Status Bar

The status bar (Figure I.12) contains three components: the message field (A), system data field (B), and frame grabber (C).

Figure I.12. Components of the status bar.

The message field is one of two screen elements (the second is popup screens) by which the system displays confirmations, warnings, errors, and other messages to users. For example:

• When you set up and execute a transaction for creating a requisition, the system confirms you have successfully completed the transaction and displays by default the new requisition number in the message field (Figure I.12A). You don't have to respond to the system in any way, although you should probably record the requisition number.

• If you try to log on with the wrong user ID or password, the system displays an error message to this effect in the message field. Once again, you do not have to respond directly to this message, but you must correct your error when you try to log on again. You can also see more information about a warning or an error by double-clicking the message.

The system data field displays technical data about your SAP environment; that is, its hardware and software. Some of these data appear directly on the status bar. For example, the system data field in Figure I.12 displays the name of the database (CU6 (1) (800)) that we used to capture the screen images for this book, and the server (tsphl874) through which we accessed this database (B).

You can also click the list menu icon (Figure I.13A) in the system data field to display other sorts of technical data, including the name of the database (System) and SAP server (Host name), your user ID (User), and the transaction code of the screen (Transaction). You can permanently display one of these datatypes directly in the first compartment of the status bar by scrolling down to it and clicking it so that a check appears to the left of its name (B).

Figure I.13. The list menu icon (A) reveals other technical data about SAP.

Finally, you can display or hide the system data field by clicking the control arrow (C) to its left.

The frame grabber (Figure I.12C) allows you to adjust the size and shape of the application window by clicking-and-dragging it into a new position.