Create and expose a custom CDS view

You will learn

  • How to create a CDS view to minimize a data set exposed to customer
  • How to expose the CDS view as a web service

Details

If you need access to data in your system in a way the system does not offer so far, you can create your own data access by making use of a custom Core Data Services view (custom CDS view). Usually, the data of an application is distributed across several database tables. Using CDS views allows you to model the data access without changing underlying database tables. In general, CDS views are intended to be consumed by a UI, analytics or other systems. CDS View can be built on CDS Views as well. To simplify the data access there are pre-delivered CDS Views, custom CDS views can only be built on.


Step 1: Open Custom CDS Views application

Navigate to the Extensibility category and press the Custom CDS Views tile to start the application on your Fiori Launchpad.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 2: Select data source

This brings you to the data source list of the available data sources for Custom CDS Views.Search for a data source you want to use as a basis and select the data source (1) I_Customer.

This is the primary data source of the new Custom CDS view.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Now execute create (2) to create a new Custom CDS view.

Step 3: Create custom CDS view

On the general tab enter name YY1_New_Customer and label New Customer.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 4: Select fields

This step is used to taylor a given CDS View to the needs of a customer.Now switch to the Field Selection tab and select following fields (1):- Customer- CustomerName- CustomerFullName- Country- CityName- PostalCode- StreetNameThese fields will be available in the custom CDS view.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Now save and publish the view.

Result:This saves and activates the view.In case the primary data source is access protected, the new view is protected, too.

Step 5: Generate OData service

Switch back to the general tab to generate an OData Service by checkmarking it.Afterwards save and publish your change. Now your OData Service is generated.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Result:Now new service <ViewName>_CDS got created and the service is registered for further usage in the communication scenario.

Step 6: Open Custom Communication Scenarios application

Go back to Press the Custom Communication Scenarios tile to start the application.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 7: Add new scenario

In Custom Communication Scenario add a new Scenario by clicking on new button.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 8: Add name and description

A new window will open where you can define the Name of the New Scenario and its Description.Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 9: Add services

First you have to click the add button. Afterwards search for New Customer and add YY_NEW_CUSTOMER_CDS as a service.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 10: Publish communication scenario

After adding the service YY_NEW_CUSTOMER_CDS, the result will be shown in the following way:

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Now you can publish your Communication Scenario.

Step 11: Use communication system and user

If you already have a communication system and user then use them in the following steps.Otherwise you can create a new communication system and user by making use of the following example.Therefore go to Step 2: Creating a Communication System and User.https://blogs.sap.com/2017/05/17/part-viii-custom-business-object-exposure-as-external-web-service-bonus-plan/

Step 12: Create communication arrangement

Navigate to the Communication Management category and press the Communication Arrangements tile to start the application.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 13: Add new communication arrangement

Click on the new button to create a new Communication Arrangement.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 14: Select scenario and describe arrangement name

You can choose YY1_New_Customer as Scenario and select the create button by clicking the value help.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 15: Save communication arrangement

Now select your Service, like EXTERNAL_SYSTEM as Communication System and save the Communication Arrangement.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Step 16: Generating URL

After you have saved your Communication Arrangement, the URL will be generated.

Create and expose a custom CDS view

Result:The role containing the authorizations for the service(s) is assigned to a communication user. After this step, you can call the service in a web browser and logon with the communication user. You can consume this service also in tools like Excel using the comm. user logon.

Note: the communication arrangement is a configuration object that is created in test and production system separately.