In the fast-paced world of digital analytics, creating a user-friendly landing page is crucial for ensuring efficient navigation and project overview within SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). The landing page acts as the entry point to your SAC project, offering users an organized view and facilitating easy access to various components. This guide will walk you through the steps to create a functional and engaging landing page in SAP Analytics Cloud, covering key elements such as design, layout, and functionality.
To start, the landing page in SAC is designed to provide users with a clear overview of the project and quick access to different sections. Setting up an effective landing page involves several essential components, including custom headers and footers, navigation buttons, and dynamic or static links. The main goal is to create an intuitive interface that helps users seamlessly navigate through the project.
Begin by designing the layout of your landing page. The user interface (UI) typically consists of a header, footer, and main canvas area. In the header, you can place a company logo, search bar, and navigation buttons. The footer can include links to social media accounts, support pages, and legal disclaimers. To set up these elements, you can use various widgets available in SAC.
For the main canvas, where the primary content of the landing page is displayed, you can add widgets to showcase essential information such as the project title, description, and company logo. Additionally, you can include icons or buttons that redirect users to different applications or stories within SAC. This helps create a consistent user experience and ensures smooth navigation across the project.
To create navigation buttons on your landing page, start by using a Flow Layout Panel. This type of container allows you to arrange widgets either vertically or horizontally, providing flexibility in layout adjustments. Create a new Flow Layout Panel and name it “main.” Inside this panel, add four additional Flow Layout Panels, which will be arranged in a flow direction. This setup enables you to organize widgets effectively and adapt the layout to different screen sizes without overlapping or misalignment.
To enhance the presentation of your landing page, consider adding spacing or gaps between panels. You can achieve this by inserting intermediate Flow Layout Panels named as gap panels. This approach helps improve the overall layout and visual appeal of your landing page.
Next, focus on customizing the individual panels. For instance, within the first Flow Layout Panel, add a normal panel to accommodate the application logo and another panel for the project description. Adjust the size, position, and styling of these panels to ensure they align with your design preferences. Repeat this process for the remaining panels, creating a cohesive and polished navigation interface.
Once the UI is set up, you need to add links to the navigation buttons to redirect users to the appropriate sections of the project. You have two options for adding these links: static or dynamic. A static link points to a specific URL and remains unchanged. To add a static link, select the three dots on the panel, choose “add hyperlink,” and paste the URL.
Alternatively, dynamic links can be used for URLs that change based on user interactions or other factors. Dynamic links are created using the “NavigationUtils.openApplication()” function in SAC. This function allows you to specify parameters such as the application ID and additional URL parameters. For example, you can use a script like `NavigationUtils.openApplication(“appid”, [UrlParameter.create(‘mode’, ‘embed’), UrlParameter.create(‘bookmarkId’, ‘DEFAULT’)], false);` to open a specific application or bookmark dynamically.
To create a header and footer, simply add sub-panels to the main Flow Layout Panel. The header might include a toolbar with buttons or icons, while the footer can contain support links and contact information. Ensure the header and footer are fixed in height to maintain a consistent layout as you add or remove controls.
Adding quick links to resources such as user guides, forums, or support tickets is another way to enhance the landing page. Use button widgets to create these links and attach the relevant URLs. This makes it easy for users to access helpful resources directly from the landing page.
In conclusion, setting up a landing page in SAP Analytics Cloud involves designing a clear and intuitive interface with custom headers, footers, and navigation buttons. By utilizing Flow Layout Panels, adding static or dynamic links, and including quick links to resources, you can create an effective landing page that enhances user experience and provides seamless navigation within SAC. Customizing your landing page to fit the specific needs of your organization will ensure that users can easily access and interact with your analytics project, ultimately improving overall efficiency and satisfaction.
