EnterpriseSearch CDS Annotations in SAP

by

If you have not read CDS Annotations Previous blog then you can read from here CDS Annotations in SAP – 4

An effective solution for enabling sophisticated search features in SAP applications is EnterpriseSearch annotations. When connecting with SAP Fiori, SAP BW, or other SAP search-based tools, developers can use these annotations to enhance data models for search capability in enterprise-level applications. By allowing sophisticated search capabilities right within the CDS views, developers may use these annotations to make data more useable and accessible.

We will examine the function, application, and best practices of EnterpriseSearch annotations in ABAP CDS views in this post so that you may make the most of search capabilities in your SAP environment.

What is the EnterpriseSearch CDS Annotation?

In CDS views, attributes pertaining to searchability, indexing, and search settings for fields are defined using the EnterpriseSearch annotation. By enabling business users to quickly locate pertinent information using global search capabilities, it enhances the user experience by making certain fields in your data model accessible across several SAP apps.

These annotations guarantee that fields are correctly indexed and included in the global enterprise search index whether coupled with SAP Fiori Search, SAP BW, or other search engines like SAP HANA Search or SAP BusinessObjects. This guarantees that the data can be found quickly and effectively by enabling users to do search operations across a variety of apps.

Why are EnterpriseSearch Annotations Important?

  1. Enhance User Experience: By enabling search functionality within SAP applications, you allow users to quickly find the information they need, improving efficiency and usability.
  2. Integration with SAP Search Technologies: CDS views annotated with EnterpriseSearch are optimized for integration with various SAP search technologies, such as SAP Fiori, SAP BW, and SAP HANA search engines.
  3. Customizable Search: Developers can customize which fields are searchable, how they are indexed, and how they behave in search scenarios.
  4. Optimizing Search Performance: With EnterpriseSearch annotations, you can control how the system indexes the data and optimizes search queries, improving performance and search response time.

@EnterpriseSearch.enabled

This annotation marks a field or a view as searchable. Fields that are annotated with @EnterpriseSearch.enabled will be indexed and included in enterprise search results.

@EnterpriseSearch.enabled: true
customer_name

@EnterpriseSearch.indexed

This annotation specifies whether a field should be indexed for search. By default, all fields are indexed, but this annotation allows you to explicitly define the indexing behavior.

Syntax:

@EnterpriseSearch.indexed: true
order_id

@EnterpriseSearch.searchable

This annotation allows you to define which fields are searchable in the context of text search. This is particularly useful when you want to enable fuzzy search or full-text search capabilities.

Syntax:

@EnterpriseSearch.searchable: true
product_description

@EnterpriseSearch.fuzzySearch

This annotation enables fuzzy search for a field. Fuzzy search allows for partial matches, enabling users to find results even if the search term is not an exact match. This can be particularly useful for improving search flexibility, especially in large datasets.

Syntax:

@EnterpriseSearch.fuzzySearch: true
customer_name

@EnterpriseSearch.relevance

The relevance annotation allows you to define the importance of a field in search results. Fields with higher relevance will appear more prominently in search results. This is useful when you want certain fields (e.g., product names or customer IDs) to be prioritized over others.

Syntax:

@EnterpriseSearch.relevance: 100
product_name

@EnterpriseSearch.filterable

This annotation allows you to define whether a field can be used as a filter in search queries. This is particularly useful when you want users to narrow down their search results by applying specific filters based on certain field values.

Syntax:

@EnterpriseSearch.filterable: true
order_date

Example: Implementing EnterpriseSearch Annotations in a CDS View

Here’s an example of how to apply various EnterpriseSearch annotations in a real-world CDS view:

@AbapCatalog.sqlViewName: 'ZSALESORDERS'
@EndUserText.label: 'Sales Orders with Searchable Fields'
define view ZSalesOrderView as select from sales_order
{
    key sales_order_id,
    customer_id,
    @EnterpriseSearch.enabled: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.searchable: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.indexed: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.fuzzySearch: true
    order_date,
    
    @EnterpriseSearch.enabled: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.searchable: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.indexed: true
    product_name,
    
    @EnterpriseSearch.enabled: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.searchable: true
    @EnterpriseSearch.indexed: true
    order_amount
}

In this example:

  • sales_order_id is the key field and is not annotated for search.
  • order_date, product_name, and order_amount are all annotated as searchable and indexed to be included in the enterprise search.
  • product_name also has fuzzy search enabled, allowing users to perform partial searches

An essential technique for allowing robust search capabilities within SAP applications is provided by EnterpriseSearch annotations. Developers may significantly improve the user experience by designating particular fields as relevant, searchable, and indexed, which will make it simpler for users to find data across various SAP systems.

Using EnterpriseSearch annotations in your ABAP CDS views is a best practice for enhancing the usability, relevance, and efficiency of enterprise search, regardless of whether you’re using SAP Fiori, SAP BW, or any other search-based platform. You may give your end users a smooth and effective search experience by adhering to the recommended principles and adding the appropriate annotations to your CDS models.

Leave a Comment