External links (background)

Setting up 'external links' requires a number of individual steps before they can be used:

1. Firstly, an External link type must be created within the Dynamische Aufzählungen, which defines the name and the symbol (icon URI).
   
   

2. As described in External links, an 'interpretation rule' can be configured for an External link type, which is linked to an association criterion.
   Depending on the context, completely different links can be 'resolved' when a user clicks on the symbol for an External link type in an overview.
   
   

3. A column for the External link type can then be added to an overview for relevant business objects.
   
   

4. In event handling, entries for the link types in the business object can be created or deleted using the external links actions. These links are NOT created automatically every time you save, but require an event action.
   However, the entry in the business object only specifies the External link type. The XML of the object contains only the name of that link type and no further details.
   
   

5. Only when clicking on a link symbol in the relevant business object overview is the association criteria determined, which the 'interpretation rule' applies and the link generated at that moment will open in a new browser window or tab.

►NOTE◄ The display of External links (or symbols) in a business object overview does not depend on an evaluation of association criteria. However, if no association criterion is met when clicking, a new browser window is opened, but the error message 'Error: No matching external link configuration found' appears in the address bar of the browser.