Question Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target in Technology Q&A

Adding Custom App as new navigation target

david_wl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:43:29 GMT

Hi,

I have built multiple custom apps, for example, a custom Cost Center - Actuals app, and I would like to add those apps as navigation targets in other standard SAP as well as custom-made apps.

For testing purpose, I have added a target mapping to the standard SAP app Cost Center - Actuals, to see if my custom cost center app would appear as a navigation target (see navigation-target-config-2.jpg). Unfortunately, it does not work and my custom app does not appear as a navigation target.

Does anyone know how to add a custom app to the list of existing navigation targets?

-David

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

junwu — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:46:47 GMT

your screenshot says nothing.

what do you mean "custom app appear as navigation target"?

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

david_wl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:14:49 GMT

Hello Jun Wu,

thank you for your reply. I would like to add my custom app to the existing list of navigation targets, so I can select my app from the "navigate to"-options (please see here in-app-navigation-2.jpg).

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

gregory_hawkins1 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:43:07 GMT

Hi David,

It's not exactly clear what you are trying to accomplish - but since you are talking about the Cost Center - Actuals app (which is Web Dynpro Grid), I'll assume you are saying that you want your custom application to appear on the "Jump To" list of potential applications.

Here is a blog that discusses the process: Intent Based Navigation

In a nutshell, the "Jump To" lists are a list of all of the target mappings for a configured semantic object that the user has authorization for. So if the target semantic object was "CostCenter" (I don't know that it is that - but I'm using this for an example.) Then if a user had a target mappings for CostCenter-Action1, CostCenter-Action2, CostCenters-Action3 - then only the first two would appear in their list. Essentially, you could name the semantic object for your custom app to map those used by the "Jump To" list in the app where you would like your custom app to be available - then use any custom action name, and it should show up if available to the end user. Passing data to your app is a bit more complicated - but the details are in the blog above.

Hope this helps,
--Greg

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

gregory_hawkins1 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:10:50 GMT

Hi David,

Even though your screenshot says "Navigate To" rather than the "Jump To" functionality I referred to in my answer below - it seems to be using the same functionality.

In your screenshot, all the included links seem to have used semantic object "CompanyCode". If you use that for your custom app - then with some unique action for your custom app, I think it will show up.

--Greg

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

david_wl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:21:04 GMT

Hi Greg,

thank you very much for your detailed answer. Yes, you are right. I want my custom app to appear on the "Jump To" / "Navigate To" list of potential applications.

For testing purposes I used a custom catalog with a custom target mapping, which had the semantic object CostCenter (see navigation-target-config-2.jpg).

Although, all the other apps with the semantic object CostCenter appear in the list of potential "Jump To" apps, my custom target mapping is not available. When I'm using a custom tile to access the custom target mapping, the app launches as expected.

Best regards,
-David

Attachments

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

gregory_hawkins1 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:03:01 GMT

Hi David,

If you are using the same Semantic Object, and your user definitely has that target mapping assigned to your test user, then it's either a caching issue - or your target mapping is getting filtered out for some other reason. What I would do at this point is put a break point in file /sap/ushell/services/ClientSideTargetResolution-dbg.js I believe the method is _isIntentSupported from there, you can watch it put together the list. If your target mapping isn't even there to be evaluated - then it is likely a caching issue. If it is there, but is filtered out, you can find out why. (Reasons for being filtered out are things like needing a parameter that isn't available.)

It's been a while since I have had to look into one of these - so the method may be slightly different - but you get the idea. Watch where it looks at the target mappings available and builds up the list.

Hope this helps,
--Greg

Re: Adding Custom App as new navigation target

david_wl — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 11:42:59 GMT

The problem was solved. The target mapping had parameters, namely sap-ui-tech-hint = WDA and sap-ushell-next-navmode = explace . After deleting those parameters it worked as intented.