Using Key-User In-App Extensibility to Create a Custom Field

Even if an app doesn't support adding custom fields, most SAP Fiori apps support some type of UI adaptation. This type of customization is also referred to as "runtime authoring", because you are editing the application while it's running. Changes made in the UI adaptation mode can be saved and published to the transport log. Fields can be moved around by "dragging and dropping" or right-clicking with your mouse to see all options. If two fields are selected by holding the Shift key, they can be combined to display side-by-side. If you change your mind, they can be separated again, or you can undo the change.

After changes are imported to the production system, end users will see the customized app screen. Only users with permission to turn on this runtime authoring mode will see the option available from the user menu when in an application. The key is to make sure you have permission to both the app you want to edit, and the Administrator or Extensibility Specialist business role to make the adaptation function available.

In addition, you can create variants of apps for specific use cases (countries, organizational units, user groups). UI changes made to the original app or a variant are not applied to other variants. However, if the UI of the original app gets changed outside of this authoring mode, for example in a release upgrade, the new UI changes will be applied on top of the changes already made to the original app and all variants of it.

After you've made changes you're satisfied with, use the Navigation tab to test the app out as an end user. The Visualization tab shows you where changes have been made. If everything performs well, select the "wand" icon in the top left corner to activate a new version of the app. The "truck" icon will then become visible so you can publish the changes to the transport log. These changes will now be visible in the Extensibility Inventory app, and can be added to a software collection to export them from the customizing tenant of the development system.

Learn more about Adapting SAP Fiori UIs at Runtime in the SAP Help Portal.

Learn how to adapt the UI of an app at runtime in this tutorial:

Custom fields are created in the Custom Fields app. You can make a single custom field available to be used across other related apps (important for continuity of data), reports, email/form templates, and APIs. After a field is created, it needs to be added to relevant app UIs using the UI adaption functionality previously discussed. For reports, it can depend as some reports are analytical dashboard apps where you would use Adapt UI, where others could be ad-hoc reports (like a custom CDS view) where you pick and choose which fields to include. Email and form templates use a separate editor to pull in custom fields.

After making the field available for other related areas, select the Save button, then Publish. Publishing is a scheduled job that can take up to 30 minutes to fully process.

Learn how to create a custom field, then add it to the UI of a document in this tutorial: