Configuration of TCM Compliant OData Provider for BWF

Overview

The TCM OData Provider for BWF provides the following capabilities:

  • Access to SAP Business Workflow via OData protocol

  • Uniform approach to represent Workflow service metadata with all supported data structures and their relationships

  • The Workflow OData service is based on TCM compliant model for business data exchange

  • Use of modern and standards-based protocol for business data consumption on any client and any device

  • High volume and low complexity at data exchange:

    • direct access to database tables

    • simplified mapping of internal to the exposed external structure of data

    • Uniform approach to query Workflow Business data and perform actions on Workflow tasks

  • A frontend user application (for example, My Inbox or 3rd party custom application UI) may communicate directly with the TCM BWF compliant OData Task Provider to retrieve workflow tasks and perform actions on them

  • The Task Gateway TCM OData provider also may connect with the Backend BWF OData provider.

Configure the SAP Fiori Launchpad for the All Items Tile

  1. In your Gateway system, assign the SAP_FND_BCR_MANAGER_T business catalog role to the application users.
  2. Start the SAP Fiori launchpad designer in your SAP Gateway system with the following URL: http://<server>:<port>/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/sap/ARSRVC_UPB_ADMN/main.html.
  3. Select the Manager Approval (Cross) – Content catalog.
  4. Add a new tile.
  5. Choose the App Launcher - Dynamic tile.
  6. Select the newly created tile, and fill in the following fields:

    • Title: Enter the name of your workflow scenario. For example, Capital Expenditure Approval.

    • Icon: Use any of the available icons.

    • Service URL: Enter /sap/opu/odata/SAP/SWF_TCM;mo/TaskCollection?$filter=Status eq 'READY' or Status eq 'RESERVED' or Status eq 'IN_PROGRESS'.

    • Semantic Object: Enter WorkflowTask.
    • Action: Enter displayInbox
    • Parameters: Enter allItems=true&showAdditionalAttributes=true&tcmURL=/sap/opu/odata/sap/swf_tcm;mo/.
  7. Choose Save.
  8. Add the scenario-specific tile you have just created to a group.

Activate the Service

The service activation consists of two main steps:

  • Creating a system alias
  • Activating the service

Creating a system alias

  1. In the SAP Gateway system, open transaction SPRO.
  2. Choose SAP Reference IMG.
  3. Select Start of the navigation pathSAP Customizing Implementation Guide  Next navigation step SAP NetWeaver Next navigation step SAP Gateway Next navigation step OData Channel Next navigation step Configuration Next navigation step Connection Settings Next navigation step SAP Gateway to SAP SystemEnd of the navigation path.
  4. Open the Manage SAP System Aliases activity. The Change View Manage SAP System Aliases: Overview page is displayed.
  5. Choose New Entries.
  6. In the Manage SAP System Aliases table, enter the following:
    • Under SAP System Alias, enter the new system alias. For example, GWQ_800_BEP
    • Under Description, enter a description for the system alias
    • Under Local SAP GW, For Local App and OData on Backend, make sure that the checkbox is not selected
    • Under RFC Destination, enter the trusted RFC destination to the SAP system
    • Select the option Local SAP GW.
    • Under Software Version, choose F4 and select software version DEFAULT.
  7. Choose Save.

Activating the Service

  1. In the SAP Gateway system, open transaction SPRO.
  2. Choose SAP Reference IMG.
  3. Select Start of the navigation pathSAP Customizing Implementation Guide  Next navigation step SAP NetWeaver Next navigation step SAP Gateway Next navigation step OData Channel Next navigation step General Settings Next navigation step AdministrationEnd of the navigation path.
  4. Open the Activate and Maintain Services activity.
  5. Choose Add New Service. The Add Service page is displayed.
  6. In the System Alias field, press F4 and select the system alias you created in the procedure above.
  7. Choose Enter to populate the Add Service table.
  8. From the Technical Service Name column, double-click SWF_TCM. The Add Service page is displayed.
  9. Copy the name that appears in the Technical Model Name field, you will need it to assign the software version to the service.
  10. In the Package field, enter the package to which you want to assign the service.
  11. Choose the checkmark. The Activate and Maintain Services page is displayed.
  12. Under the ICF Nodes section, make sure that the OData node status is set to Active.
  13. Under the System Aliases section, ensure that the system alias you activated is displayed.
  14. In the System Alias press F4 and select the system alias you created in the procedure above.
  15. Choose Enter. The Add Service table is populated.