Purpose

 This document provides the guidelines to integrate the new Simple Search functionality in the CRM business partner advanced searches (Account, Contact, and Employee).

Overview

With the SAP Enterprise Search firstly introduced in SAP CRM 7.0, now we can search almost everything with a great performance. For example, before the enterprise search, we cannot search the long text in the transaction documents. Now we can freely/fuzzy search any long text in all business transactions, master data, which is the key benefit of the enterprise search.

In SAP CRM, as of CRM 6.0, we have some search approaches,

• Advanced Search: Object-specific user interface for searching that allows to specify multiple search criteria and supports complex search queries.
• Saved Search: Saved set of search criteria from an Advanced Search. Saved Searches can be selected and executed from Central Search.
• Central Search: User interface element which is available in a central position on all screens and can be used for starting a search; the central search user interface allows the selection of an object type, “all objects“ or a saved search.
• Simple Search (New in SAP CRM 7.0): Cross-object free-text search functionality and user interface for searching that is based on entering keywords into a single search field and a search result grouped by object type. The search query is for all objects an OR-combination of a subset of attributes of the object.
• Enterprise Search (ABAP): Search technology provided by NetWeaver which also goes by the name “Embedded Search”.

Why does CRM need an Enterprise Search (ABAP) integration and Simple Search functionality?

• NetWeaver Enterprise Search (ABAP) is a search technology provided by NetWeaver which in NW 7.0 goes by the name "NetWeaver Enterprise Search (ABAP)“
• It supports two search scenarios: The so-called “local search scenario” supporting cross-object searches within one system, in contrast to the so-called “central search scenario” supporting cross-object and also cross-system searches.
• The “central search scenario” supports cross-system searches via the NetWeaver Enterprise Search (ABAP) user interface for situations in which business content is spread out across multiple systems like the parts of the business suite, ERP, SCM, PLM and SRM.
• The “local search scenario” is available for CRM and known there as Simple Search.
• The main goal of “Simple Search for CRM Web Client” is to provide CRM Web Client with keyword-based free-text search functionality for business content having a simple to use user interface, using a fuzzy search algorithm, and supporting cross-object searches.
• Simple Search complements the already existing Advanced Searches
• Simple Search is available centrally on all screens in Central Search

Part of CRM Web Client UI is the so-called Enterprise Search (ES). ES is triggered in the CRM Web Client UI for various objects e.g. Accounts, Employee, Activities from the top left corner in the UI.

After the search string has been entered and confirmed with Enter, ES is executed and the corresponding search results are displayed.

 To support ES in a more convenient manner, a one field search (Simple Search) using existing ES has been integrated in the existing advanced search for the Business Partner in the CRM Web Client UI. In addition, a toggle mechanism has been provided in order to be able to toggle between the new one field search (Simple Search) and the standard advanced search. This feature has been provided for the following search applications: Account, Contact, and Employee. However, there is also the possibility to use these applications for search help in other applications. In this case i.e. if the application is used in “search help mode” then only the already existing advanced search should appear. Below customization is shown for business role is SALESPRO.

1. Prerequisite Customization

2.1 Navigation to the Simple Search screens:

The respective Search: Accounts/Contacts/Employees screen should be displayed as shown in the below figures 1,2,3. If the respective Simple Search has been set as Active & Default in Customizing for the business role, the new Simple Search should be available and displayed as default. 

Account Management → Accounts 
 

                                                                                            Fig:1

Account Management → Contacts 

                                                                                               Fig:2
 
Account Management → Employees 

                                                                                                Fig:3
 

2.2   Toggling between simple and advanced search:

The Toggle button should be available The possibility of toggling between simple search and advanced search is shown below in figures 4, 5, 6.

 Account advanced search screen: 
     

                                                                                         Fig:4 

Contact advanced search screen:

                                                                                                Fig:5

Employee advanced search screen:

                                                                                             Fig:6
 

2.3 Recovery of results once a search has been done:
The results and the search terms are not lost after you search and toggle between simple and advanced search buttons as shown  below for the navigations from account management to accounts/contacts/employees in below figures 7 to 9.

 
 Account Management → Accounts:

Click on the “Advanced search button"

                                                                                                Fig:7.1

 Toggle to simple search screen

                                                                                               Fig:7.2

Result retrieved sucessfully

                                                                                                   Fig:7.3
 

Account Management → Contacts:

 Click on the “Advanced search button”

                                                                                               Fig:8.1  

Toggle to simple search screen
 

                                                                                                 Fig:8.2

Results were retrieved successfully

                                                                                                         Fig:8.3

Account Management → Employees:

 Click on the “Advanced search btton”

                                                                                                   Fig:9.1

 Toggle to simple search screen                                                                
 

                                                                                         Fig:9.2

Results were retrieved successfully  
 

                                                                                          Fig:9.3

2.2   Hide Search Fields and Show Search Fields hyperlinks in Simple Search page:      

Search fields can be hidden and shown again successfully as shown in below figures 10, 11, 12

 Account Management → Accounts:

 
                                                                                             Fig:10

Account Management → Contacts:

                                                                                         Fig:11

Account Management → Employees:

                                                                                                      Fig:12

2.2   Maximum Number of Results set to 100 and  Maximum Number of Results set to 10:

Maximum Number of Results set to 100 :*You can search with the field Maximum Number of Results  (MAX_HITS) set to 100. The message More than 100 Accounts found should be displayed above the Result List. On clicking Clear, both the field Search Term and the Result List should be cleared. Below figures 13, 14,15 shows the details.

Maximum Number of Results set to 10:  You can search with the field Maximum Number of Results  (MAX_HITS) set to 10. The message More than 100 Accounts found should be displayed above the Result List. A maximum of 10 results should be displayed in the Result List. Below figures 13.1,14.1,15.1 shows the details.

Account Management → Accounts

 Maximum hits set to 100:

 
  
                                                                                         Fig:13
Maximum hits set to 10:

                                                                                         Fig:13.1

Account Management → Contacts:

 Maximum hits set to 100:

 
                                                                                                 Fig:14

Maximum hits set to 10:
 
                                                                                                  Fig:14.1

Account Management → Employees

 Maximum hits set to 100:

 
                                                                                              Fig:15
Maximum hits set to 10:

                                                                                              Fig:15.1

2.2   Breadcrumb navigation of Simple Search page:

To Check breadcrumb navigation of Simple Search page:

Logon to CRM Web Client UI with business role
Navigate to Accounts management→ Accounts/Contact/Employee
Enter in field Search Term and navigate to the first Account found via the Account Name hyperlink.
Click on Search: Accounts Back breadcrumb to return to the Simple Search page and then navigate to the second Account.
Click on Search: Accounts to return to the Simple Search page. Check the breadcrumbs that  have been written.
Below are the figures 16,16.1,17,17.1,18,18.1

 Account Management → Accounts:

 
                                                                                                    Fig:16
Navigation back was successful

                                                                                                    Fig:16.1
 
Account Management → Contacts:

                                                                                                    Fig:17

Navigation back was successful

                                                                                                  Fig:17.1       

 Account Management → Employees:

 
  
                                                                                                    Fig:18
Navigation back was successful

                                                                                                   Fig:18.1
 

2.7 Personalize options:

You can navigate to the Personalize option within the Simple Search and Advanced Search Result Lists in turn and click on the Reset to Default button. Check the columns displayed by default for the Simple Search and the Advanced Search Result Lists. Same columns should be displayed in the same sequence, with the same terminology and functionality (e.g. hyperlinks, sorting, filtering options). Below are the figures 19 to 21

 Account Management → Accounts:  

 
                                                                                                   Fig:19

 Result for the simple search

 
  
                                                                                               Fig:19.1
And also the advanced search

                                                                                                  Fig:19.2
 
Account Management → Contacts:

                                                                                                    Fig:20

New layout was shown successfully

                                                                                                     Fig:20.1

Click on “reset to default”, default layout is shown

                                                                                                        Fig:20.2

Account Management → Employees:

                                                                                             Fig:21

New layout was retrieved

                                                                                                Fig:21.1

Click on “reset to default”, default grid is retrieved
 
                                                                                                   Fig:21.2

2.2   One-hit direct navigation:

One-hit direct navigation will be supported for Accounts/Contacts/Employees when below parameter is activated.

To activate One Hit Direct Navigation, start the SAP Reference IMG (transaction SPRO) and then navigate to Customer Relationship Management → UI Framework → Technical Role Definition → Define Parameters. Select the profile SERVICE_PRO and then click on Parameter Assignment activity in the tree hierarchy on the left. For the parameter ONE_HIT_DIRECT_DISPL, assign the value TRUE.Below is the figure 22.

 
                                       Fig:22
 

Conclusion

The above document provides you the new Simple Search functionality in the CRM

Business partner advanced searches (Account,Contact, and Employee)

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