Pushbuttons with Icons on Data Screens

On data screens, you can use icons for pushbuttons with no fixed position for a number of functions. Position the pushbuttons in the work area so that the intended reference is obvious (usually to the right of an object).

Generally, add text to an iconized pushbutton only, if absolutely required.

If the address icon is used for different types of addresses (e.g. shipping address, order address), complete the icon with a corresponding text.

Spin Buttons

A spin button is a control element for the sequential display and/or input of mutually exclusive alternatives. Use spin buttons to display or enter alternatives with a logical ascending order, for example, the months of the year.

You provide the functionality of a spin button using an input field and two triangle icons pointing up and down.

Figure 1: Spin button example

When choosing alphabetical entries (for example, month, weekday) the upwards pointing triangle means Previous entry and the downwards pointing one Next entry.

With numeric values, (for example, the rotation angle of an object, time) the upwards pointing triangle means Next value (Increment), the downwards pointing one Previous value (Decrement).

At the beginning or the end of the list the system cycles through the other end of the list.

Word Processing Functions

Text/Word Processing

Standard: Usually, you use the Change text icon, and Create, Change and Display are not distinguished. If the user clicks this icon, the SAPscript word processing is called or an intermediary screen comes up from where SAPscript can be called. The user can enter formatted texts. This function may also call an OLE object (WinWord, Wordperfect etc.). It refers to the entire object (formerly often called Long text).
Extension: There are icons with the meaning Display text and/or Create text. Use them to set the three text icons at runtime. This makes a separate status display superfluous. Follow this scheme for dynamic use of word processing icons:

Status of Text	Icons for Edit Mode	Icons for Display Mode
no text	Create text, active	Create text, inactive
no text, protected	Create text, inactive	---
text exists	Change text, active	Display text, active
text exists, protected	Display text, active	---

Table 1: Overview of text icons in edit and display mode

(Change) Note, Comments

Standard: Use the annotation icon when the user can enter comments with reference to a particular action (object component, for example, order item) or a particular line of a report. Typically, these texts are entered unformatted.
Extension: As with text (word processing): Create note and/or comment and/or Display note and/or comment

Other Services

For other services you can use the following functions:

Table calculation: Calling, for example, the unit calculation from a previous application, for example, "Change part"
(Business/Statistics) graphics: Calling the business graphics from a window in which displays a list with data
Variants: Calling a dialogue box, in which layout variants can be specified (for example, in the Report Writer or in Logistics-Controlling) or display variants can be selected (for example in the line item display)
Info: Information text from the application itself (that is, created by SAP or generated by the application or a data processing administrator). Texts can refer to the application or to individual columns in a report. They describe specific aspects of an application and cannot be changed by the user.
Short Message: May be used in mail applications
Address: Calling the address dialogue box
(Set) status: Calling a window to set the status for an object (for example, entering release infos in the IMG)
Tools: Callings tools inside or outside the R/3 System
Export/Import: Saving files on a PC/loading files from a PC