2342168 - [MDF] How to add URL links on a custom MDF object via UI screen?

• How to add URL links on a MDF objects?
• Can external links be added using MDF UI screen?
• "Add Link" on Manage Configuration UI.
• How to pass URL parameters using tokens for links?
• URL links and labels getting truncated.

Image/data in this KBA is from SAP internal systems, sample data, or demo systems. Any resemblance to real data is purely coincidental.

• SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite
• Metadata Framework (MDF)

MDF allows customers to Add Links to the MDF object based UI screen, along with setting up tokens/parameters for the URL link where the users can be directed to, internally or externally. Below are the steps for adding URL links on MDF objects.

1. Identify all the required parameters that are needed for your URL and create a Generic Object (GO) definition, where you can add/store all your parameter values.

        Here we will try to use the URL : https://www.javatpoint.com/immutable-string and use the part "immutable-string" as a parameter.

        2. Create data for this MDF object in advance.

      3. In the Object where you would like to have the URL links configured on the UI, add a custom field of Generic Object type. The Valid Value Source for this field should be the object code you created for storing the URL parameter values. (in step 1 above)

     4. Now create a UI screen for the main MDF object where you would like to add the link. Once saved click on Add Link

      5. Click on Edit Properties for the added link.

       6. Enter the required details (like below example) and then Save the UI.

The URL Tokens will use the values from the MDF object where the required parameter values were added/ stored (in Step2)

IMPORTANT:

The value for storedparams should be set (selected) before clicking the URL link.

NOTE:

1. If the URL configured is a dynamic link, that contains customized URL tokens as above steps mentioned, the configuration will work in the Manage Data screen and Legacy People Profile Screen.
2. For Latest People Profile (PPX) dynamic link Kindly refer to KBA:  3663404 - New Employee Profile – UI Rules for URL visibility Not Working and URL Links Not Opening in New Window in Mobile - SAP for Me 
3. The Latest People Profile (PPX) support static links configured in Parent Object level and does not support links that added in the composite child those will not be supported in future. See: Help Portal - Features Supported by Configuration UI in the Latest People Profile and Their Status; Help Portal - Creating and Adding a Custom MDF Information Card to a Category
4. You can add a card description using rich text that description can include multiple links. You can click the help icon on each card to view the description. This feature is for longer text and multiple static links, making it easy for users to access more information. See more in KBA 3699953 - How to configure a custom MDF object Help Text in Latest People Profile 
5. These URL links on custom MDF portlets are not at all related to Deeplink functionality as these are not for navigating to the profile or a particular block in the profile.
6. UI rules to hide and show a link is not supported.

Other key points:

1. To direct the users to an external link, append the url with https in Enter URL section above.
2. If you have a requirement where you need to provide long labels for the URL links or fields, we recommend creating a separate UI group rather than creating a nested UI group.
3. Form layout renders the content in a label-value pair (vertically) and it trims/truncates the fields/labels so as to accommodate the pair in one single row.
4. Whereas, in Flow layout, you can keep on adding more and more fields and the group will keep on accommodating them by expanding itself in firstly horizontal and then vertical area. => that is why the name "FLOW". However truncation of the labels can happen in any layout (flow or form), if the label size itself is greater than until cell size.

• KBA 2553102 - Employee Central - Manage Configuration UI (MDF object UI)
• KBA 2211616 - How to Configure a UI for a Generic Object in metadata Framework - SuccessFactors
• KBA 2438887 - Metadata Framework - How to create a custom field for a MDF Object?
• KBA 2691586 - Limitation on number of characters in Object Definition UI 
• KBA 2610031 - What falls within the purview of Product Support team for MDF Features?
• KBA 3699953 - How to configure a custom MDF object Help Text in Latest People Profile 
• Help Portal - Features Supported by Configuration UI in the Latest People Profile and Their Status
• Help Portal - Creating and Adding a Custom MDF Information Card to a Category

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