SAPUI5 is a powerful JavaScript framework that enables developers to build enterprise-grade web applications with rich user interfaces following SAP Fiori design principles. While SAPUI5 offers a comprehensive library of standard controls, there are scenarios where these controls may not fully meet specific business requirements. In such cases, implementing custom SAPUI5 controls becomes essential.
This article provides a comprehensive guide on creating custom SAPUI5 controls using SAP Web IDE, empowering developers to extend UI5 capabilities and deliver tailored user experiences.
SAPUI5 controls are JavaScript classes inheriting from base UI5 control classes such as sap.ui.core.Control or sap.m.Control. They encapsulate:
Custom controls follow this architecture, allowing developers to create fully-fledged UI components consistent with SAPUI5 design.
webapp/control folder.control folder, create a new JavaScript file, e.g., MyCustomControl.js.sap.ui.define).Example boilerplate for a custom control:
sap.ui.define([
"sap/ui/core/Control"
], function(Control) {
"use strict";
return Control.extend("your.namespace.control.MyCustomControl", {
metadata: {
properties: {
text: { type: "string", defaultValue: "" }
},
events: {
press: {}
}
},
renderer: function(oRm, oControl) {
oRm.write("<div");
oRm.writeControlData(oControl); // writes the Control ID and enables event handling
oRm.addClass("myCustomControl");
oRm.writeClasses();
oRm.write(">");
oRm.writeEscaped(oControl.getText());
oRm.write("</div>");
},
onclick: function(oEvent) {
this.firePress();
}
});
});
In your XML or JS view, instantiate your custom control like a standard UI5 control:
<mvc:View
controllerName="your.namespace.controller.Main"
xmlns:mvc="sap.ui.core.mvc"
xmlns:control="your.namespace.control">
<control:MyCustomControl text="Click me!" press="onCustomControlPress" />
</mvc:View>
Make sure to declare the namespace in the view.
Create a CSS file, e.g., MyCustomControl.css under webapp/css to style your control:
.myCustomControl {
padding: 10px;
background-color: #007cc0;
color: white;
cursor: pointer;
user-select: none;
border-radius: 4px;
text-align: center;
}
.myCustomControl:hover {
background-color: #005a8c;
}
Include this CSS file in the manifest.json or index.html.
Define the event handler in your controller to react to control events:
onCustomControlPress: function() {
sap.m.MessageToast.show("Custom control pressed!");
}
Use the preview feature in SAP Web IDE to run your app and verify the behavior of your custom control. Use browser developer tools and SAP Web IDE’s debugging capabilities to troubleshoot any issues.
Implementing custom SAPUI5 controls using SAP Web IDE empowers SAP developers to push beyond the limitations of standard UI5 controls, enabling rich, bespoke user interfaces that align with unique business needs. With a clear understanding of SAPUI5 control architecture and the powerful features of SAP Web IDE, developers can efficiently build, style, and maintain custom controls that enhance the overall SAP application experience.