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The Site Menu in SAP Build Work Zone is more than a navigation tool; it serves as the gateway for users to access a wide range of features, applications, and resources on the platform. Understanding how to configure, customize, and manage the Site Menu is essential for administrators aiming to create a seamless, role-specific, and intuitive user experience while enabling an efficient digital workspace.
In SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition, administrators have various options to add, organize, and manage menu items, tailoring navigation to meet the unique needs of different user groups. This blog post provides an overview of these capabilities.
Overview
The Site Menu in SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition, serves as the primary navigation aid for users, providing them with quick access to workspaces, applications, and key resources. A well-organized Site Menu enhances user experience by making navigation intuitive and reducing the time it takes for users to find what they need. Users can access the menu, by the small edit icon on the right side of the top navigation bar.
How to configure site menu capabilities
Configuring the Site Menu involves a few essential steps:
Accessing the Site Menu Configuration: Company administrators can access the Site Menu configuration panel directly within the SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition interface. From here, they can review the current menu structure and make the necessary adjustments.
Editing Menu Items: Administrators have full control over the menu, allowing them to add, remove, disable, duplicate or reorder items. Each menu item can be linked to various types of content, including applications, workspaces, or external URLs.
Setting Permissions: Administrators can configure access permissions for each menu item, ensuring that users only view content relevant to their specific roles and access levels.
The out-of-the-box "Home" section in the Site Menu is available by default but if a different landing page is preferred, the "Home" section can be disabled and replaced with other content, such as a custom workpages created in the site menu content.
Understanding the different Menu Item types
To create and effective and user-friendly Site Menu, there are different types of menu a user can choose from, the most important being Custom, Workspace, Application, and Predefined. These items play significant roles in tailoring the navigation experience to meet the specific needs of different user groups and provide flexibility to the diverse business needs of our customers. Here's a detailed look at each of these menu item types:
Custom
Description: Custom menu items provide maximum flexibility, allowing administrators to link to a wide range of content both within and outside of the SAP Build Work Zone environment. These items can direct users to custom URLs or specific workpages stored within the site menu content.
Best use case: integrating unique resources like company intranet workpages, custom-built applications, or specialized informational workpages that don't fit into standard categories like applications or workspaces.
Workspaces
Description: Workspace menu items link directly to specific workspaces within SAP Build Work Zone. Workspaces are collaborative areas that contain various applications, information, and tools designed to support specific business processes, projects, or team activities.
Best use case: providing quick access to collaborative environments, helping users navigate to project areas, departmental resources, or group-specific workspaces. These type enhances collaboration and productivity by centralizing access to related resources.
Application
Description: Application menu items link directly to individual applications within SAP Build Work Zone, including standard SAP apps, custom-developed solutions, or third-party applications integrated into the platform.
Best use case: quick, easy access to tools needed for daily tasks. Application items simplify the UX by reducing the steps required to launch frequently used applications, improving overall efficiency.
Predefined Menu Items
Description: Predefined menu items are system-generated links that provide access to commonly used SAP Build Work Zone features or services. These items, like the Recommendation feature or the cross-workspace Knowledge Base, are automatically included in the Site Menu for consistent access to key functionalities.
Best use case: ensuring all users have standardized access to core features such as the Knowledge Base or workspace dropdowns. They maintain a consistent navigation structure, making it easier for users to find essential services across the platform.
Transporting Site Menu Configurations
Transporting Site Menu configurations is essential for maintaining consistency across different environments (for example, from a development to a production environment). This process involves:
Exporting the Configuration: Utilize the transport functionality within the Site Manager to export the current Site Menu configuration. This generates a file containing all menu settings and structures.
You have two options: either export all content items from the Menu Content screen or export only the content referenced by the menu. This choice is determined by checking or unchecking the corresponding checkbox in the prompted popup.
Importing to the Target System: In the destination system, use the Site Menu configuration screen to import the file. This applies the exported menu settings to the target system, ensuring a seamless user experience across environments.
Best Practices for Site Menu Management:
- Keep It Simple: Aim for a Site Menu structure that is easy to understand and navigate. Overcomplicating the menu can make it harder for users to find what they need.
- Regularly Review and Update: As the needs of your organization change, so should your Site Menu structure and content to ensure it remains relevant and useful.
- Engage Users for Feedback: Users feedback is invaluable to understand their real needs and preferences and optimize the Site Menu.
If you need additional information on workspaces, you can access the SAP Help Portal:
If you have more questions on SAP Build Work Zone, visit our FAQ page on SAP Community.
More Information on new Features and Functionalities:
Check out the roadmap for standard & advanced edition.
