BE Navigator 

Purpose

The BE Navigator represents the interface with which you can access all the components of the BE framework. These are the metadata and the templates defined in the metadata, as well as the objects generated from the metadata templates.

The core of the BE Navigator is the navigation tree, which provides a clear representation of the metadata and its dependencies. It represents the containers, features and function groups for an application, grouped by object. You can use the nodes in the navigation tree to display and edit the related table entry or the list of related table entries.

The navigation tree has two different views, depending on the nature of the metadata being viewed. The application view represents the definition of an application, that is the structure from metadata entities, as well as the individual, defined workbench objects to be generated for the entities. There is also the metadata view, which displays each metadata entity together with all of its dependent subobjects. From the application view, you can change to the relevant metadata in the metadata view.

As well as processing metadata, the BE Navigator also provides an intuitive link from the BEF metadata to the generated objects for a BE application. Furthermore, different functions are included for the analysis of the existing metadata.

The full range of the BE Navigator is used mainly for the development of a BE application. It also provides an easy-to-use interface for triggering regeneration of a manually implemented note, for example, or for making adjustments involving BEF enhancements. This last point also applies to the inclusion of new fields and their integration with the process in subscriptions, but also for adjustments to selection screens or indices, for example.

 

Implementation Notes

You always access the BE Navigator via the metadata of one or more applications. Applications are grouped according to the application class that is assigned to them. This is predefined accordingly in the following transactions:

• CRM Billing: Transaction BEFN_F1
• CRM Rebate Processing: Transaction BEFN_R1
• Incoming Royalties: Transaction CRM_IPM_BEFN
• Outgoing Royalties: Transaction CRM_IPM_BEFN
• Price List: Transaction BEFN_N1
• BE Framework: Transaction BEFN

Basic Structure

The BE Navigator screen is divided into three sections:

• Navigation area: the navigation area is used to display the data in a structured representation, and also to provide access to the context-dependent functions for the individual objects.
• Detail area: the detail area displays all additional information, such as the data display in list format or the analysis results. If required by the composition of the additional data, the detail area may be subdivided into additional areas.
• Message area: all error messages are output to the area below the detail area. If there are no messages, this area is not visible.

 

As already mentioned, the metadata is represented hierarchically in the navigation area. The nodes in this area represent the initial points for many context-specific functions. These are listed in detail in the section Navigation Tree. General functions are also available in the function bar, especially for navigation within the metadata.

The functions called from the context menu either display certain information, or return their result in the form of a message. The detail area is used to display this information, unless a specific tool, for example the ABAP Editor, is called. Depending on the function, this can be a list viewer, a separate hierarchy tree or a standard log display. A separate message display area is opened to display messages that occur when using the BE Navigator, or that are reported as the result of functions.

 

History

When working with the BE Navigator, the structure of the navigation tree can often change.

You might, for example, follow an activity sequence in which you:

·         Enter an application class via the view of all applications

·         Select a specific application and then navigate to the features for an object

·         Create a new feature in the metadata view

·         Assign this feature to an application object

A sequence of activities like this, performed in the BE Navigator, is supported by the navigation tree history. This means that the structure of the tree is flagged within a BE Navigator call, and can be accessed using the function bar.

In the example above, it would be possible to go back from the application view for an application to all the previously selected applications, or from the metadata view to a feature in the previous application view. The history is restricted to 10 steps back within the tree.

 

 

Personalization

You can use Utilities -> Settings to make your personal settings for working in the BE Navigator.

 

Area	Parameter	Functionality
Generation Logs	Display Log Immediately After Incorrect Generation	If this parameter is set, the system immediately displays the generation log in the detail area upon incorrect generation.
Generation Logs	Do Not Save Log in Partial Generation	In the standard system, a log is written and saved for every generation within a BE application. If this parameter is set, this log is not saved upon the generation of an individual object such as the function module. (This parameter does not apply to the generation of an entire application.)
Navigation Tree	Completely Reconstruct Navigation Tree after Saving	If this parameter is set, the navigation tree is completely rebuilt after metadata is changed or created. By default, only a partial update is performed. (A complete restructuring closes all previously open folders.)
Expert mode	Display Non-Released Events	You can use this parameter to enhance the display of events in workbench objects (function modules, reports, class methods), with events that are not yet released, or that are only released internally (SAP cannot guarantee upward compatibility upon release upgrade for events that are only released internally).
Expert mode	Interface Module	You can maintain interface modules in a separate dialog box.
Expert mode	Advanced Functions	To reduce the number of functions in the BE Navigator for the occasional user, some special functions have been removed from the standard display. This parameter must be set if you want to use the full range of functions.