Show TOC

Inbox (CA-EPT-IBO)Locate this document in the navigation structure

Use

You use this component to create worklists for processing work items, alerts, and notifications. The inbox is comparable to the universal worklist (UWL), but it is based on the personal object worklist (POWL) technology and it can be used with non-Java roles and applications.

Integration

You can use the inbox within, for example, SAP NetWeaver Business Client 3.0 or SAP NetWeaver Portal.

Features

The inbox provides quick access to lists of work items, alerts, and notifications as well as any pertinent information related to these tasks. The following features are available:

  • For work items, you can, for example, display details, resubmit them on a different date, forward them to a different user, or display notes and attachments.

  • For notifications, you have the option to resubmit or delete them. The inbox can also display notifications from SAP Business Workplace.

  • For alerts, you can complete, forward, or delete them. You can also subscribe to an alert category.

  • You can select multiple lines of the worklist and execute actions on all selected lines at once.

  • From the worklist, you can immediately complete a work item or navigate directly to the application where the task can be completed.

  • For some buttons, the system provides popups that support further processing. For example, when you choose the Forward button, a popup displays a list of possible recipients.

  • You can personalize how work items are displayed.

  • You can assign a different user to your work items as a substitute in case of absence.

  • You can use decision tasks to process a user decision. User decision is a step type of SAP Business Workflow. When choosing a decision task in the inbox, a popup displays all related decision options.

The inbox presents worklists resulting from workflows. The work items may be handled in one of the following ways:

  • Using a single click, for example, for approving or rejecting a document immediately without looking at the document details (shortcut decision)

  • Opening the document in display mode or edit mode, for example, in a Web Dynpro application

Personal Object Worklist

The inbox uses the POWL to assemble the lists of work items, alerts, and notifications. The POWL offers the following features:

  • You can define and save your worklists as queries. For example, you can create a worklist for work items that are new or in progress, or for work items with a specific task ID.

  • You can set an interval for automatic refresh of the POWL.

  • You can filter worklists to display your own work items, work items of a user you are currently substituting, or all work items. The system dynamically provides a list of the users you are currently substituting.

  • You can receive work items from multiple back-end systems in a single inbox. To use this function, you must activate the business function FND, Multiple Back-End Capabilities for Inbox and perform the activities Define Exceptions and Assign Connected Back-End Systems to Inbox in Customizing under Start of the navigation path Cross-Application Components Next navigation step Processes and Tools for Enterprise Applications Next navigation step Inbox End of the navigation path.

Substitution

You can assign another user to manage your tasks if you are absent (either planned or unexpected) by creating substitution rules.

For a planned absence, you can create a substitution rule so that the assignee receives your tasks. Your work items are then automatically forwarded to the substitute’s inbox for the duration of the substitution. You can also create a substitution rule for an unexpected absence. The assignee who fills in for you can then take over your tasks if required.

Substitution rules that you have created are listed in the My Substitution Rules screen area. You can see the substitution type (Receive My Tasks for planned absences, and Fill In for unexpected absences) as well as the rule status. You can also turn the rule on or off.

If you are assigned as a substitute for another user, you can see the substitution rule in the Other Users' Substitution Rules screen area. Here, you can choose Take Over if another user has assigned you to fill in for cases of an unexpected absence. The substitution type and the status of the rule are also listed.

Constraints

  • It is not possible to manually create tasks.

  • It is not possible to define task groups.

  • The inbox currently only supports the following action handler types:

    • OBJECTNAVIGATIONLAUNCHER for object-based navigation

    • FUNCTIONMODULEACTIONHANDLER for calling a function module

    • LAUNCHPADHANDLER for launching an application using the launchpad

  • The inbox does not support multiple inboxes for different roles that can be customized individually.