Creating Collective Search Helps

1. Open the Repository Browser (Transaction Code SE80) and navigate to the package in which you want to create the collective search help.
2. In the context menu of the package, choose Create → Dictionary Object → Search Help.
3. Select the Collective search help radio button and choose  with the quick info text Continue.

   The maintenance screen for collective search helps appears.

4. In the Short description field, enter an explanatory text.

   For example, you can find the search help at a later time using this short text.

5. On the Definition tab page, enter the parameters of the collective search help.
   1. In the Search help parameter area, enter the required parameter.
   2. Select the indicator in column Imp if it is an import parameter.
   3. Select the indicator in column Export if it is an export parameter.
   4. Define the types for the parameters of a collective search help by assigning a data element. In the Data element field, enter the name of the data element that describes the contents of the search help parameter.
   5. In the Default value field, assign a default value (optionally) to the parameter .
6. In exceptional cases you may need to change the standard process defined by the search help. You can implement the deviation from the standard using a search help exit .

   In this case, enter the name of the search help exit in the Srch. help exit field.

7. On the Included search helps tab page, define the search helps that you want to include in the collective search help.
   Note

   You can include elementary search helps and collective search helps.

   Select the indicator in the Hidden column if you want to control whether an included search help must appear in the dialog box for selecting the elementary search help. If the indicator is set, the search help is not offered.

   It makes sense to hide search help inclusions if one or more search paths in the standard system must not be used in a specific SAP system. Conversely, search help inclusions can also be already hidden in the standard system because they can be used meaningfully only in a few cases. In this cases, you must deselect the indicator.

8. Position the cursor one after the other on each assigned search help and choose Param. assignment.

   A new screen appears. Perform the following:

   1. In the Reference parameter field, enter the parameter names of the elementary search helps to which the corresponding parameters of the collective search help must be assigned.

      You can select the parameters contained in the included search help using the input help.

   2. Choose Proposal to create a proposal for the assignment.
   3. Choose Copy.
9. Choose  with the quick info text Save.

   A dialog box appears in which you are asked to assign the search help to a package. You can change this package at a later time by choosing Goto → Object Directory Entry.

10. Choose  with the quick info text Activate.

The collective search help is activated. You can find information about the activation flow in the activation log, which you can display by choosing Utilities → Activation Log. If errors occur when you activate the collective search help, the activation log appears automatically.

Additional Options

To test the flow of an input help defined by the collective search help, choose  with the quick info text Test. A dialog box appears in which you can simulate the behavior of the search help under different conditions. You obtain information about the options provided in this window by choosing .

See also:

Structure of a Collective Search Help