Activating and Configuring the Help Center for SAP Applications 
The Help Center provides a means to embed company-specific information about SAP business applications (from ERP) in the user's work area. If the Help Center has been activated in the SAP system, it opens when users launch the application help. Users can enter their own notes on the application in the Help Center and launch company-internal information or the application help provided by SAP.
Installation
The Help Center application is part of the SAP_BASIS software component in the SAP NetWeaver usage type Web AS ABAP. Once the SAP_BASIS software component has been installed, the Help Center application is available in the SAP back-end system.
Basic Configuration
To make the Help Center available, you have to activate it in the implementation guide (IMG) in the SAP back-end system. The basic configuration also includes the specification of the storage folder (shared network folder) for the files that are linked to from the Help Center.
Configuration in the Portal
To make the Help Center available for SAP applications in the portal, you must connect the Help Center iView delivered by SAP to the back-end system. To do this, you configure the predefined system alias accordingly.
Technical Background
From a technical perspective, SAP applications are transaction screens or Web Dynpros and users can launch them in both the SAP system and the portal. The Help Center is tailored to these different technical requirements as follows:
Type of SAP Application |
Launch of the Help Center |
Configuration |
ABAP transaction dynpro (in the SAP system) |
In the SAP GUI for Windows or Java using the menu path |
|
Web Dynpro ABAP (in the SAP system) |
On the Web Dynpro user interface using the help link or the F1 button |
Basic configuration in the SAP back-end system |
ABAP transaction dynpro (in the SAP NetWeaver Portal) |
In the SAP GUI for HTML using the menu path |
|
Web Dynpro ABAP (in the SAP NetWeaver Portal) |
|
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The figure below illustrates the technical background of the Help Center. It shows how users launch the Help Center application depending on the environment in which the SAP application is running.

Help Center – Technical Background
Activate the Help Center in the SAP back-end system.
More Information: Activating the Help Center
Define the shared network folder for storing files with company-specific content and prepare the folder structure.
More Information: Providing Network Folders for Help Center Files
Decide whether or not users should be able to launch the application help as a link in the Help Center. If you hide the link to the application help across the system, define which users should nevertheless still be able to access the application help.
More Information: Controlling Access to Application Help in the Help Center
In the Internet Communication Framework (ICF), activate all services that are relevant for Web Dynpro ABAP and for the Help Center application.
More Information: Activating ICF Services for the Help Center
Enable Single Sign-On (SSO) for launching the Help Center.
More Information: Making Single Sign-On Available for the Help Center
To embed the Help Center in the portal, SAP delivers the preconfigured Help Center iView. The Help Center application and the system alias of the back-end system are entered in the iView properties. You have to create the system alias required here in the next step.
More Information: Checking the Properties of the Help Center iView
To connect the Help Center to the back-end system, create the system alias required in the portal and configure its parameters.
More Information: Configuring the Connection Between the Help Center and the Back-End System
Only if you are using the Help Center with Web Dynpro applications in the portal: Activate the menu item for launching the Help Center on the framework page used by the portal.
More Information: Inserting the Menu Item for Launching the Help Center in the Portal Masthead