The Launch External URL callout gives clients and developers a platform to extend the functionality of SAP Concur providing a means to deliver custom user interactions, or access functionality found in an external system. The client can arrange to add an Expense Entry form field that is configured to use the Launch External URL callout to a Concur Expense Entry form. Concur Expense will display this field with an attached button that launches a separate window when clicked. The window is controlled by an application connector, created by a third-party developer, the client, or SAP Concur. The application connector is a web server that presents information in the window.
The application connector can access SAP Concur data through the web services, or can access data in an external system. Once the user has completed their actions in the window (such as performing a search or completing a wizard), he/she clicks a button such as “Done” that indicates the user has concluded their work in the window. The application connector then closes the window.
The application connector can use web services to send information to SAP Concur to update field values on the expense entry form or other form types. The application connector may send the updates before or after the user closes the window. When the user returns to SAP Concur, the page refreshes and he/she sees the updated values.
This callout differs from the standard SAP Concur web services in the following ways:
This callout is not supported in the SAP Concur mobile application.
SAP Concur products are highly configurable, and not all clients will have access to all features.
Partner developers must determine which configurations are required for their solution prior to the review process.
Existing clients can work with Concur Advantage Technical Services to create custom applications that work with their configuration.
Information on how to download, install, and configure the application connector is included in Callouts and Application Connectors.
The configuration process has the following steps:
Once the configuration is complete, the callout uses the following process:
SAP Concur will make calls to the application connector’s endpoint using SSL. During configuration, SAP Concur will connect to the application connector to validate that its hostname and access credentials are valid.
In the code SAP Concur provides for a sample application connector, credentials are stored in a web configuration file that varies by platform, such as web.xml or web.config. However, if you are hosting the connector, you can customize where and how the credentials are stored by customizing HTTPBasicAuth.java or Authentication.cs.
Expense will not be able to connect to the application connector until a certificate signed by a Certificate Authority (CA) is installed in the application connector. You will need to install the signed certificate before SAP Concur can access the connector.
SAP Concur sends requests to the application connector using anonymous authorization (no username and password are provided) over HTTPS.
The application connector can validate the authenticity of the query by generating a signature hash from the provided variables and comparing it with the passed in values, including the signature hash that SAP Concur supplies. Two of the required variables for the signature hash are username and password, which are entered in SAP Concur on the Register Application Connector page in Web Services under Administration. The application connector must use the same username and password pair to generate it’s validation signature hash.
An Expense text form field must be configured as the Launch URL control type and the form field must be added to the desired form before this callout can be used. The Launch URL control type will not appear in the list until a partner application using the Launch External URL API has been registered and enabled for the company. The administrator must select either a single-line or a multi-line control type, depending on the data that will be placed in the field.
Notes:
Refer to the HTTP Codes page for details of the common responses and errors.