Handling Busy States

Intro

This article describes how to handle the busy state in SAP Fiori apps in general. You can set a busy indicator locally at control level (for example, on a page or for a button) using a busy state, or set it globally using the busy dialog. In SAP Fiori, the aim is to keep the blocking of UIs to a minimum, and to unblock areas where user interaction is possible. Because response time depends on available bandwidth and server performance, unblocking can take a second or more. In this case, we need to inform the user that the process is ongoing.

Usage

Busy indicators are used in the following areas:

Initial page loading
Dynamic fields and forms (asynchronous loading of fields based on user preselection)
Lazy loading of content, for example, in lists and tables
Searching and filtering, for example, lists, tables, and global searches
Primary actions such as Save, Update, and Delete
Deleting and updating lists or modifying tables
Partial loading of content

Setting the Busy State

The challenge here is to decide at what level and when the busy state needs to be set. The options are as follows:

Show the entire UI as busy (including SAP Fiori launchpad shell bar) using a busy dialog
Set a busy state at control level (for example, on a page or for a button)

To make the right decision, we first need to understand how a page or app is loaded.

The “Manage Products” example below uses a flexible column layout. We will also assume that the necessary data for labels, tables, and so on is loaded asynchronously, and that the mapping is done via binding.

The app is launched from a tile on the home page. The busy indicator is shown until the initial application data is available.

Busy indicator to indicate busy state on the home page

Busy indicator to indicate busy state on the home page

First, the UI description and metadata are loaded. This is the minimum for a basic functional UI. Until this data is available, the app UI needs to be blocked. In this case, we set the busy state from the flexible column layout control (sap.f.FlexibleColumnLayout).

Do not use the busy dialog to block the entire UI. Otherwise, this would also affect the shell bar, and the user would not be able to access shell features such as Sign Out or Search.

Busy state at app level

Busy state at app level

Once the metadata has been loaded, we can partially unblock the UI where it makes sense.

The busy state is set for the list column and the details area until the data has been loaded.

Separate busy states for list and detail areas

Separate busy states for list and detail areas

Once the data for the list area is available, the busy state is removed. Because the data for the details area is loaded asynchronously, its busy state is set separately.

List is visible, busy state for the details area

List is visible, busy state for the details area

Guidelines

Only use the busy dialog if you do not want to allow the user to use the shell, for example, to navigate to the home page. In some cases, long-running processes require the user to be informed about the result in order to continue, for example, to a second step.
If multiple busy indicators overlap, the SAPUI5 framework ensures that only the one at the uppermost level is shown.
Do not use the busy dialog for app or page loading. Set the busy state at app level.

Resources

Want to dive deeper? Follow the links below to find out more about related controls, the SAPUI5 implementation, and the visual design.

Elements and Controls

Busy State (guidelines)
Busy Indicator (guidelines)
Busy Dialog (guidelines)
Placeholder Loading (guidelines)

Implementation

Busy Indicator (SAPUI5 samples)
Busy State (SAPUI5 samples)
Busy Dialog (SAPUI5 samples)

Visual Design

Busy Indicator (visual design specification)