What is the SAP Fiori library and when can it be useful? How do you access it? What are the important parts?

Is it really indispensable? Read this article if you want to learn more.

SAP FIORI library what is it?

As the word itself says, it is a library, a "store" of applications available for SAP. These applications are grouped by type.

In fact, not all APPs (Applications) can be used on all systems.

The SAP FIORI library not only contains the list of applications but is a repository that contains the functional and technical documentation of each application. In some cases even with a preview of the application itself.

It can be accessed (even without having an SAP S-user account) via the following link SAP FIORI Library.

It is worth mentioning that APPs in the SAP context have existed for some time, not only with the introduction of S/4 systems. In fact, it is also possible to activate APP and thus SAP FIORI on ECC ERP systems or SAP Business Suite (the previous version of SAP ERP S/4HANA systems).

In the case of S/4HANA, SAP suggests during new installations or migrations to take advantage of SAP FIORI as much as possible then "abandon" the use of SAP transactions by switching to the applications themselves. Although this shift may result in a major change in the user experience (especially for those who have already been using SAP for many years being used to the SAP GUI).

Right on the home page of the FIORI library you can see a first classification namely:

• All apps - That is, all apps of all types
• All apps for S/4HANA - That is, all types of apps, not only SAP Fiori apps but also for example (SAP GUI, Web Dynpro, Web Client UI etc.) for S/4HANA system
• SAP Fiori apps for SAP S/4HANA - Represents the list of applications available for SAP Fiori-specific S/4HANA systems.
• SAP Fiori apps for Business Suite - represents the list of APPs that are compatible and can also be used on the discontinued version SAP ECC Business Suite type Fiori
• SAP Fiori lighthouse apps - represents a set of apps identified by SAP on certain process scenarios that can be used by customers to benefit from their application/activation right away
• Available via SAP Fiori Cloud - represents the list of apps available for SAP systems in the cloud

When is the SAP FIORI library needed?

When you are considering migrating your system from Business Suite to S/4HANA you can see based on usage statistics what applications you will need to use.

Or during the project or afterwards, you can search for a particular activity what APP is  available by SAP. Remember that you can also export the complete list of all apps (in this case you will have to register if you do not have an SAP S-user).

What parts are relevant to SAP authorization aspects?

Once an application is selected from the menu or searched/filtered through the available selections, it is possible to access a Header part where the main information and some selectable detail parts can be seen.

In the case of the image above, we find the following information in the header ( in addition to the release of S/4HANA where this APP is available):

• Required Back-End Product - whether the APP is supported by a certain product
• Line of Business - that is, the scope of the APP (kind of like the SAP module)
• Application Type - the type of the APP
• Database - whether it is necessary to have SAP's HANA database or not
• Device Type(s) - whether this application runs only on Desktop or also on Tablet
• App ID es. (F2721) - here this last piece of information is among the most important as it allows to uniquely identify the name of the APP, it can be compared to the transactional code in the way of SAP GUI transactions

In the detail sections we find other functional information. But the part that is of interest in our case is found below the "Implementation Information" menu.

In fact, below this menu once exploded are any relevant OSS Notes, technical components for installation, and the "Configuration" part that contains details for aspects related to authorizations and enablements in the FIORI "world." But what is relevant?

• The OData Services i.e., the calls that occur between the Back End System (BES) and Front End System (FES) that can technically be on the same machine or on different machines
• The SAP "roles" where the APP has been inserted i.e. Technical Catalog, Business Catalog, Business Group, Business Role

Topics: sap FIORI, SAP FIORI Security, authorization concept