Asset Viewer

The Asset Viewer is a display tool that enables simple navigation through complex object relations on an integrated user interface. You can navigate flexibly within and between objects. For certain object types, you can also see and navigate the hierarchical structure of the object, for example, technical objects. In this way, the Asset Viewer provides you with additional support as you carry out your work.

Example Example

You are carrying out a planned maintenance job on a technical object when you discover a subcomponent that requires unplanned maintenance. You need to refer to the details and documentation of the subcomponent to continue. You therefore log on to the Maintenance Worker role and open the Information Center. Here you search for the technical object and display it in the Asset Viewer. You navigate the structure of the technical object until you find the subcomponent. You then select the subcomponent to view its details and all the information you need to perform the required work.

End of the example.

Prerequisites

You have made all the necessary configuration settings in Customizing. For more information, see iView: Asset Viewer.

Features

Access

You can choose to display an object in the Asset Viewer at any point during your work. The following table indicates where and how you can do so:

Applications from which Asset Viewer Can Be Accessed	How to Access
Information Center	You can open an object in the Asset Viewer in one of the following ways: Perform a search, select the required object from the results list, and choose to display it in the Asset Viewer. Select an object from the My Favorites list and choose to display it in the Asset Viewer. Select an object from the Last Accessed list and choose to display it in the Asset Viewer. Enter the object ID directly and choose Display.
Job List	You can open an object in the Asset Viewer from the job list as follows: Select a job and display additional information for the job. A list of the objects associated with the reference document at header level appears for example, technical objects, documents, and so on. From this list, select an object and choose to display it in the Asset Viewer.
Job Card	You can open an object in the Asset Viewer from the job card as follows: In the job card, display additional information for the job. A list of the objects associated with the reference document at header level appears, for example, technical objects, documents, and so on. From this list, you can select an object and choose to display it in the Asset Viewer.
Web Dynpro applications for displaying, changing and/or creating individual object types	You can display the object in question in the Asset Viewer by choosing You can also and then the corresponding option.
Asset Viewer	If you are already viewing an object in the Asset Viewer, you can display a related object in a second Asset Viewer session. You can do this as follows: Display the related object in the object navigator by choosing it from either the structure view or the appropriate object relation view. Display the object by choosing the corresponding function from the <Object Type> Options context menu. Example In the structure view of a technical object, you navigate to a subordinate material. The material is displayed in the object navigator as a result. You can now choose to display the material in a second Asset Viewer session by choosing the corresponding function from the Materials Options context menu. End of the example.

Structure

When you display an object in the Asset Viewer, information is displayed in different areas. The following figure illustrates the standard layout of the Asset Viewer.

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

Asset Viewer Structure

Object identification region
This area displays the ID, short description, and, depending on the object type, further identifying attributes for the object.

While you navigate between objects in the Asset Viewer, a breadcrumb trail is also displayed in this region. The breadcrumb trail contains object links for every object that you have viewed in the Asset Viewer in the order in which you viewed them. You can use the breadcrumb trail to track your navigation path and also to reselect objects for display in the Asset Viewer.

Object navigator

This area displays basic information about the object (called the “central object”) on the General Data view, as well as its relations to other objects (called “object relations”) on further views.

The following table shows the object types that can be displayed in the object navigator with the standard delivery. For object types with complex object relations, pre-configured view layouts are also available.

Object Type	Available Views
Characteristic	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Confirmation	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Document	For more information, see View Layout for Document.
Document original	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Job	For more information, see View Layout for Job.
Material	For more information, see View Layout for Material.
Measurement document	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Maintenance call object	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Maintenance call	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Measuring point	For more information, see View Layout for Measuring Point.
Maintenance item	For more information, see View Layout for Maintenance Item.
Notification	For more information, see View Layout for Notification.
Notification task	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Object list	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Object link	For more information, see View Layout for Object Link.
Order	For more information, see View Layout for Order.
Order operation	For more information, see View Layout for Order Operation.
Object without display authorization	No view is available for this object type. This object type represents objects that users are not authorized to see based on their authorization group in the backend system. If a user chooses to display an object for which she is not authorized, an error message appears. For more information about this object type, see iView: Asset Viewer.
Production resource/tool	For more information, see View Layout for Production Resource/Tool.
Purchase requisition	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Service entry sheet	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Structure gap	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.
Task list	For more information, see View Layout for Task List.
Task list operation	For more information, see View Layout for Task List Operation.
Technical object (equipment)	For more information, see View Layout for Technical Object (Equipment).
Technical object (functional location)	For more information, see View Layout for Technical Object (Functional Location).
Usage list	Only the General Data view is available for this object type.

For more information about working with the object navigator, see Navigation with the Object Navigator.

Structure view
When you display certain objects in the Asset Viewer, the hierarchical structure of the object is also displayed. This structure can include technical objects, materials, and structure gaps.

The structure view is available for the following object types with the standard delivery:
- Technical object (equipment)
- Technical object (functional location)
- Material (with BOMs)
All other object types – documents, orders, notifications, measuring points, and so on – are only displayed in the object navigator.

The structure view also provides additional functions for technical objects through a context menu. For more information, see Context Menus in the Asset Viewer.

Contextual navigation region

This area contains various pushbuttons that allow you to perform additional functions and navigation options. The following table lists the available pushbuttons and their functions:

Pushbutton	Function
<Object> Options	This pushbutton provides you with additional options for navigating to other Web Dynpro applications and backend transactions. These options are the same as those available for the object type through its context menu. For more information, see Context Menus in the Asset Viewer.
Refresh	This pushbutton refreshes the object lists in the object navigator, for example to reflect changes you make in the Navigator Settings. If you are viewing content in the side panel and then navigate to a new object in the object navigator, you must also refresh to update the content.
Synchronize	This pushbutton allows you to set the current central object as the root node in the structure view.
Navigator Settings	This pushbutton opens the Navigator Settings window in which you can enter values for particular attributes (such as validity date) of the central object for each view and object type. For example, when viewing a technical object in the Asset Viewer, you only want to see maintenance orders and notifications created for that technical object within the last month. For more information, see Settings for the Object Navigator.
Additional Functions	This pushbutton provides you with the following additional functions: Adjust the view layout for the central object For example, you can change the order of object relation views, and show or hide certain views. Note that this function is only available for object types with multiple views. Add the central object to your list of favorites You can access your list of favorites in the Information Center. Note that this function is available only for object types supported by the favorites list (see iView: Information Center).

Side panel
Business Context Viewer (BCV) can be integrated into the Asset Viewer. This means that you can view business content and analytical information for the central object the side panel.

For more information, see Business Context Viewer Integration.

Navigation Behavior

When you choose to display an object in the Asset Viewer, then either the structure view and the object navigator appear or just the object navigator appears. The following table explains what happens when you navigate from and between various objects using the Asset Viewer:

Asset Viewer Display	Navigation Behavior
The selected object is displayed in both the object navigator and the structure view. It is the root node of the structure and appears highlighted.	If you select a lower-level object in the structure view, it appears highlighted in the structure and becomes the central object in the object navigator. You can now also set the new central object as the root node in the structure view by choosing Synchronize. If you select a new object from within the object navigator and the new object does not have a structure view (for example, you are viewing a piece of technical object and you choose a related document), then the structure view does not change and no object appears highlighted. If you select a new object from within the object navigator and the new object does have a structure view, then the following happens: If the new object is part of the same structure, then the structure view does not change but the new object appears highlighted. If the new object is not part of the same structure, the structure view does not change but no object appears highlighted. If you want to see the new object in the structure view, you must choose Synchronize.
The selected object is displayed in the object navigator only. There is no structure view.	If you select a new object from within the object navigator and the new object has a structure view (for example, you are viewing a document and you choose a related technical object), then the structure view of the new object appears and its details are shown in the object navigator.

Asset Viewer Display

Navigation Behavior

The selected object is displayed in both the object navigator and the structure view. It is the root node of the structure and appears highlighted.

If you select a lower-level object in the structure view, it appears highlighted in the structure and becomes the central object in the object navigator. You can now also set the new central object as the root node in the structure view by choosing Synchronize.
If you select a new object from within the object navigator and the new object does not have a structure view (for example, you are viewing a piece of technical object and you choose a related document), then the structure view does not change and no object appears highlighted.
If you select a new object from within the object navigator and the new object does have a structure view, then the following happens:
- If the new object is part of the same structure, then the structure view does not change but the new object appears highlighted.
- If the new object is not part of the same structure, the structure view does not change but no object appears highlighted. If you want to see the new object in the structure view, you must choose Synchronize.

The selected object is displayed in the object navigator only. There is no structure view.

If you select a new object from within the object navigator and the new object has a structure view (for example, you are viewing a document and you choose a related technical object), then the structure view of the new object appears and its details are shown in the object navigator.