can then browse through a Catalog library from their launchpad and choose the apps that they want to display on the entry page of their launchpad.

Enough theories, now let’s see how we can do it in Admin space.

Open the Admin Space URL and click on “Edit” link of the respective site in the Site Directory. It will open Fiori Launchpad Configuration page.

https://flpportal-<sub-account>.dispatcher.hanatrial.ondemand.com/sites?siteId=6d4c7135-56e1-4cf8-b0e9-4916a9dd5a93&mode=admin#Welcome-Display

In the first step we shall check the default “Everyone” role and we shall use the same to authorize our UI5 application for the End Users.

Next, we create a Catalog to assign it to Role and the Application itself. In this way the application will be accessible to the End Users having a specific role. In this scenario we shall use the standard “Everyone” role, so that, most of the same sub-account user can access the application.

Now we assign the role “Everyone” to this newly created catalog.

After adding the role Save the catalog.

Now we shall create a Group which will work as a container of the Tile (Entry point of the application). It needs to assign to the role of the End User which is “Everyone” in our case.

After these procedures we are all set to configure our application as a Tile finally.

Navigate to “Apps” section from the left-hand side pane and create a new application. The UI5 application which already has been deployed to SAP cloud Platform, should be assigned to the tile.

We need to make sure that we have unique Semantic Object and Action pair for the application, which works as Intent Navigation in Launchpad, which works as Intent Navigation in the Launchpad.

Next, we assign the newly created Catalog and Group to this application. Catalog provides the authorization to the user to access the application in Fiori Launchpad.

After Catalog and Group assignment we proceed for the look and feel customization of the visible Tile for the specific application. Navigate to Visualization tab and change the Title of the Tile accordingly. We shall use simple Static App Launcher for our scenario for now. We change the icon to a suitable one accordingly for the tile. Save the changes and a new tile will be created for the specific UI5 application.

Phew…So we are all set to publish our changes and see the Fiori Launchpad as an end User.

And Voila..!!! Here we go. We have the application tile in the Fiori Launchpad.

Let’s see if the tile works and navigate to the actual application in SAP Cloud Platform. We click on the tile and see that the application is loaded in the Launchpad. We even have the back button and a Home button in the top corner which navigates the user to the Launchpad.

So therefore, we have successfully completed our objective to configure Fiori Launchpad with a custom UI5 application and access the same as an end user.

On top of these activities we can do more with launchpad customization like,

• We can use Dynamic App Launcher which allow a Tile to show Item count from the application.
• We can resize the tile.
• We can use KPI App Launcher or Custom App Launcher for more realistic customization.
• The branding and look & feel can be personalized with the help of Theme Designer.
• Fiori Launchpad shell area can be personalized and customized according the requirements.
• We can provide runtime authorizations to the Fiori Tile as per the User Role configured in SCI.

As we are coming to the conclusion to our discussion, we can say “Let’s face it: Your one-seat tricycle is not equipped to take each visitor on a journey to Conversion City. You’ll need a four-wheeler to drive them there.” There are more other than mentioned areas in Fiori Launchpad and let’s hope that we can discuss in detail in our coming blogs.

Thank you guys for reading. See you in the next topic with some more interesting stuffs offered by SAP cloud Platform. Bye…!!!