How To Fix /UI5/APP_DESCRIPTOR018 - App descriptor of type 'application' does not define a navigation inbound

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: /UI5/APP_DESCRIPTOR -

• Message number: 018

• Message text: App descriptor of type 'application' does not define a navigation inbound

Self-Explanatory Message

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• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message /UI5/APP_DESCRIPTOR018 - App descriptor of type 'application' does not define a navigation inbound ?

  The SAP error message /UI5/APP_DESCRIPTOR018 indicates that the application descriptor (manifest.json) for a UI5 application of type 'application' does not define a navigation inbound. This typically means that the application is expected to be navigable, but the necessary routing configuration is missing.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Navigation Inbound: The application descriptor (manifest.json) does not have a defined navigation inbound for the application. This is required for the application to be accessible via a specific route.
  Incorrect Configuration: The routing configuration in the manifest.json might be incorrectly set up or missing entirely.
  Application Type: The application is defined as a type 'application' but lacks the necessary routing information to handle navigation.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you need to ensure that the application descriptor (manifest.json) includes the necessary routing configuration. Here are the steps to do that:
  
  
  Open the manifest.json: Locate the manifest.json file in your UI5 application.
  
  
  Define the Routing Configuration: Ensure that the routing configuration is properly defined. It should look something like this:
  "sap.ui.router": {
      "config": {
          "viewType": "XML",
          "viewPath": "your.view.path",
          "controlId": "app",
          "controlAggregation": "pages",
          "async": true
      },
      "routes": [
          {
              "pattern": "",
              "name": "home",
              "target": "home"
          }
      ],
      "targets": {
          "home": {
              "viewName": "Home",
              "viewLevel": 1
          }
      }
  }
  
  
  Define the Navigation Inbound: If your application is intended to be launched from a Fiori Launchpad or similar, you need to define the navigation inbound in the sap.app section of the manifest.json:
  "sap.app": {
      "id": "your.app.id",
      "type": "application",
      "applicationType": "UI5",
      "navigation": {
          "inbounds": {
              "yourInboundName": {
                  "semanticObject": "YourSemanticObject",
                  "action": "YourAction",
                  "title": "Your Title",
                  "description": "Your Description",
                  "signature": {
                      "parameters": {
                          "param1": {
                              "required": true,
                              "defaultValue": "defaultValue"
                          }
                      }
                  }
              }
          }
      }
  }
  
  
  Check for Typos: Ensure there are no typos or syntax errors in your manifest.json file.
  
  
  Deploy and Test: After making the necessary changes, deploy your application and test it to ensure that the error is resolved.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for more details on configuring the manifest.json and routing in SAPUI5 applications.
  Fiori Launchpad Configuration: If your application is intended to be launched from the Fiori Launchpad, ensure that the launchpad configuration is correctly set up to include the application.
  Debugging Tools: Use browser developer tools to check for any additional errors in the console that may provide more context on the issue.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the /UI5/APP_DESCRIPTOR018 error and ensure that your UI5 application is properly configured for navigation.