How To Create an SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud with SAPUI5

Introduction

SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud stands for mobile applications built on SAP’s in-memory HANA Cloud platform utilizing the SAPUI5 framework. This combination enables developers to create fast, responsive, and scalable mobile apps that seamlessly connect to SAP backend systems. For those new to this, you can explore more on SAP HANA on Wikipedia.

At Cremencing.com, we specialize in SAP Custom Development, helping organizations design bespoke SAP applications tailored to their needs. Whether you are an experienced SAP developer or just starting, this tutorial will show you how to create a SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud using SAPUI5, including the setup, tools, development, and deployment stages.

Why Develop an SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud?

Developing mobile applications on SAP HANA Cloud delivers various benefits to enterprises and developers:

Speed in Memory: SAP HANA Cloud uses in-memory computing, which lets your apps process data in real time.

Cloud Scalability: Easily scale your applications as demand grows without worrying about infrastructure.

Responsive UI: SAPUI5 delivers a broad collection of UI controls suited for mobile and desktop devices.

Integrated Ecosystem: Seamlessly connect with SAP S/4HANA and other SAP solutions via ODATA services.

Cost-Effective Development: Free trial environments and open developer tools make app creation accessible.

Step-by-Step Guide Your SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud

Below is a clear stepwise procedure to help you build your first SAPUI5 mobile app on HANA Cloud.

Step	Task Description	Tools & Links
1	Sign up for HANA Cloud trial	HANA Cloud Trial Signup
2	Download & install development tools	SAP HANA Client, SAP HANA Studio, SAPUI5 SDK
3	Connect HANA Studio to HANA Cloud	Use cloud credentials to establish a tunnel connection
4	Create a SAPUI5 Application project	HANA Studio → Developer View → New SAPUI5 Project
5	Add XS Engine configuration files	.xsaccess, .xsprivileges, .xsapp
6	Deploy & activate application	Share to HANA repository, activate, and test the app

Step 1: Sign Up for SAP HANA Cloud

To begin, create a free trial account on SAP HANA Cloud at the SAP HANA Cloud trial site. This trial environment gives you access to a sandbox where you can deploy and test your mobile applications without initial cost. After logging in, create a new package named something simple and lowercase, like trial1. This package will hold your SAPUI5 application project.

Step 2: Download and Install Development Tools

You will need to install several SAP tools on your local machine to develop and deploy your mobile app:

• SAP HANA Client: Essential for communication between your local environment and HANA Cloud.
  
• SAP HANA Studio: Eclipse-based IDE for SAP development, with SAPUI5 plugins.
  
• SAPUI5 SDK: Install SAPUI5 tools/plugins in HANA Studio by adding the update site: https://tools.hana.ondemand.com/kepler.
  
• SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK: The Java Web SDK is required for tunneling and other advanced features.
  

This setup allows you to connect and manage your HANA Cloud environment from your desktop, developing apps locally and deploying them to the cloud.

Step 3: Connect HANA Studio to SAP HANA Cloud

Using HANA Studio:

• Open the Administrator view.
  
• Use your cloud credentials to open a secure tunnel to SAP HANA Cloud.
  
• Add a new system connection using your cloud host and port details.
  

Once connected, you can explore your packages and prepare to deploy applications.

Step 4: Create Your SAPUI5 Mobile Application

Navigate to the Developer view in HANA Studio and create a new SAPUI5 Application Project:

• Choose Mobile as the app type.
  
• Use JavaScript as the development paradigm.
  
• Name the project, e.g., SalesByCustomer.
  
• Add a default view to start with a basic UI scaffold.
  

Your app initially can just contain a simple button or text element to verify connectivity.

Step 5: Configure XS Engine Access Files

To expose your app via HANA Cloud’s XS Engine (the runtime server):

• Add three configuration files at the project root:
  
  • .xsaccess with { “exposed”: true }
    
  • .xsprivileges granting basic usage privileges
    
  • .xsapp (no modification needed)
    

These files allow your app to be accessible and properly authorized in the cloud.

Step 6: Deploy, Activate, and Test Your Mobile App

• Right-click your project → Share with SAP HANA Repository.
  
• Choose your package (like trial1).
  
• Activate all project files.
  
• In the HANA Cloud console, navigate to XS Applications and open your app link.
  
• If the app URL results in a 404, append /WebContent/index.html to the URL to access the initial page.
  

You should now see your basic SAPUI5 mobile app running on the cloud!

Key Features of SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud

Feature	Description
Real-time Data Access	Powered by SAP HANA’s in-memory processing
Cloud-Native	Easily scalable cloud platform for app hosting
Cross-Device UI	Responsive SAPUI5 UI adapts to phones, tablets, and desktops
Simplified Development	Free trial environments and open tools for faster development
Integration Ready	Seamless backend SAP system integration via ODATA services

Resources for SAP Mobile App Development

• SAP Mobile Services Documentation: SAP Mobile Services on help.sap.com
  
• SAPUI5 Developer Guide: SAPUI5 Official Site
  
• SAP HANA Cloud Trial: hanatrial.ondemand.com
  
• Cremencing SAP Custom Development: Our Custom SAP Development Services
  

 Conclusion

Building a SAP Mobile App on HANA Cloud using SAPUI5 is a basic procedure when guided properly. By leveraging SAP’s in-memory HANA Cloud platform and the sophisticated SAPUI5 framework, organizations can design high-performing, scalable, and responsive mobile applications that interface easily with SAP backend services.

This blog covered the essentials: setting up a cloud trial, installing tools, creating and deploying your first mobile app, and understanding core features that drive SAP mobile app success. As SAP continues to innovate with cloud-native and AI-powered enhancements, mastering these fundamentals opens the door to unlocking significant value for your organization.

At Cremencing.com, we specialize in SAP Custom Development – helping clients construct bespoke SAP applications tailored to their unique business needs. Whether you want to expand traditional SAP apps or develop totally new mobile solutions, we’re your trusted partner to expedite innovation and maximize ROI.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to take your SAP Mobile App strategy to the next level, Cremencing Solution is here to help. Our skilled SAP developers provide custom development services to construct scalable, powerful SAPUI5 mobile apps on HANA Cloud tailored to your business.

Contact us today to discuss your SAP mobile app requirements and learn how we can help you achieve seamless connection, speedy deployment, and improved user experience.

Contact Cremencing SAP Custom Development Team

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which instance types can you create in SAP HANA Cloud?
You can provision single-container, multi-container, and dedicated instances suited for various workloads like development, testing, and production.

2. Can we use SAP in a mobile app?
Yes. SAP Mobile Services and SAP Mobile Start enable mobile app integration with SAP backend systems, allowing enterprise mobility solutions.

3. How to create a SAPUI5 application?
SAPUI5 apps are created using SAP Business Application Studio or HANA Studio by building UI views in XML or JavaScript and deploying them on SAP HANA Cloud.

4. Is SAP Fiori a mobile app?
SAP Fiori is a design framework providing responsive web apps accessible on mobile browsers. It is not a standalone mobile app but can be wrapped as a hybrid app.

5. Is SAP Mobile App Start free?
SAP Mobile Start is available with certain SAP subscriptions. Licensing terms vary by contract and usage.