Release 4.6: The New SAP GUI

Definition

The SAP graphical user interface (SAP GUI) consists of the technical features that enable you to exchange information with the SAP System (by entering data, choosing functions, and so on). For Release 4.6, SAP has made extensive changes to the SAP GUI design.

Use

New Display Options

The redesigned features include:

• Text fonts and colors
• Color schemes
• Sound and animation settings
• Additional options for data presentation

Structure

The new SAP GUI consists of two main screen areas.

• Screen header

The screen header consists of:

• Menu bar
• Standard toolbar
• Title bar

• Application toolbar

• Screen body

The screen body is the area between the screen header and the status bar.

A typical example of an SAP screen (here, the SAP Easy Access initial screen) with the new SAP GUI is shown below:

Changes to the Screen Header

Screen Banner

In previous releases, the title bar and menu bar were at the top of the R/3 window. As of Release 4.6, a screen banner replaces these two elements. The screen banner consists of:

• Menu bar

GUI interaction buttons

The Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons are no longer in the top right-hand corner. They are now slightly to the left, beside the SAP logo:

You can also find these GUI interaction options in the dropdown menu that appears when you choose in the top left-hand corner.

• Standard toolbar

Command field

By default, the command field is closed. To display it, choose the arrow to the left of the Save icon:

The command field appears:

To hide it, choose the arrow to the right (outside) of the field.

To display a list of the transactions you used last, choose the dropdown arrow at the right-hand end of the field.

• Other features

In the top right-hand corner, the ripple animation indicates data request activity: . This was previously shown by a change of color in the status fields.

Changes to the Screen Body

Screen Elements and Layout

• The screen elements (group boxes, buttons, scrollbars, and so on) have a new design.
• The screen layout has changed. For example, a tab leader now guides the eye from field names to fields, and important screen areas are highlighted more prominently.
• Required input fields were previously identified by a question mark within the field. They now have a checkmark icon at the left-hand end: .

Status Bar

• System message identification (far left)
• identifies error messages.
• identifies affirmative system messages.
• Status fields (far right)

By default, the status fields appear at the far right:

To hide these fields, choose the arrow pointing to the right:

When the fields are hidden, the arrow points in the other direction:

To display the status fields, choose the arrow pointing to the left:

Icons

SAP has changed the graphical design of all icons used in the SAP System.

Changes to GUI Controls

SAP has also redesigned screen elements such as trees, tables, and tabs.

GUI Interaction Principles

The GUI interaction principles – such as minimizing, maximizing, canceling, and dropdown menus – remain the same.