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Function documentationProduct Visualization in SAP Visual Enterprise Viewer

 

Integration of the SAP Visual Enterprise (VE) Viewer enables you to make complex, interactive product graphics available in the master data of products and objects. This gives your service employees a clearer overview of products without the need for them to have knowledge of graphics software.

Integration

In SAP CRM, you can use visualization in product master data and in service orders. For more information about visualization in service orders, see Visualization of Products and Work Instructions in Service Orders.

Prerequisites

  • The SAP VE Viewer files (file suffix .rh) are stored in the back-end system.

    SAP CRM

    The file is stored as an attachment of the product/object master data (technically in the content management system). To enable the file to be displayed, you need to specify the document type CRM_VEV for the attachment and select the Default Document checkbox.

    SAP ERP

    The file is stored in the document management system (DMS) in a document info record, and is linked to the material master record. The SAP CRM system uses the SAP ERP material number to find the file for a product and the equipment number to find the file for an object.

    For more information about document management in SAP ERP, see SAP Library for SAP ERP Central Component on SAP Help Portal, under Start of the navigation path http://help.sap.com/erpInformation published on non-SAP site Next navigation step <choose a release> Next navigation step SAP ERP Cross-Application Functions Next navigation step Cross-Application Components Next navigation step Document Management End of the navigation path.

  • The SAP VE Viewer is installed locally on client PCs.

    A browser plug-in is automatically installed along with the viewer.

  • Buttons and menu options for accessing the viewer on the UI are activated.

    To display buttons you have assigned a functional profile containing the parameter VEV_ENABLED with the value TRUE to the appropriate business role. For more information about the definition of roles, see Business Roles.

Features

You can view products (and objects) as static or interactive images on the Products and Objects pages, by choosing Graphical Viewer. SAP VE Viewer files that are stored in SAP CRM appear in the Attachments assignment block.

Activities

Determination of Files

For data retrieval, the system uses a standard Business Add-In (BAdI) implementation, which searches for SAP VE Viewer files as follows:

  1. Searches in the SAP CRM system using the reference object ID or reference product ID.

  2. If no file is found in the SAP CRM system, searches for the file in SAP ERP system with the corresponding equipment number (for objects) or material number (for products).

    If no file is found for an object, the search runs again for the reference product of the object.

    The system generates a URL referencing the product image, the product thumbnail, or the animated graphic.

Determination of Correct File if Multiple Files Are Found

If more than one SAP VE Viewer file is available, the system proceeds as follows:

  • If the system finds more than one file in SAP CRM, it displays the file marked as Default Document in the Attachments assignment block in the master data.

  • If the system finds more than one file in the material master record in SAP ERP, it displays a random file.

  • If no file is found for the chosen product, a message appears.

Determination of Correct SAP ERP File Version

SAP VE Viewer files in SAP ERP can have multiple versions. The BAdI determines the most recent file version, relative to the following dates

  • Product master data: current date

  • Service order: manufacture date for reference objects; reference date of service order for reference products

    If neither of these dates are filled, the current date is used.

You can use you own implementation of the same BAdI to change the determination logic for retrieval of an SAP VE Viewer file, for example, by calling an external document retrieval system. The BAdI is available in Customizing for Customer Relationship Management under Start of the navigation path Transactions Next navigation step Settings for Service Transactions Next navigation step Integration Next navigation step SAP Visual Enterprise Viewer Next navigation step BAdI: Determination of Data for SAP Visual Enterprise Viewer End of the navigation path.

More Information

For more information about the SAP VE Viewer, see SAP Library on SAP Help Portal at Start of the navigation path http://help.sap.comInformation published on SAP site Next navigation step SAP Business Suite Next navigation step Additional Applications Next navigation step SAP Visual Enterprise Next navigation step SAP Visual Enterprise Viewer End of the navigation path.