SAP Screen Personas is a versatile tool designed to simplify and personalize SAP GUI screens for end users. Among its many customization features, Side Panels offer an effective way to enhance usability by providing contextual information, navigation shortcuts, and integrated tools alongside the main SAP transaction screen. This article explores how to implement SAP Screen Personas Side Panels, outlining their benefits, setup process, and practical use cases.
Side Panels are customizable vertical panels that appear alongside the main SAP GUI screen. They act as auxiliary spaces where you can place additional controls, links, or information without cluttering the main transaction screen.
Benefits of Side Panels:
- Contextual Information: Display related data, notes, or help content relevant to the current transaction.
- Quick Navigation: Provide buttons or links to related transactions or reports.
- Embedded Tools: Embed mini applications like calculators, search forms, or lists.
- Improved User Experience: Reduce screen clutter by moving secondary elements to the side panel.
Before you implement Side Panels, ensure:
- SAP Screen Personas add-on is installed and activated.
- You have access to the Screen Personas flavor editor.
- Basic knowledge of SAP transactions and scripting in Screen Personas.
- Open the transaction you want to customize in the SAP GUI for HTML.
- Enter Edit Mode by clicking the Screen Personas icon.
- Access the Side Panel Settings in the flavor editor.
- Enable the side panel by selecting the option to show the panel on the left or right side.
- Add Controls: Use drag-and-drop to add buttons, text boxes, links, or images.
- Embed iFrames or Web Pages: You can embed relevant web resources or dashboards.
- Scripting for Dynamic Content: Use JavaScript to load dynamic data or update content based on user actions in the main screen.
- Assign actions to side panel buttons, such as launching transactions, running reports, or calling custom scripts.
- Use navigation scripts to switch transactions without leaving the current flavor.
¶ Step 4: Save and Assign the Flavor
- Save your flavor and assign it to user roles who will benefit from the enhanced interface.
- Test the side panel functionality with real users and gather feedback.
Scenario: While working in the ME23N transaction (Display Purchase Order), users want to see related supplier information and recent purchase orders without navigating away.
Implementation:
- Enable a right-side panel in the ME23N flavor.
- Add a supplier details section that pulls data dynamically via scripting.
- Include quick links to recent purchase orders and supplier contact info.
- Embed a small notes widget for internal comments.
Outcome: Users get instant access to essential supplier data and related transactions, improving efficiency and decision-making.
- Keep it Lightweight: Avoid overloading the panel with too much information.
- Use Clear Labels and Icons: Make navigation intuitive.
- Maintain Performance: Test the flavor to ensure side panel content doesn’t slow down the transaction.
- Ensure Security: Side panel scripts and content must respect SAP authorizations.
- Use Consistent Placement: Standardize side panel location (left or right) across flavors for a uniform experience.
Implementing Side Panels in SAP Screen Personas significantly enhances SAP user experience by providing quick access to contextual information and navigation aids without cluttering the main transaction screen. Whether for displaying additional data, shortcuts, or mini-applications, side panels enable a modern, efficient SAP workflow.
By following the outlined steps and best practices, SAP teams can create intuitive, role-based side panels that help users work faster and smarter.
- SAP Screen Personas Official Documentation: SAP Help Portal
- SAP Community Blogs on Side Panels
- OpenSAP Courses on SAP Screen Personas Customization