GuiXT Simplify and optimize the SAP ERP user interface
What users complain about The screens contain so many fields. I have problems finding the entry fields I have to fill in. I need to handle too many screens and tabs in order to finalize each business case. It takes too much time. Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 1
How can we simplify and optimize the user interface without modifying SAP programs and dynpros? If we change SAP programs we first need to understand the program logic There is a risk that we end up writing wrong data into the database We have to merge our own changes with each SAP correction Too risky Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 2
GuiXT technology GuiXT works exclusively on the presentation level. No SAP programs or dynpros are changed. You can develop the enhanced user interface on a single PC, without affecting other users. For productive use the GuiXT scripts can be stored and maintained centrally. All scripting logic can be rolespecific. Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 3
GuiXT components GuiXT is provided free, bundled with SAP GUI. There are three optional add-on components: Designer, InputAssistant and Viewer; these require license keys which you can purchase from Synactive. InputAssistant Scripting of user input and user actions, connected to GuiXT elements such as butttons and entry fields. Designer The wysiwyg tool for designing the screen layout with GuiXT. Viewer Displays html and rtf files within SAP GUI screens. Interaction of HTML and SAP GUI screens. Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 4
Example: Display material (Standard) Usability problems encountered in installation: Lots of unnecessary fields Superfluous searchhelp icon hides part of material text Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 5
Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 6
Display material (complete GuiXT script for this screen) Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 7
Display material (simplified with GuiXT) Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 8
Example: MRP Run (Standard) Usability problem: Many parameters with coded input where you need to use the search help for each entry field Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 9
MRP run (optimized with GuiXT) //GuiXT script radiobutton (2,2) "3000 New York" F[Plant] "3000" radiobutton (3,2) "3100 Chicago" F[Plant] "3100" radiobutton (4,2) "3200 Atlanta" F[Plant] "3200" Default F[Plant] "3000 Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 10
Example: XD01 Create Customer (Standard, 1st screen) Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 11
Example: XD01 Create Customer (Standard, 2nd screen) Usability problem: Too many tabs have to be processed to create a normal customer Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 12
XD01 Create Customer (with GuiXT, single screen type) All relevant fields on a single screen, for easy creation of a new customer. (The image shows the version of a German customer) Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 13
Example: VA01 Additionals (Standard) The user selects an item and then uses the menu path Goto->Item->More functions->additionals Usability problem: If Additionals regularly have to be added to an order item this three level menu navigation becomes tedious Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 14
VA01 Additionals (with GuiXT) With GuiXT and InputAssistant we add a pushbutton column that, when clicked, immediately opens the Additionals screen for the selected item // GuiXT Script Column "Add" size=5 position=6 -pushbutton label="@e8@ process= addit.txt // InputScript Set cell[all items,0,&v[_tabrow]] "X" Enter "=PADD" Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 15
Example: Logon screen (Standard) Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 16
Logon screen (with GuiXT) // GuiXT script title "Logon to SAP pos [User] (2,22) pos [Password] (3,22) pos [Client] (4,22) pos [Language] (5,22) Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 17
Example: Dynamic internet information with GuiXT Viewer We have embed an internet page (shipping state) into the SAP GUI window. The shipment number is taken from the SAP system or can be entered manually. Box (2,0) (17,84) "Display Shipping State" InputField (3,1) "Tracking Number" (3,20) size=20 name="trackingnumber" if V[TrackingNumber] View (5,1) (16,82) "http://www.us.chronopost.com/web/en/tracking/suivi_inter.jsp?listenumeros=&v[trackingnumber]" endif Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 18
Example: Customer contacts (with GuiXT Viewer) In transaction VAP1 (add a customer s contact) existing contact persons are not displayed. With GuiXT Viewer we can display a list of all contacts and enable their phone numbers to be updated. Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 19
Customer feedback Since 1998, when SAP first integrated GuiXT into SAP GUI, more than 800 customers have optimized the user interface of their SAP system with GuiXT and the Synactive add-ons. Two typical testimonials: "If we had implemented GuiXT in 1998, it would have saved us millions in training. - John LeBas Shell Exploration & Production Company The GuiXT solution presented REXAM with a tremendous opportunity to easily customize and simplify SAP processes without changing ABAP programs. Through the vision of Rexam s functional team and GuiXT s flexibility, Rexam was able to deploy SAP at the plant floor level with very little user training. The following table shows a time sample collected for benchmarking purposes. The process in question is creation of Emergency work order. Standard Our GuiXT solution Number of screens 11 4 Time taken to complete 3 min. 40 sec -Steve Foster REXAM BEVERAGE CAN AMERICAS Synactive GmbH, Germany www.synactive.com 20