SCM516 - Procurement Optimization
SCM516 - Procurement Optimization
Procurement Optimization
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Participant Handbook
Course Version: 62
Course Duration: 2 Day(s)
Material Number: 50085167
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About This Handbook
This handbook is intended to complement the instructor-led presentation of this
course, and serve as a source of reference. It is not suitable for self-study.
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Procedures
Target Audience
This course is intended for the following audiences:
Course Prerequisites
Required Knowledge
• Strong Procurement Knowledge
• Rudimentary Basis Knowledge
• Advanced Implementation Guide Knowledge
Recommended Knowledge
• Basic Understanding of Data Transfer Processes
• Basic Understanding of Data Maintenance
Course Goals
This course will prepare you to:
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
• Configure and apply Master Data Enhancements to both the material and
vendor Master
• Create Quickviews with the help of Quickviewer
• IDOC Generation
• Activate Workflow Process for Procurement
Unit Overview
Your procurement group has a request from sales to begin capturing serial numbers
on outgoing customer orders. To accommodate your sales department’s request,
you ask that serial numbers be assigned to products from both external vendors
and internal production orders.
Several of your vendors have requested that payment and shipping request
paperwork be sent to alternative addresses. To accommodate your vendors’
requests, you ask that a new vendor partner processes be implemented.
Unit Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
Unit Contents
Lesson: Serial Numbers ..........................................................2
Exercise 1: Master Data Enhancements - Serial Numbers ..............7
Lesson: Vendor Master ......................................................... 18
Exercise 2: Master Data Enhancements - Vendor Master ............. 29
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Create serial number profiles
• Explain the purpose of central controls for serial numbers
• Apply serial number profiles in various business processes
• Test new serial number profiles in the goods receipt process.
Business Example
Your procurement group has a request from sales to begin capturing serial numbers
on outgoing customer orders. To accommodate your sales department’s request,
you ask that serial numbers be assigned to products from both external vendors
and internal production orders.
• Status information
– You can establish here which system and user statuses are valid for the
master record. If necessary, you can set or delete the user status, display
the authorized business procedures, and set particular system statuses.
• Stock information
– You can see here in which plant and warehouse the material is located,
or to which batch it belongs. You can also see what type of stock
and special stock is involved. The stock information is recorded
automatically when goods movements are performed, and cannot be
changed manually.
• Configuration data
– Here, you can configure a material item according to its characteristics
or make reference to a configured object.
• Partner data
– Here, for example, you can use freely definable partner functions and
partners to specify in Customizing which companies are responsible
for the maintenance of the serialized material.
Further data and functions, such as maintenance data, location data, and
classification, are only available if you add to the serial number master record to
make it an equipment master record.
This table provides an overview of the individual procedures and their business
meaning.
Serial Number Profile
The serial number profile contains the following information:
Business Example
Your procurement group has a request from the sales department to begin
capturing serial numbers on outgoing customer orders. To accommodate your
sales department’s request, you ask that serial numbers be assigned to products
from both external vendors and internal production orders
Task 1:
Create a new serial number profile
1. Create a new serial number profile with the name Z0## and the description
Group ##.
2. Make the required customizing settings in the new profile so that a serial
number master record does not need to be created before assigning a serial
number to a material master
3. Assign relevant business procedures for goods receipt to the new serial
number profile
Task 2:
Assign a serial number profile to a material master record.
1. The Catt needs to extend materials 1200-00 to 1200-20 into plant 3000 for
Exercise to work.
Enter the newly created serial number profile, Z0##, into material master
record 1200-##, plant 3000
Task 3:
Test the new serial number profile
1. Create a purchase order for qty 1, plant 3000, material 1200-##, and vendor
T-K516A##. Record the PO number
2. Create a goods receipt with reference to the purchase order created in step 1.
Task 4:
Review the history of the serial number.
1. Display the serial number master record that was automatically created when
posting the goods receipt for the purchase order.
2. Branch to the serial number history view and review the documents created
for the serial number.
3. Review the action log. Display when each document was created and who
created each document. Record your findings.
Task 5:
Change the customizing settings for the serial number profile Z0##.
1. Change the customizing settings for the serial number profile Z0## so
that a serial number must be created before assigning a serial number to a
material master record.
2. Test the new settings by creating another purchase order for qty 1, material
1200-##, plant 3000, and vendor T-K516A##.
3. Create a goods receipt with reference to the purchase order created in step
1-5-2. Let the system try to automatically create the serial numbers when
posting the goods receipt. What is the system response?
Task 6:
Create serial numbers.
1. Create 10 new serial numbers for material 1200-##, plant 3000. Let the
system assign the 10 next available numbers in the number range.
Task 2:
Assign a serial number profile to a material master record.
1. The Catt needs to extend materials 1200-00 to 1200-20 into plant 3000 for
Exercise to work.
Enter the newly created serial number profile, Z0##, into material master
record 1200-##, plant 3000
Answer: Using transaction MM02, change the material master record. Enter
material number 1200-## and select the Plant data/ stor2 view. Enter plant
3000. Enter serial number profile Z0## in the profile field. Save your entry
2. The serial number profile is maintained at what organizational level?
Answer: Plant level
Task 3:
Test the new serial number profile
1. Create a purchase order for qty 1, plant 3000, material 1200-##, and vendor
T-K516A##. Record the PO number
Answer: Using transaction ME21N, create a purchase order. Save and
record the PO number.
2. Create a goods receipt with reference to the purchase order created in step 1.
Answer: Using transaction MIGO, create a goods receipt. Enter the
purchase order number and press ENTER. Select Item OK Do not save!
3. Create the serial number for the good receipt
Answer: Branch to the serial number tab in the detailed screen. Select
Create Serial Nos Automatically. Note: It is possible to have this checkmark
default automatically, we are performing this step manually for testing
reasons only. Save
Task 4:
Review the history of the serial number.
1. Display the serial number master record that was automatically created when
posting the goods receipt for the purchase order.
Answer: Using transaction IQ03, display the serial numbers. Search for the
serial numbers by entering material number 1200-## in the search screen.
Hint: Do not leave transaction IQ03; all of the following steps are performed
within this transaction.
2. Branch to the serial number history view and review the documents created
for the serial number.
Answer: After selecting the serial number, press the history button. Within
the history log you will see the material document created for the goods
receipt. Record the document number and serial number.
3. Review the action log. Display when each document was created and who
created each document. Record your findings.
Answer: In the history screen, select the line for the goods receipt and press
the action log button. Record your finding.
Task 5:
Change the customizing settings for the serial number profile Z0##.
1. Change the customizing settings for the serial number profile Z0## so
that a serial number must be created before assigning a serial number to a
material master record.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Tools → Customizing → IMG →
Execute Project. Choose SAP Reference IMG. Choose SAP Customizing
Implementation Guide → Plant Maintenance and Customer Service →
Master Data in Plant Maintenance and Customer Service → Technical
Objects → Serial Number Management → Define Serial Number Profiles.
Select the serial number profile Z0## and press the change button. Select
the Exist.Req. field so that a serial number master record must be created
prior to serial number assignment
Save your entry.
2. Test the new settings by creating another purchase order for qty 1, material
1200-##, plant 3000, and vendor T-K516A##.
Answer: Using transaction ME21N, create a purchase order.
Save and record the PO number.
3. Create a goods receipt with reference to the purchase order created in step
1-5-2. Let the system try to automatically create the serial numbers when
posting the goods receipt. What is the system response?
Answer: Using transaction MIGO, create a goods receipt. Enter the
purchase order number and press ENTER. Select Item OK. Branch to
the serial number tab in the detailed screen. Select the Create Serial Nos
Automatically field and try to save the document. The system will issue
an error message stating that it was not possible to create serial number
records automatically.
Task 6:
Create serial numbers.
1. Create 10 new serial numbers for material 1200-##, plant 3000. Let the
system assign the 10 next available numbers in the number range.
Answer: Using transaction IQ04, list editing. Enter material number
1200-## and plant 3000. Enter the number of master records that are to be
created, 10, in the No. serial numbers field and press ENTER. The system
will display the next 10 available serial numbers in the block below.
Save your entries
Note: To create an equipment master record while creating the serial number,
choose View selection and select Equipment in the dialog box. When you
choose Back, the system automatically assigns an equipment number. To
view this assignment, choose the SerData tab.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Create serial number profiles
• Explain the purpose of central controls for serial numbers
• Apply serial number profiles in various business processes
• Test new serial number profiles in the goods receipt process.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Create new vendor partner roles and account groups
• Apply new partner rles in the procurement process
• Test new vendors in the procurement process.
Business Example
Several of your vendors have requested that payment and shipping request
paperwork be sent to alternative addresses. To accommodate your vendors’
requests, you ask that a new vendor partner processes be implemented.
At the same time, you also request that vendors’ e-mail addresses be captured
in the vendor master record.
Vendor hierarchies may be useful for your organization if you trade with vendors
who have complex, external structures that you need to take into account for
pricing. For example, this would be useful if you trade with major retail chains or
large concerns that are organized in hierarchies with numerous levels.
Vendor Hierarchy Category
1. Create master records for each node that you plan to include in the hierarchy
(some of your master data, such as vendors, may already exist).
2. Assign the nodes to each other, gradually building up your hierarchy.
3. Assign your vendors to the appropriate nodes.
Usually, you create a hierarchy starting with the uppermost node, then create
subsequent levels.
Vendors are usually assigned to nodes at the lowest level of the hierarchy.
However, it is also possible to assign vendors to nodes at higher levels in the
hierarchy. For example, a particularly large store in a chain of retail outlets may be
assigned to a regional office rather than to a local sales office.
Among other things, the account group ensures that only the fields needed for
your business partner’s relevant role are displayed or are ready to receive input
in the vendor master record.
However, control of field selection in the vendor master record is not only a
function of the account group, but also depends on the transaction used and the
purchasing organization.
By making the appropriate settings for number assignment, you can ensure that
different business partners are managed in different number ranges in the system.
Another relevant Customizing setting is partner determination, since you can store
different partner roles (partner functions) in the vendor master record.
Each vendor whose data is created in the SAP system must be assigned to an
account group. The desired account group is assigned when a new vendor master
record is created.
The account group helps to determine how the business partner is used in the
system. The standard system, for example, contains different account groups for
vendors (suppliers), manufacturers, forwarders/carriers, and invoicers.
You use the account group to determine:
The field status (field selection)
Whether a vendor master record is used as a one-time account master record
Use of the data retention levels vendor subrange or plant
The number range interval and the type of number assignment (internal or external)
The permissible partner roles
The field status can be controlled by the transaction used, the account group, the
purchasing organization, or the company code.
The fields to be defined are divided into the following areas:
• General data
• Company code data
• Purchasing data
• Purchasing vendor subrange level
• Purchasing plant level.
Individual influencing factors control different areas. Through the company code,
for example, you can only influence the group of company code data. On the other
hand, the transaction used can determine the status of all fields.
The business partner can assume various roles in relation to your enterprise. For
example, in the course of a procurement transaction, a business partner is first the
ordering address, then the goods supplier, then the invoicing party, and finally
the payee. A prerequisite for the use of partner roles (partner functions) is the
existence of a corresponding master record for the partner in question.
Not all of the roles in a particular transaction are necessarily assumed by the same
business partner; a number of different firms may be involved. Because of this,
you have the option to define relevant partner roles in the vendor master record
on the basis of purchasing organization or plant. These partners are adopted as
default values in the purchasing documents.
Not all of the roles in a particular transaction are necessarily assumed by the same
business partner; a number of different firms may be involved. Because of this,
you have the option to define relevant partner roles in the vendor master record
on the basis of purchasing organization or plant. These partners are adopted as
default values in the purchasing documents.
For example, a different invoicing party is transferred from the vendor master
record to a purchase order. The party automatically appears as the default value
for this purchase order when the invoice is posted.
To use partner roles in the vendor master record, you must first make various
settings in Customizing.
First, all the partner roles that you wish to use client-wide must be defined. In the
process, you can specify that a partner role may be used in a vendor's master
data only once per organizational level.
If the Unique indicator has not been set, several ordering addresses may be defined
per organizational level. When creating a purchase order, the buyer would see a
list of all possible ordering addresses. He or she would then be able to choose the
desired address from the list.
If a hierarchy is to be used in connection with partner roles, it is sensible to use
subordinate partner roles. In this way, you can replicate dependencies between
partner roles.
After the partner roles have been defined, they must be assigned to the relevant
account groups. This assignment controls the meaningful use of roles. It makes
little sense, for example, for the account group for invoicing parties to allow the
partner role ““ordering address”.
To be able to use the partner determination facility, you must define at least one
partner schema for vendor master records and one for purchasing documents.
When schemas are defined, the previously created partner roles are assigned to the
relevant schema.
The partner schema enables you to create various groupings for partner roles and
to assign these to the various account groups and purchasing document types.
Partner determination at the time the document is checked and saved is particularly
advantageous if different data has been stored in the vendor master record at the
plant or vendor subrange levels (that is to say, if partners have been maintained at
these levels).
If partner determination takes place immediately, the plant from the default values
(personal settings in the purchase order) is used for the partner determination
process.
If a PO contains several items with different plants, the partners are determined
at purchasing-organization level, irrespective of whether or not the Higher Level
indicator has been selected.
Business Example
Several of your vendors have requested that payment and shipping request
paperwork be sent to alternative addresses. To accommodate your vendors’
requests, you ask that a new vendor partner processes be implemented. At the
same time, you also request that vendors’ e-mail addresses be captured in the
vendor master record
Task 1:
Create an account group.
1. Create a new account group, GR##, with the short description account
group ##. Create the new account group by copying group ZTMM.
2. Make the Internet Mail Address field mandatory when a vendor master
record is created.
3. Why is it sufficient to just change the field control of the account group to
make the Internet Mail Address field mandatory?
Task 2:
Create a new partner role for account group GR##.
Task 3:
Assign permissible partner roles to account group GR##.
1. Assign partner role ## (partner role ##) and VN (vendor) as permissible for
account group GR##.
Task 4:
Define a new partner schema, PS##.
1. Define a new partner schema, PS##, for vendor master records with the
description schema-##, containing the partner roles VN vendor and the
new partner role ##.
Task 5:
Assign the partner schema to an account group.
Task 6:
Test the new partner role for vendor master record T-K516B##.
1. Test the new settings by changing vendor master record T-K516B##. Create
vendor T-K516A## at the level of purchasing organization 3000 with
partner role ## as partner.
Task 7:
Make the new partner role ## available for standard purchase order type NB
2. Assign the new partner function ## to the partner scheme that is assigned
for purchase order type NB.
Task 8:
Test the new partner function by creating a standard purchase order.
2. Check if the new partner function ## was copied from the vendor master
record.
Task 2:
Create a new partner role for account group GR##.
1. Create a new partner role ## for account group GR##.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Tools → Customizing → IMG → Execute
Project. Choose SAP Reference IMG. Choose SAP Customizing →
Implementation Guide → Materials Management → Purchasing → Partner
Determination → Partner Roles → Define Partner Roles. Using New
Entries, enter the partner role ## with the specified designation and type of
partner number.
Save your entries.
Task 3:
Assign permissible partner roles to account group GR##.
1. Assign partner role ## (partner role ##) and VN (vendor) as permissible for
account group GR##.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Tools → Customizing → IMG → Execute
Project. Choose SAP Reference IMG. Choose SAP Customizing →
Implementation Guide → Materials Management → Purchasing → Partner
Determination → Partner Roles → Define Permissible Partner Roles per
Account Group. Via New Entries, enter the partner roles ## and VN
(vendor) for account group GR##.
Save your entry.
Task 4:
Define a new partner schema, PS##.
1. Define a new partner schema, PS##, for vendor master records with the
description schema-##, containing the partner roles VN vendor and the
new partner role ##.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Tools → Customizing → IMG → Execute
Project. Choose SAP Reference IMG. Choose SAP Customizing →
Implementation Guide→ Materials Management → Purchasing → Partner
Determination → Partner Settings in Vendor Master Record → Define
Partner Schemas. Via New Entries, create a new partner schema with the
description PS## (schema-##). Select the new entry and branch to the partner
roles for this schema via the dialog structure. Via New Entries, create the
partner roles VN (vendor) and ## (partner role ##
Save your entry.
Task 5:
Assign the partner schema to an account group.
1. Assign partner schema PS## to account group GR## at all three
organizational levels.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Tools → Customizing → IMG → Execute
Project. Choose SAP Reference IMG. Choose SAP Customizing →
Implementation Guide→ Materials Management → Purchasing → Partner
Determination → Partner Settings in Vendor Master Record → Assign
Partner Schemas to Account groups. For account group GR##, enter
schemaPS## as partner schema instead of IDE1, IDE2, and IDE3 at all
organizational levels.
Save your entry.
Task 6:
Test the new partner role for vendor master record T-K516B##.
1. Test the new settings by changing vendor master record T-K516B##. Create
vendor T-K516A## at the level of purchasing organization 3000 with
partner role ## as partner.
Answer: In transaction XK02, choose Change vendor centrally Branch to
the partner function screen and enter vendor T-K516A## with partner
role ##.
Save your entry.
Task 7:
Make the new partner role ## available for standard purchase order type NB
1. Which partner scheme is assigned to standard purchase order type NB?
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Tools → Customizing → IMG → Execute
Project. Choose SAP Reference IMG. Choose SAP Customizing →
Implementation Guide → Materials Management → Purchasing → Partner
Determination → Partner Settings in Purchasing Documents → Assign
Partner Schemas to Document Types. Partner scheme 0002 is assigned for
purchasing document type NB.
2. Assign the new partner function ## to the partner scheme that is assigned
for purchase order type NB.
Answer: Choose SAP Customizing → Implementation Guide → Materials
Management → Purchasing → Partner Determination → Partner Settings
in Purchasing Documents → Define Partner Schemas. Select partner scheme
0002 and branch to partner functions in procedure. Add partner function
## as a new entry. Select the Higher Lvl indicator to search for allocated
partners at purchasing-organization level.
Save your entry.
Task 8:
Test the new partner function by creating a standard purchase order.
1. Create a standard purchase order for vendor T-K516B##.
Answer: Using transaction ME21N, create a purchase order for vendor
T-K516B##. Note:Press ENTER so the purchase organization and company
code default into the purchase order
2. Check if the new partner function ## was copied from the vendor master
record.
Answer: Go to the Partners tab in the newly created purchase order and
check that the new partner function ## is listed in addition to the partner
function VN (vendor). Note: Do not save the purchase order.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Create new vendor partner roles and account groups
• Apply new partner rles in the procurement process
• Test new vendors in the procurement process.
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• Create serial number profiles
• Explain the purpose of central controls for serial numbers
• Apply serial number profiles in various business processes
• Test new serial number profiles in the goods receipt process.
• Create new vendor partner roles and account groups
• Apply new partner rles in the procurement process
• Test new vendors in the procurement process.
Unit Overview
Your procurement group has a request from Sales to begin capturing serial
numbers on out going customer orders. In order to acuminate your Sales
departments request; you request that serial numbers be assigned to products from
both external vendors and internal production orders.
Unit Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
• Create QuickViews
• List the benefits of generating QuickViews
• Describe the different methods of QuickView generation.
• Explain the purpose of IDoc generation
• Create an IDoc.
• Understand the Basics of SAP Business Workflow and Purpose
• Activate a Workflow Process.
Unit Contents
Lesson: Quick Viewer ........................................................... 42
Exercise 3: Communication Exchange Processes-QuickViewer...... 55
Lesson: IDocs .................................................................... 63
Lesson: Workflow ................................................................ 71
Lesson Overview
The lesson gives the general overview of all the reporting tools available and
explains in the detail “Quickviewer” tool.
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Create QuickViews
• List the benefits of generating QuickViews
• Describe the different methods of QuickView generation.
Business Example
Your quality management group has requested that you assist them in compiling a
report of serial numbers created by the production order processes for all products
in a production inspection lot.
The SAP Query is used to create reports not already contained in the default. It
has been designed for users with little or no knowledge of the SAP programming
language ABAP.
SAP Query offers users several ways to define and create different types of
reports, such as basic lists, statistics, and ranked lists.
All data required by a user for a report can be read from various tables.
The InfoSet query is a tool within the SAP Query that you can set as an
alternative to component queries. This tool for maintaining queries is suitable for
both developing queries and ad-hoc reporting.
An InfoSet query can be used for reporting in all areas of the SAP system, and
Human Capital Management (HCM) displays a special feature: the InfoSet query
contains the Object Selection function for reporting the data model in HCM
When the InfoSet query is set in HCM for ad-hoc reporting, the name Ad Hoc
Query is used instead of InfoSet query.
You can use an Ad Hoc Query to quickly answer simple questions, such as, “how
many employees earn more than $100,000 annually?” You can also create a
comprehensive report to print or download to your PC. The query is designed so
that users can pose questions to the SAP system and receive real-time answers.
The SAP Query is used to create lists not already contained in the SAP standard
system. It has been designed for users with little or no knowledge of the ABAP
programming language.
SAP Query offers users a several ways to define and create different types of
reports, such as basic lists, statistics, and ranked lists.
Different groups of users work with the different components of the SAP Query.
The SAP Query comprises five components: Queries, InfoSet Query, InfoSets,
User Groups, and Translation/Query
Choose Tools → ABAP Workbench → Utilities to call up the components
individually.
• SAP Query: Queries used for maintaining queries
• SAP Query: InfoSets used for maintaining InfoSets
• SAP Query: User Groups used for maintaining user groups
• Translation: Query used for language comparison
The Copy function allows you to create a QuickView by coping a existing one. To
do this, choose a name for the QuickView in the dialog box and confirm your entry.
The Rename function allows you to rename an existing Quickview by choosing
another name for the QuickView in the dialog box and confirming your entry.
The Delete function deletes the QuickView after asking you to confirm that this is
what you want to do.
The Layout display function displays the principle structure of the list created
by the QuickView.
The SAP Query button takes you to query maintenance
The Adjust function (QuickView → Additional Functions → Adjust) adjusts
differences between the QuickView and InfoSet. For example, suppose you have
created a QuickView using an InfoSet and have already executed it a number of
times. Your system administrator then modifies an InfoSet field by changing the
type of field you use in the QuickView. The next time you want to work with
the QuickView, you get a message informing you that differences exist between
the QuickView and the InfoSet. If differences occur between QuickViews and
InfoSets, you should terminate processing and carry out a comparison between
the QuickView and the InfoSet. The system gives you an automatic adjustment
option for individual fields
After defining all the details, such as field selection and so on, you can save the
Quickview or check it by executing it from the Basis mode or Layout mode.
The first step in creating a QuickView is selecting its DataSource. You can choose
one of the following:
• Table
• Logical database
• InfoSet
• Table join.
Logical databases, InfoSets, and table joins are all different techniques for
consolidating data from multiple database tables.
Logical databases are predefined paths for accessing database tables. These
paths can be made available to various reports in code form. Logical databases
are especially useful if the structure of the data you want to read corresponds to a
hierarchical view. This can be realized using a logical database.
InfoSets are used in SAP Query. InfoSets can be based on logical databases, for
example. If you choose an InfoSet as your DataSource, the InfoSet must come
from the standard query area. InfoSets from the global query area may not be used
when creating a QuickView.
Multiple tables can be linked together to form a join. The result set is a table, and
each line contains all the fields of all the tables used in the join. Hierarchical
relationships between tables cannot be analyzed using a table join. Table joins
must be defined before beginning QuickView construction. You define joins using
a control containing graphical representations of the tables you are joining and
existing relationships between them.
You can use Basis mode if you want to display or export your list in a standard
format after field selection and sort sequence selection (if applicable).
You can choose between two modes in the QuickViewer:
• Further processing in Layout mode
• List display in Basis mode
Layout mode allows you to influence the graphical structure of your list, whereas
Basis mode immediately executes or passes your list to other tools.
Basis mode offers the following features:
• Field selection and sequence assignment
• Sort field selection
• Selection criteria selection (fields for the selection screen)
• List execution, list display in standard format, or list export (to Microsoft
Word, Excel, and so on)
Select the Available fields that you need for your list from the table control on the
right. The Column left; Previous button allows you to transfer fields into the
table control on the left.
If you want to accept all available fields in your list, use the Page left button
(double arrow). Page right resets this selection.
Determine in which order you want your fields to be output. If you want to move
a field forward in the sequence, select it and choose the Previous value button (up
arrow). Use the down arrow to pass fields down the list.
The Technical name <> Long text button in the application toolbar allows you to
switch between a field's technical name and long text.
You can select list fields in the upper-left window of the Query Painter. The fields
are displayed in a tree whose structure is derived from the DataSource. If your
DataSource is a logical database, then the nodes of this tree are the same as the
logical database nodes. With joins, each table's individual nodes make up the node
of the tree. All fields are found under their corresponding node.
Two checkboxes are assigned to each field. When you select the first box, its field
is selected and transferred to the layout window and, as a result, to the list as well.
You can also make this selection simply by double-clicking on the field name.
Selecting the second box makes the field into an additional selection criterion.
Selection fields are displayed as input fields on selection screens before your
report is executed. Users can reduce the amount of data output in the report by
entering values in these fields.
Selected fields are highlighted in color. Depending on how many fields you select,
they are either inserted one after the other in a single line or in multiple lines.
You may also place your cursor on a list field and right-click. Choose List options
and maintain your options in the lower-left window. You can change list attributes
here by making entries directly. Any entry you make in this window must be
confirmed using the Apply button.
Business Example
Your quality management group has requested that you assist them in compiling a
report of serial numbers created by the production order process for all products
in a production inspection lot.
Task 1:
Communication Exchange Processes
Task 2:
Communication Exchange Processes
Task 3:
Generate a QuickView to meet your quality management group’s reporting
requirement to have a list of serial numbers generated during the production order
process for the products created in a production inspection lot.
1. Check and maintain serial no profile 0001 and Inspection setup 04 for
material P-1##, plant 1000, storage location 0001.
5.
Generate a report on serial number, inspection lot, and order number using
QuickViewer. Name the report QV##.
Task 2:
Communication Exchange Processes
1. QuickViews are user-specific and cannot be shared across users.
Answer: True
Task 3:
Generate a QuickView to meet your quality management group’s reporting
requirement to have a list of serial numbers generated during the production order
process for the products created in a production inspection lot.
1. Check and maintain serial no profile 0001 and Inspection setup 04 for
material P-1##, plant 1000, storage location 0001.
Answer: Check and maintain serial no profile and Inspection setup for
material P-1##. Choose SAP Menu → Logistics → Material Management
→ Purchasing → Material Master → Material → Change (MM02). Enter
P-1## as Material no and choose Enter. Select the General Plant Data
/Storage 2 view. Choose Quality Management and then choose Enter. Enter
Organizational Levels Plant 1000 and Storage location 0001 and Enter Under
General Plant Parameters, assign Serial no profile 0001 and choose Enter.
You are now in the Quality Management view of the material master record.
Choose the Insp.Setup button. Activate 04 (Final Inspection at GR from
Production) inspection type and choose Continue.
Save your changes.
Material P-1##
Production Plant 1000
Order Type. PP01
Choose Enter.
Under the General tab, enter Total Qty as 1 PC, scheduling type Forwards,
Start Date as Today’s Date.
Choose Header → Serial Numbers.. Enter Serial Number QV## and choose
the Continue button.
Choose Release order .
Choose Save
Write down your production order number.
3. Create goods receipt against this production order to automatically generate
an inspection lot.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Logistics → Material Management →
Inventory Management → Goods Movement → Goods Movement (MIGO).
Select Goods receipt and Order from the dropdown menu. Enter your
production order number from the previous step and choose Enter. Select
the Item OK indicator in Detail Data of the material. The serial numbers
generated in the production order process are copied here and can be seen
in the Serial Numbers tab. Check and Post this document. Write down the
material document number generated
4. Display the inspection lot generated during this process
Answer: Select Display and Material Document in the same screen. The
system will automatically pick the recent material document created. Verify
this material document number.
Select Enter to display the details of the material document.
Select the Quantity tab page.
5.
Generate a report on serial number, inspection lot, and order number using
QuickViewer. Name the report QV##.
Answer: You can find Tables and Fields by using F1 help on the field. The
following tables contain all the details required in the report.
Select the required fields, that is, the Order number field from the Order
Item table, the Inspection Lot no (PRUEFLOS) field from Inspection Lot
record tables, and material number (MATNR) you can choose from any
table. Similarly, choose the Serial no (GERNR) field from Equipment master
data by selecting the checkbox.
All the selected List fields and Selection fields get transferred to the
right-hand screen in the List fld.Select. and Selection fields tab pages.
All the selected List fields and Selection fields can also be changed in the
tab pages with the arrow buttons. Choose Execute “Execute” for data
selection and output. Accept all warning messages generated by the system.
You are now in the Selection screen. Enter Material No P-1## and Choose
Execute “Execute”.
The system generates the report in the SAP List Viewer format.
You can change the Export as option to change the report output.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Create QuickViews
• List the benefits of generating QuickViews
• Describe the different methods of QuickView generation.
Lesson: IDocs
Lesson Overview
The lesson deals with the Idoc concepts, it explains in detail how to create Idocs
and configure them.
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Explain the purpose of IDoc generation
• Create an IDoc.
Business Example
You quality management team has asked to continue to use a legacy system. They
would like to have the serial numbers created in ECC populated in this legacy
system. You need to generate an IDoc to allow the required data to be exchanged.
IDoc is an SAP standard format for data transfer between systems. IDoc stands for
Intermediate Document.
IDoc interface is available in the R/3 system from Release 2.1 A onwards and
in the R/2 system from Release 5.0F.
Each business process (for example a purchase order) usually corresponds to a
certain IDoc type, which can include the relevant data.
IDoc Type is defined by the segments, their hierarchy, sequence and frequency
of use. Segment hierarchy can be represented in tree form as parent and child
segments. This allows the application data to be structured.
In this example, data flow is always seen from the point of view of the R/3 system.
Therefore, if data is sent via IDocs from an R/3 system to an external system, the
process is called outbound processing or simply outbound.
Outbound Processing includes:
• Posting the application document
• Generating the corresponding outbound IDoc
• Finding the partner and the port
• Transfer of the IDoc to the external system via the port.
Outbound configuration:
System 1 (sending IDoc) will define the system which will receive the Idoc and
the technical parameters via the port definition.
System 1 will define system 2 as a partner for message type LOIPRO (production
orders) in the partner profiles and enters the port which is already defined.
Documentation tools inform the EDI Subsystem which IDoc types are to be
recognised.
Note: All these transactions can be accessed in IDoc & EDI basis Menu
(transaction code WEDI).
Receiving data from an external system and the subsequent processing in the
R/3 system is called inbound processing or also inbound Inbound processing
includes:
• Receiving IDoc data from an external system via an inbound port
• Creating the inbound IDoc
• Finding the correct processing type via partner profiles
• Creating the application document.
If an error occurs, error handling (more general: exception handling) is triggered.
This is not the part of inbound processing. There is also exception handling for
outbound processing but it is less important: For outbound processing you should
usually presume that the data being sent is correct.
Inbound configuration: Documentation tools inform the EDI Subsystem which
IDoc types are to be recognised.
The port name must be maintained in the Port definition before IDocs can be
accepted by the R/3 system.
In the Partner Profiles, system-2 enters system-1 as a partner for inbound
processing and the message type LOIPRO (production order).
• Inbound Partner Profile: The same 7 key fields which are included in the
outbound partner profile are used in this case also. The partner refers to
general partner profile.
After maintaining all these settings you have to use a particular program to
generate the IDoc like to generate IDoc of Production order program name is
RCCLORD.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Explain the purpose of IDoc generation
• Create an IDoc.
Lesson: Workflow
Lesson Overview
The lesson explains in detail how to activate a standard SAP business workflow
for a procurement process.
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Understand the Basics of SAP Business Workflow and Purpose
• Activate a Workflow Process.
Business Example
Currently your user community is using the interoffice mail to request managerial
approval of purchases above five thousand dollars; you would like to streamline
your approval processes by having the process handled thought e-mail.
Workflow management systems are information technology tools for the
technological implementation of Business Process Reengineering. They support
and speed up business processes. They enable the employees involved to carry out
complex business processes irrespective of time and place.
The flow of work is controlled and coordinated actively by the workflow
management system. Control includes the monitoring of individual work steps
and the initiation of appropriate escalation procedures if deadlines are missed. It is
also possible to establish the current status of a process at any time.
SAP Business Workflow functions integrate and add to the comprehensive
business functions of the R/3 System.
The integration of Organizational Management in SAP Business Workflow
enables tasks to be linked with agents using organizational assignments.
As soon as a task comes up, it is delivered to the user in their electronic inbox.
(The burden of fetching the task is removed because the system delivers it.)
All the information, explanations and instructions available are delivered to the
user at the same time.
The workflow goes automatically to the appropriate R/3 transactions.
The workflow definition represents the business process or part thereof.
Figure 35: What Processes Are Particularly Suitable for SAP Business
Workflow
As soon as a task comes up, it is delivered to the user in their electronic inbox.
(The burden of fetching the task is removed because the system delivers it.)
All the information, explanations and instructions available are delivered to the
user at the same time.
The workflow goes automatically to the appropriate R/3 transactions.
The workflow definition represents the business process or part thereof.
Insurance companies were probably one of the first to demonstrate the advantages
of a seamless processing chain. Here, clerks are responsible for acquiring
customers, concluding contracts, and providing support. This contradicts the basic
principles of Taylorism, since the clerk must carry out these tasks across several
applications and functions.
A workflow glossary is available to help with terminology. You will find the
glossary in the appendix as well as in the online documentation.
This question refers to each individual item of work (task) that is to be executed.
A task might execute a transaction, a report, a function module, run a routine in an
external system, update a spreadsheet, or simply act as a reminder that something
is to be carried out manually.
A task can be used as a mini workflow itself. For example, in IDoc error handling
where we just want to notify someone that an error has occurred.
If a task has to be performed by an actual person (rather than by the system in the
background), an agent has to be assigned.
At runtime, the task generates a work item in the agent's Business Workplace.
This work item not only notifies the agent that something is to be done, it also
contains the necessary instructions and enables the agent to carry out the work
directly from the work item.
Tasks represent the steps in the business process. The process to be mapped must
be divided into individual tasks during definition.
What tasks are processed in what order in a process is specified in the workflow
definition.
A task refers to one object type in the Business Object Repository, and to one
of its methods defined there.
A business process may only have one task.
Even under these circumstances, a workflow definition should be created.
At workflow runtime, a task is represented by a work item.
The work item appears in the Business Workplaces of the responsible agents
(employee inboxes).
A list of possible agents is required for a task (TS). This list contains the
employees in your enterprise who are authorized to receive this work item
(runtime representation of task).
Create the possible agents under “Additional data - Maintain agent assignment”.
When defining, you can choose “Properties” and create a “general task”, or choose
“Agent assignment - Create” and create a relationship with an organizational
object.
Any system user can execute general tasks.
The actual recipients of the work item are determined at runtime.
You do not have to have HR for the relationships with organizational objects. The
functions are provided with the Basis system.
When you insert a task into a workflow definition, you define a workflow step.
You must specify “responsible agents” in this workflow step as well.
You can also exclude agents explicitly.
The slide shows how agents can be assigned in the step.
The system determines the “responsible agents” for the work items at runtime. For
each user determined, the system checks that they are one of the possible agents
and that they were not excluded in the workflow step definition.
If both checks give a positive result, the user receives a work item in their
Business Workplace.
The aim of workflow-driven processes is for the correct agents of a process step to
be determined automatically.
For example, a leave request should always be sent to the superior of the applicant.
Invoices for posting should go to all employees who occupy an “invoice receipt
clerk” position.
SAP Business Workflow makes this automatic agent determination possible by
requiring that a number of “possible agents” be defined for each individual task.
An agent's position in the enterprise determines whether or not they are a possible
agent.
It is possible to define a “general task” if an activity is to be executable by all
R/3 users.
The number of recipients can be restricted dynamically at workflow runtime. To
this end, the specific agents who are to actually receive the work item are specified
when the workflow step is defined. You can use elements of Organizational
Management for this, as well roles or assignment to agents of previous steps.
All agents determined in the workflow step must be possible agents of the task.
Otherwise, the work item created cannot be seen in their worklist.
It is possible to specify agents for exclusion from processing in the workflow step.
An outcome is a possible result of a step. You can define a specific reaction for
each outcome in the workflow.
Possible outcomes of the task “approve request” may be: approved, rejected,
revised.
A work item can be completed by an event. An exception or a method result
can lead to an outcome.
In the workflow step, the possible outcomes are displayed on the “Outcomes”
tab page.
Outcomes can be deactivated, meaning that modeling is no longer necessary.
The workflow then assumes an error status as soon as it reaches the outcome.
Like the methods, the possible events are defined as components of object types in
the Business Object Builder. They describe the status changes of objects.
The event is only defined in the Business Object Repository.
If the status of an object changes during a process, the application must trigger the
relevant event. This publishes the event across the system enabling a workflow
to react to it.
You cannot change SAP workflows. However, you can create extensions to these
workflows by redefining predefined values within a “configuration”.
If you want to modify the step logic of an SAP workflow, you must copy it to
a customer-specific template of your own. You can then change this template
in any way you want.
In the “Workflow runtime system” section, the traffic light should be on green.
If there is an entry missing for “Number range for customer tasks” in the
“Workflow development environment” section, you can ignore this.
The individual Customizing entries are covered in the course BC601.
If the error “PD control tables not complete” occurs, start the report RHSOBJCH.
The adaptation of information texts is dealt with in the unit entitled “Workflow
Architecture”.
You can extend an existing template or use one as a basis for creating a new
template.
Hint: If you want to change the flow logic of a template, you must copy it
to a customer-specific workflow template. You can then edit this template
however you want.
In addition to the general Customizing for the workflow system, each workflow
template also has its own specific Customizing usually within the application
in the IMG.
The Customizing steps required are detailed in the documentation for the
individual templates.
The work items can be executed directly from the worklist. The applications in
question are started and provided with the data required when you double-click.
Recipients can display the attachments of the work item and add new ones.
You can attach many types of document to a work item, including SAP script
documents, Microsoft Office documents or Internet pages.
The workflow system determines the recipients of the work item. All selected
recipients can see and (potentially) execute the work item in their Business
Workplaces. But only one user can actually execute the work item. So, once a
user starts execution, the other recipients can no longer execute the work item.
A recipient can reserve a work item. A reserved work item can only be executed
by the user who reserved it. If you choose Replace, you release the work item
from its reserved status and make it available again to all the selected agents. The
work item status is then reset to “ready”.
You can specify that the completion of processing of a workflow step is to be
confirmed explicitly. After a work item is executed, a dialog box is displayed in
which you can complete the execution of the work item. If you choose Cancel at
this point, the work item remains in the worklist and is set to “executed”. Within
the worklist, you can choose Set to done for work items with the status “executed”.
Until this occurs, the work item can be executed or forwarded repeatedly.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Understand the Basics of SAP Business Workflow and Purpose
• Activate a Workflow Process.
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• Create QuickViews
• List the benefits of generating QuickViews
• Describe the different methods of QuickView generation.
• Explain the purpose of IDoc generation
• Create an IDoc.
• Understand the Basics of SAP Business Workflow and Purpose
• Activate a Workflow Process.
Unit Overview
The unit explains the different methods of document maintenance considering
procurement functions in mind.
It covers the following:
• Maintain search help
• Texts
• Mass maintenance
• Archiving and deleting.
Unit Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
Unit Contents
Lesson: Maintain Search Help ................................................. 93
Exercise 4: Maintain Search Help........................................105
Lesson: Texts.................................................................... 111
Exercise 5: Texts ........................................................... 117
Lesson Overview
This lesson explains what the search helps are and how one can configure them
according to business requirements.
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• State the benefits of configuring search help
• Explain how configure search help
• Configure and test search help.
Business Example
At the request of the logistics group, several new field structure have been added
to the purchasing documents. The group would like to search against these new
fields, so you need to configure a new search help for these documents.
Search help is used to define possible entries help (F4) for screen fields. The user
can display a list of all possible input values for a screen field with input help
Must-Know Terminology
Match code
A comparison key that enables you to locate the key of a particular
database record, such as an account number, by entering information
contained in the record.
Search help exit
A search help describes the standard input help process. In exceptions it
could be necessary to deviate in some points from this standard. Such a
deviation from the standard can be implemented with a search help exit.
Selection method
The possible input values displayed for a field in the hit list are
determined at runtime by database selection.
Search help parameter
A search help parameter is a field for controlling the
behavior of a search help.
Quite often you will notice a match code used in the Customizing of search help.
Hint: The input help process should look as much the same as possible
throughout the entire system. Search help exits should therefore only be
used for exceptions.
Elementary search help describes a search path. Elementary search help must
define where the data of the hit list should be read from (selection method), how
the exchange of values between the screen template and selection method are
implemented (search help interface) and how the online input help should be
defined (search help online behavior). You can define the following components
of this flow in the search help:
• Where does the data displayed in the hit list come from (selection method)?
• What information should be displayed in the dialog box for value selection
and in the hit list (search help parameters)?
• What field contents can be taken into account for hit list selections, and
which values in the hit list can be returned to the screen fields (search help
parameters)?
• What dialog steps should be executed in the input help (dialog behavior)?
Collective search help combines several elementary search helps. A collective
search help describes an input help process in which the user can choose one
of several alternative search paths. Each alternative search path corresponds to
an elementary search help, that is, a collective search help contains several
elementary search helps.
Both elementary search helps and other collective search helps can be included
in a collective search help. If a collective search help contains other collective
search helps, they are resolved down to the level of the elementary search help
when the input help is called.
Like an elementary search help, a collective search help has an interface of import
and export parameters. The data is exchanged between the screen template and
the elementary search help parameters contained in it by using this interface.
The parameters of the search helps included in a collective search help must be
assigned to the parameters of the collective search help.
During the input help process, the collective search help only controls the
user's selection of the required search path. The rest of the dialog and data
collection is controlled by the selected elementary search help. If selection of
the required elementary search help should be made flexible (for example, with
context-specific definition of the set of available search paths), the collective
search help must be assigned a search help exit.
Import parameters are parameters with which context information can be copied
to the input help process from the input template or from the module pool of
the processed screen.
Export parameters are parameters with which values can be returned to the input
template from the input help process.
Internal parameters are parameters used for the input help process. Further data
can be applied in the input help process using parameters that appear in the dialog
box to restrict values or that have a default value. Furthermore, all the fields
displayed in the hit list are internal parameters of the search help.
In this step, you can revise existing search helps for purchasing documents or
define new ones. Search helps enable you to find all purchasing documents that
satisfy certain criteria (all POs for an asset, for example).
You can search for the following purchasing documents:
• RFQ/quotation
• Purchase order
• Contract
• Scheduling agreement
• Service entry sheet.
Each search help comprises certain purchasing document fields.
You can assign any purchasing document fields to a search help. You then delimit
the documents for which you are searching via these fields (creating a search help
facilitating searches for all POs relating to a certain project, for example).
In the standard system supplied, the search help ASH_MEKK – belonging to the
collective search help MEKK – facilitates searches for purchasing documents.
Search help inclusion is the mechanism with which the alternative search paths
defining the behavior can be assigned to a collective search help. In a search
help inclusion, any other search help can be assigned to the including collective
search help. Usually, the included search help will be an elementary search
help. In this case, the search path implemented by this search help will become
one of the alternative search paths of the including search help. If the included
search help is also a collective search help itself, all the elementary search helps
contained in this collective search help will become alternative search paths of
the including collective search help.
Hint: Since a large number of search helps can impair the performance
of your system, you should check which search helps you wish to use
and deactivate any others.
Under “Maintain Search Help”, you will find three tab pages: Attribute, Definition,
and Included Search Helps.
The Attribute tab page contains details such as Last Changed on/ by, Package,
and Original Language.
The Definition tab page contains Search Help Exit, and Search help parameter and
its roles (Import, Export, Default values).
Included Search Helps contains search helps (generally elementary search helps):
• MEKKA: Purchasing Document per Asset
• MEKKB: Purchasing Documents per Requirement Tracking Number.
Hint: After revising certain Search helps / defining new ones do not
forget to activate them. Only active search helps will be made available
in the transaction screens.
You can test the behavior of a search help in this test screen. The parameters of
the search help that are import or export parameters are displayed. The input help
key appears for all output parameters.
The test screen fields corresponding to the parameters can have one of three
statuses:
• Ready for input
• Not ready for input
• Does not exist
The current status of a field is displayed in the second column. It can be changed
with the Switch button to the right of the status display. The quick info for the
button shows the next status of the corresponding field that is set by pressing the
button. The status of a field can be changed as follows:
• ready for input → not ready for input → does not exist → ready for input
The contents of a field are not changed when the status changes.
You can start the test of the search help by:
• Pressing ENTER.
• Placing the cursor on the required field and pressing F4 or clicking the
corresponding F4 button.
The behavior of the search help is influenced by the status of the fields in the
test screen. If the search help is started for a field that is not ready for input, the
required dialog boxes are displayed, but the values of the export parameters in the
hit list, highlighted in gray, are not returned to the test screen.
The search help for a field that is ready for input places values of export
parameters, highlighted in blue, back in the test screen.
By setting the status “not active”, you can test the behavior of the search help if
the corresponding field is missing in the template.
Special Features
When you include a collective search help I in a collective search help S,
you should note the following features:
• When you display the search paths available in S, all the search helps
contained in S are resolved to the level of the elementary search helps.
• If an elementary search help is contained more than once in a collective
search help, for example, because it is contained in more than one of the
included search helps, it is offered only once in the dialog box for selecting
the search path (shadowing mechanism).
• If I has a search help exit, it is not taken into consideration in an input help
process defined by S.
• Context information is transported to the input help process and from field
contents from the input help process with the assignment for the parameters
of I and S made during the inclusion.
• If parameter PAR of I is not an IMPORT parameter or if it was not assigned to
a parameter of S in the inclusion, any existing default value of PAR is passed
to all IMPORT parameters of included search helps that are linked with PAR.
• I may not contain S (or be the same as S).
Business Example
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Maintain search helps for purchasing documents.
1. Execute F4 help on the Purchase order screen field in the goods receipt
transaction.
3. Create a new search help to search for purchase orders based on the Asset
number field. Remove any unwanted fields.
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Maintain search helps for purchasing documents.
1. Execute F4 help on the Purchase order screen field in the goods receipt
transaction.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Logistics → Materials Management →
Inventory Management → Goods Movement → Goods Movement (MIGO).
Choose Goods receipt and Purchase order and select F4 help on the field
next to Purchase order. The dialog window will offer several options. By
selecting the icon, you will be able to view all of the possible tab pages
in alphabetical order.
Select F4 and select the required search help parameter within the Parameter
window.
Hint: You must have EBELN and EBELP because those parameter
are defined as Export parameter i.e. which requires to be searched
and transferred to main screen.
Select the search help, click on the parameter assignment, and accept the
proposed parameters.
This will make ASH_MEKK also inactive. Therefore, check and activate
this search also (with local object created earlier).
Answer: Select the icon and start your text by pressing ENTER or
placing your cursor on the required field and pressing F4.
Data will be transferred and your new search help will be working.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• State the benefits of configuring search help
• Explain how configure search help
• Configure and test search help.
Lesson: Texts
Lesson Overview
The lesson deals with basic concepts and configuration of copy rules.
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• State the benefits of configuring copy rules
• Outline the process for configuring copy rules
• Configure and test copy rules.
Business Example
Your user group has expressed concern that the text they are typing into purchase
requests is not showing on the purchase orders. You need to remedy this by
configuring copy rules.
Different master data, such as material master, vendor master, and purchasing
info records provide options to specify texts that users might want to default in
purchasing documents like RFQs, quotations, POs, or outline agreements.
Hint: Always check the available text types before creating a new one.
Hint: Also explore the Vendor master, Purchasing Info record, and
Contacts and Scheduling agreements nodes.
To copy specific text (for example, material PO text) from a purchase requisition
to a purchase order:
1. Check whether this text is defined in the source object, which is usually
provided in standard SAP (for example, purchase requisition) in the IMG
activity Define Text type.
2. Go to IMG activity Define copying rules for Item texts. Choose SAP IMG
→ Materials Management → Purchasing → Purchase Order → Texts for
Purchase Orders → Define Copying. Choose Rules for Item Texts.
3. You will notice “Material PO text” defined in the main screen. Select this
line and double-click on Text Linkages. You will see there is no source object
or source text defined for purchase orders.
4. Select New entries and define the copy sequence for text (number specifying
the order in which the source text objects are searched for the relevant text;
the first object containing text is copied into the target object).
This field is used, for example, to specify which purchase order text – the
one from the info record, the one from the RFQ, or the one from the purchase
requisition – is adopted in the purchase order item.
5. Choose F4 help on the Source object field and select Purchase requisition
as the source object.
6. Similarly, choose F4 help on the Source Text field and select Material PO
Text.
7. Leave the Fixing indicator blank to automatically adopt the text in the target
object.
8. Save and exit.
The “Fixed” indicator for texts determines whether a text from a master record or
another document can be adopted and processed further in a document.
You assign the “Fixed” indicator to a text to specify whether:
• The text can be fixed (indicator “*”). A text with the status “*” is then
displayed in the document and can be adopted in the document if:
– You change the text and save the document.
– You select the text and adopt it (Item → Texts → Adopt text).
Until you adopt the text, changes in the master record will also be
adopted in the text.
• The text is fixed (indicator “ ”).
• The text is copied into the document. Changes to the document text do not
have any effect on the original text and changes to the original text have no
effect on the document text.
• The text is not fixed (indicator “N”).
• The text is only displayed in the document (that is, it cannot be changed
or printed).
You specify the “Fixed” indicator for each purchasing document in Customizing
for Purchasing under Text Types and Copying Rules for Header Texts and Text
Types and Copying Rules for Item Texts.
Example: You wish to adopt a delivery text from a requisition (status “*”) in a
purchase order. If you select and adopt the text, it acquires the status “ ” and
can be printed.
Dependencies: In Customizing for Purchasing under Messages → Texts for
Messages, you can specify, for each purchasing document, the sequence and
priority in which the texts of a document are to be printed.
Exercise 5: Texts
Exercise Objectives
After completing this exercise, you will be able to:
• Configure text copy rules for purchasing documents.
Business Example
Your user group has expressed concern that the text they are typing into purchase
requests is not showing on purchase orders. You need to remedy this by
configuring copy rules.
Task 1:
1. You can configure text copy rules only for purchase requisitions.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
Task 2:
Task 3:
Text copy rules
3. Test your new text copy rule by creating a purchase order with reference to
the purchase requisition created in exercise step 1-3-1. The Catt needs to
create vendor TSCM516-00 to TSCM516-20 for purchase org 1000 and
company code 1000.
Solution 5: Texts
Task 1:
1. You can configure text copy rules only for purchase requisitions.
Answer: False
You can configure text copy rules for master records, purchase requisitions,
RFQs and quotations, purchase orders, contracts, and scheduling agreements.
Task 2:
Task 3:
Text copy rules
1. Create a purchase requisition for material master TSCM516-##, plant 1000,
qty 20, storage location 0001, purchase group T## with material-specified
text.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Logistics → Material Management →
Purchasing → Purchasing Requisition (ME51N).
Select the Text tab under Item details area and choose Material PO text.
Enter any text here.
Save and record the purchase requisition number.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• State the benefits of configuring copy rules
• Outline the process for configuring copy rules
• Configure and test copy rules.
Lesson Overview
The lesson explains how this function can be used for internal / external
document adjustment and how to perform document adjustment on for example
simultaneously for all the purchase order due for certain changes.
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Describe the mass maintenance function for purchasing documents
• Outline the mass maintenance process
• Perform automatic document adjustment.
Business Example
Beginning next month, your vendor will begin charging you a fixed freight rate
of 10 percent. You will need to reflect this freight charge in the purchase order
documents you currently have open in the system with delivery dates beyond
this month.
Hint: With mass maintenance, you can change many objects at the
same time. This tool should be used only by users with corresponding
experience. Users must also have knowledge of the field names and tables
used in the SAP system.
Constraints: You can only use the mass maintenance tool in applications that
support it. The tool is currently supported by the objects shown in the figure above.
Hint: The system executes a consistency check for the changed data. The
system does not execute changes that would lead to data inconsistencies,
but notes them in the log.
When you execute transaction MEMASSPO, the system displays the relevant
tables and fields. Select the tables in which you want to change the data.
Hint: Select several tables only if you want to make changes in all the
tables at the same time to keep the data consistent. Otherwise, edit the
tables one at a time to avoid poor system performance.
You can select the fields with values you want to change immediately on the initial
screen or on one of the screens that follow.
To limit the number of objects to be changed, enter the relevant selection criteria.
With choose selection fields, you can select further fields. By choosing Execute or
pressing F8, you can start the selection of data records. Depending on the number
of selected data records, the system asks if you want to execute the changes online
or in the background.
Choose the fields you want to change using the Select fields button and enter the
new values in the corresponding columns. Select the column header and the data
records to change, then choose the Carry out a mass change button.
You also have the option to change a field entry only when it has a particular
value. To do this, choose the With restrictions button. Enter the new value in the
first line and the value to be replaced in the second line
Finally, save your changes. The system then executes the consistency check.
Inconsistent changes are rejected and an entry made in the log accordingly.
Variants
• If you frequently have to carry out similar changes to data, you can create a
variant.
• A variant is always required if you carry out mass maintenance in the
background.
• It is not possible to define a variant in background mode.
If conditions change after a purchase order has been created and if the new
conditions are to apply, the system can change the conditions automatically in all
of the documents concerned. This avoids invoice differences, for example, or the
wrong moving average price being updated.
The system looks for documents in which the changed conditions are to apply
and adjusts them accordingly.
Documents are changed automatically in the same way as if you had changed the
documents manually. In the case of a purchase order, the document is completely
revaluated. This also occurs even if only one conditions has changed, since the
condition could be a header or group condition.
When you save a document, the system updates all the data that would have
been updated if you had changed the document manually. Since the system is
aware of the exact conditions involved, it does not carry out a complete new
price calculation but uses a pricing variant to determine the changed condition
records. For this to take place, however, both the old and new pricing data must be
available in the system
Caution: Before you run this transaction, you must have run report
RMEBEIN4 (creation of worklist for automatic document adjustment:
transaction MEI4).
Caution:
• Indicates that a document index is allowed for purchase orders issued
to this vendor. The index is used to determine the relevant purchasing
documents affected by changes to conditions offered by the vendor.
• Only set this indicator if you wish the documents involved to be
adjusted automatically by the system when conditions change
(conditions that are relevant to pricing).
• Only set this indicator if you are sure that you wish to use the
automatic document adjustment function. If you do not use it, you
increase the volume of data in your system unnecessarily.
In the Control data field group, you can make the following settings:
• Manually select worklist to be processed: The system displays a list of
documents that match your selection criteria and for which conditions have
changed. In this list, you can select the documents that you want to process.
• Only display worklist to be processed: The system displays a list of
documents that match your selection criteria and for which conditions have
changed. This list is for information only; you cannot process the documents.
• Delete worklist after processing: Once the condition changes have been
made, the worklist is deleted. If you run the program again, the condition
changes are marked as complete, and are not considered again. Condition
changes are only deleted if all the documents have been processed in the
program run.
• Delete worklist in full: Once the documents have been adjusted, the entire
worklist is deleted, regardless of which condition changes and documents
were processed in the program run. If you run the program again, all
condition changes included in the worklist are marked as complete and
cannot be processed again. You should only select this indicator if you are
sure that all the relevant purchasing documents have been processed and that
the remaining documents do not require processing.
• Create change messages for purchasing documents: If you select this
indicator, messages are created using SAPscript for the condition changes.
You can then, for example, print these out and send them to the vendor for
information.
• You can also run the report in the background. To do this, create a variant
and schedule the report for background processing.
The pricing type for automatic document changes indicates how the system
processes the price elements during automatic document adjustment.
Carries out a new price determination process for changed price elements
Adopts manually entered price elements
Redetermines the taxes
• D: Redetermine changed price components; adopt remaining
– The system:
Adjusts the price components of changed price elements
Adopts the remaining price elements unchanged, with
automatically determined or manually entered discounts and
surcharges, from the document (scales are not re-read). This
means that even if the quantity changes, for example,
the value of these price elements remains unchanged.
Business Example
Beginning next month, your vendor will begin offering you a discount fixed rate of
10 percent. You will need to reflect this discount in the purchase order documents
you currently have open in the system with delivery dates beyond this month.
Task:
Using the purchase order created in exercise 5 for vendor TSCM516-## and
material TSCM516-##, remove if needed condition RL01, then create a worklist
and update the document by performing a document adjustment.
1. Check the condition record and info record for vendor TSCM516-##.
2. Create a worklist for your selected purchase order number. Make sure your
selected purchase order does not include the general condition of RL01.
Note: The system will generate the Log of all the documents
adjusted by the processing.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Describe the mass maintenance function for purchasing documents
• Outline the mass maintenance process
• Perform automatic document adjustment.
Lesson Overview
This lesson makes you familiar with the archiving and deleting of old documents
from your system and how this function can be performed in SAP. Why archiving
is required for a company?
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Explain the needs, benefits and important terms of archiving
• Outline the process of archiving purchasing documents
• Perform a simple archiving process.
Business Example
After being live with the SAP system for several years, the finance group has
requested that purchasing documents older then two years of age be archived. You
need to assist them in preparing and processing the documents.
Data archiving: Data archiving refers to removing application data from the
SAP system and storing the data in an archive file (at least one file). This
process if carried out by a Write program, which belongs to the corresponding
In scenario 1, represented by the dotted line, data archiving is not being used. As
a result, the data volume in the database rises continuously and most likely will
quickly reach a critical limit.
Scenario 2 is represented by the solid line. Its step-like form is the result of regular
archiving sessions. Immediately after archiving the data, the volume recedes
noticeably and then begins to rise again. As a result, the database grows more
slowly than it would without data archiving.
Benefits of data archiving:
• Faster and easier upgrade to higher software releases
• Shorter runtime for backup and recovery
• Shorter response times in dialog mode for all employees
• Reduced hardware costs for disk, CPU, and memory, as well as
administration costs
• Meets data retention requirements and sets up end-of-life scenarios.
Archiving and Deleting: Features
Archiving features:
Data security during archiving
Data compression
Storage space gained by archiving
Archiving without database backup
Accessing archived data
Data archiving is carried out in two steps (a third step – storage of archive files –
is optional). In the first step, the data for archiving is copied to archive files. In
the second step, the data is deleted from the database.
This two-step process guarantees data security if problems occur during the
archiving process. For example, the procedure identifies network data transfer
errors between the database and the archive file. If an error occurs, you can restart
the archiving process at any time because the data is still either in the database or
in an archive file. This means that you can usually archive parallel to the online
application, that is, during normal system operation, without having to first back
up the database.
During archiving, data is automatically compressed by up to a factor of five.
However, if the data to be archived is stored in cluster tables, no additional
compression takes place.
Data can be archived independently from general backup operations on the
database. However, SAP recommends that you back up archive files before
storing them.
Because archived data has only been removed from the database and not from the
application component itself, the data is always available. Archive management
allows three types of access:
• Read access to a single data object, such as an accounting document
• Analysis of an archive file (sequential read)
• Reload into the database (not possible for all archiving objects)
In step one, the write program creates an archive file. The data to be archived is
then read from the database and is written to the archive file in the background.
This process continues until one of following events occurs:
1. All the data is written to an archive file.
2. Archiving is not complete, but the archive file reaches the maximum size
specified in Customizing.
3. The archiving is not yet finished, but the archive file contains the maximum
number of data objects specified in Customizing.
Once the write program has finished creating archive files, they can be stored.
There are several ways to stors archive files:
Storage systems (if a storage system is connected to mySAP Business Suite):
• At the end of a successful write job, a request is sent to this system to
store the new archive files (provided the appropriate settings were made in
archiving-object-specific Customizing). You can also store archive files
manually at a later point if you do not want them to be stored automatically.
Storage is carried out by the Content Management infrastructure (which
contains the ArchiveLink/Content Management Service interface).
HSM systems
• If you use an HSM system, it is sufficient to maintain the file name in
Customizing (transaction FILE). You do not then need to communicate with
the storage system using the Content Management infrastructure, because the
HSM system stores the files on suitable storage media according to access
frequency and storage space.
Existing storage media
• Once the delete program has processed the relevant archive file, you can
manually copy archive files to tape.
Hint: If you do not carry out deletion until after the data has been
stored, you can make a setting in archiving-object-specific Customizing
so that the system will read archive files the from the storage system
during deletion. In this way, you can detect errors that might arise when
transferring or saving the archive files in the storage system.
Archiving programs
• Write program: Writes the business objects sequentially to the archive files.
• Delete program: Deletes the business objects from the database after it has
read and confirmed them in the archive file
• Preprocessing program (optional): Prepares the data for archiving; this
includes, for example, the setting of an archivability indicator (also called
a deletion indicator)
• Read program: Used to display an archived business object
• Post processing program (optional): Used to process data after archiving; for
example, to update statistic data or indexes
• Reload program (optional): Reloads the archived business objects into the
database
Customizing settings
• Used to define the archiving-object-specific parameters for a specific
archiving session; these settings depend on the archiving objects and may
therefore vary
With the help of the above materials management (MM) objects, you can archive
the following purchasing documents and master data:
Purchase requisitions: You archive and delete requisitions using the archiving
object MM_EBAN. There is no provision for the retrieval of previously archived
data. It is possible to display archived purchase requisitions.
With transactions SARA (no archiving object selected) and ME98 (related
archiving object shown as default MM_EKKO), you have access to complete
related customizing for archiving objects.
Application-specific customizing can also be accessed from the Implementation
Guide (IMG) by choosing IMG → Materials Management → Purchasing →
Purchase order → Define Tolerance Limit for Archiving.
• Purchase order can be replaced with required purchasing documents, such as
purchase requisitions or RFQs to access related customizing screens.
For contracts:
• IMG → Materials Management → Purchasing → Contract → Criteria for
Archiving → Define Tolerance Limit for Archiving
• IMG → Materials Management → Purchasing → Contract → Criteria for
Archiving → Set Up Additional Checks
For scheduling agreements:
• IMG → Materials Management → Purchasing → Scheduling Agreement →
Criteria for Archiving → Define Tolerance Limit for Archiving
• IMG → Materials Management → Purchasing → Scheduling Agreement →
Criteria for Archiving → Set Up Additional Checks
• IMG → Materials Management → Purchasing → Scheduling Agreement
→ Criteria for Archiving → Further Processing of Summarized Purchasing
documents
Application-Specific Customizing
Cross-Archiving-Object Customizing
The settings you make here affect all archiving objects across
the board.
Data archiving monitor:
This tool provides the data archiving administrator with
archiving-specific functions to monitor processes, and to recognize and analyze
problems. This includes, for example, the progress indicator for processed
archive files, a general overview of all archiving sessions that have been
processed for all archiving objects, and alerts that point you towards current or
potential problems during archiving.
Access check during archive selection:
Archive files for which the access check returned negative
results are represented in the selection screen with a lightening bolt symbol.
Verification of archive files:
During the write phase, the program writes verification
information into the archive file for every data object. With this information, an
archive file can then be “check read” before the actual procedure takes place to
make sure that it and all of the data objects it contains have remained intact.
Automatic interruption of the write phase:
It may be necessary to interrupt the write phase due to low
system resources, or because the time frame for the archiving session is too
short. The interrupted write phase can be continued at a later point in time. The
interruption function is part of the Archive Development Kit (ADK).
Server groups for background processing:
When you schedule archiving sessions in the background, you can
enter the server groups on which the sessions are to be executed.
Check and delete:
Contains customizing for Archiving Object for SAP Product Master Data.
• If you selected Checking Active: Determines whether an archiving object
participates in the cross- archiving-object check program or not.
• If you selected Delet. Active: Indicates whether or not the
cross-archiving-object delete program has been activated for an archiving
object.
Archiving-Object-Specific Customizing
The settings you make here only apply to the archiving object
that you entered previously in archive administration.
Logical file name:
Here you choose the logical file name under which the archive files are to be
stored in the file system. At runtime, a complete, platform-specific file name,
including the path, is determined for the logical file name. The logical file
name is maintained with transaction FILE.
Archive file size:
Here you can enter the maximum size an archive file can reach before it is closed.
The file size can be determined either by entering a size, such as 100 MB, or by
specifying the maximum number of data objects an archive file is to contain. When
one of these values is reached, the archive file is closed and a new one is created.
Max number of data objects:
This parameter controls the maximum number of data
objects per archive file. Before a data object is written to an archive file, the system
checks whether the maximum number allowed would be exceeded. If this is the
case, the current archive file is closed and a new one opened for the data object.
Here you enter the file name and file paths used for the archive files. To define
a logical file name, you need a name and a path. The path is of a logical nature,
meaning that there is a rule that determines at runtime (platform-dependent) what
the physical path is to be, based on the information you entered. File names and
paths can be either client-specific (transaction FILE) or cross-client (transaction
SF01).
The write program simply uses the logical file name entered in
archiving-object-specific Customizing. The system resolved the logical file name
and, depending on the archive file, finds the corresponding physical path for the
archive file.
You can use the following procedure to check the settings that have been entered:
1. The system reads the entry for logical file name in the technical settings of
the archiving object, for example “ARCHIVE_DATA_FILE”.
2. System reads logical file name in the FILE transaction. An entry for the
logical file path, such as “ARCHIVE_GLOBAL_PATH”, is saved in the
logical file name.
3. The system reads logical file path in the transaction FILE.
4. The system reads the logical path-physical path assignment, which is specific
for the operating system you are using. You can have the following entries:
• Windows NT: <P=DIR_GLOBAL>\<FILENAME>
• UNIX: /usr/sap/<SYSID>/SYS/global/<FILENAME> ARCHIVE
When you schedule jobs for the execution of archiving programs, such as the
Preprocessing, Write or Delete programs, you must enter a variant. The purpose
of this variant is to define which data is to be processed, and to allow the user to
make other necessary settings for the processing of the data.
These variant settings can be made when you are scheduling jobs, using the
Maintain function.
Variant maintenance is always dependent on the corresponding archiving object.
Therefore, the variants may vary considerably depending on the archiving object.
These differences, however, occur mainly in the section of variant maintenance in
which data selection takes place.
Note: For more information about the variant maintenance for a specific
archiving object, see the corresponding documentation for the archiving
object in the SAP Library.
The rest of variant maintenance is the same for most archiving objects. The
following settings are possible (depending on the type of program to be scheduled).
Under Processing Options, you can determine whether the program is to run in
test or production mode.
Test mode: In the test mode, the program is only simulated, meaning that no actual
changes take place on the database (no data is written or deleted from the database).
Production mode: In this mode, the data is physically processed according to your
selection criteria and, if applicable, additional archiving-object-specific criteria.
For example, during the delete phase, data is actually removed from the database
by the Delete program.
Log Output: Here you can determine whether the log should be output to the list
(spool for background programs), to the application log, or to both.
• The advantage of the application log output is that the log messages are
displayed during program runtime. With background programs, this occurs
every 30 minutes; with dialog programs, it occurs about every 10 seconds.
Logs that were output to the list can only be viewed after the program has
finished.
• With the list output, you have the option to automatically store the log in
a storage system. Logs that were written to the application log can only
be stored manually from within the display view. Moreover, logs that
were output to the list are automatically removed when the corresponding
background job is deleted. Logs written to the application log must be
deleted manually.
Archiving Session Note: Here you can enter a short text to help you identify and
better find the archiving session in Archive Management.
Purchase orders: Both of the following criteria must be met before purchase
orders can be deleted:
• Delivery for the purchase order must have been completed (within the
tolerance limits).
• Invoicing must be complete.
Contracts: The following criteria are checked if Customizing for purchasing
has been set up accordingly:
• The target value has been reached (within the tolerance limits).
• The target quantity has been reached (within the tolerance limits).
• The validity end date has been reached.
• They are no longer in use.
– Prerequisite: All release orders must have been logically deleted
(deletion indicator L set) or archived.
Scheduling agreements: The following criteria are checked if Customizing for
purchasing has been set up accordingly:
• The target value has been reached (within the tolerance limits).
• The target quantity has been reached (within the tolerance limits).
• The validity end date has been reached.
• They are no longer in use.
– Prerequisites: Delivery with respect to the scheduling agreement has
been completed (within the tolerance limits). Invoicing with respect to
the scheduling agreement is likewise complete (within the tolerance
limits).
Procedure:
1. Choose Delete. This takes you to the Archive Administration: Reload
Archive screen, where you can schedule a background or online job. If you
only want to run the Delete program for test purposes (so that the data is not
deleted from the database), choose the Test Mode option.
2. Choose Archive Selection. You access a dialog box with the archiving
sessions that are available for the archiving object. Usually, this is only the
latest session that was run.
3. If you want to edit a complete archiving session, select an archiving session
and choose Continue. You return to the initial screen. If you want to edit
one or several specific archive files, expand the archiving session. Select
the required archive files and choose Continue.
4. Maintain the Start Date and the Spool Parameters.
You have now entered all the data needed for the background job. To create the
job, choose Execute.
When all the deletion jobs are completed for the run, the system event
SAP_ARCHIVING_DELETE_FINISHED is started by the ADK. This triggers
subsequent processes, such as file backup using external tools.
Archiving and Deleting: Procedure (7)
Procedure:
1. Select Postprocessing. This takes you to the Archive Administration:
Postprocessing screen, in which you can schedule a background job for
the program.
2. Choose a variant using input help. If there are no existing variants, choose
Variants to maintain the desired variant.
3. Maintain the Start Date and the Spool Parameters.
4. Choose Execute to start the postprocessing transaction.
Archiving and Deleting: Procedure (8)
Procedure:
1. Choose Read. You access the Archive Administration: Start Read Program
screen, where you can schedule your job.
2. In the Batch/Dialog field, specify whether the analysis program is to run in
the background (batch) or online (dialog).
3. In the Read Program field, select a read or analysis program and choose
Execute. Depending on the selected archiving object, you access a specific
selection screen.
4. Enter your selection and choose Execute. You access the Archive
Management: Select Files to Read dialog box.
5. Select the archive file that you want to read or analyze and confirm the
selection by choosing Continue.
SAP provides several options for accessing archived data, as shown in the above
figure.
Access using a standard display transaction means that the user departments can
access archived data using the same transactions they use to access data that has
not be archived.
Special archive read programs are special programs for accessing archived
data. These programs use either an application-specific index or read the selected
archive files sequentially and completely without an index.
The Archive Information System is a cross-application tool for indexing archive
files. An archive information structure (index) is often a prerequisite for accessing
archived data using a standard display transaction. The Archive Information
System also offers an option for displaying archived data. This option, however, is
a technical view and not a business view of the data.
The Data Retention Tool (DART) is capable of including archived data in the
files that it creates for tax audits. This means that it is able to access archived data.
The Reloading of Archived Data function is a corrective and not a reporting tool.
Analyses archived with ArchiveLink means, for example, that archived print
lists can be accessed.
The application decide which access options are available for their business
objects. This depends largely on which accesses are necessary in each case.
Note: Accessing archive files is possible only from the system in which
the data was archived.
The Archive Retrieval Configurator (ARC) allows you to create, change, display,
activate, and deactivate information structures.
To activate an information structure, choose Archive Information Structure →
Activate. The information structure is activated. This structure will be filled
automatically during the next delete phase for this archiving object.
Additional consequences of activating are:
• The archive info structure can be reported in the Archive Explorer.
• You can display status information on this information structure.
• You cannot make any changes to the information structure.
To deactivate an information structure, choose Archive Information Structure
→ Deactivate.
• This ensures that this information structure will be ignored during the next
delete phase for the archiving object, or if the archive information structure
is filled retrospectively.
Note: You can make changes to an inactive information structure.
However, if you make changes, be aware that you might also have to
regenerate the table. When doing this, you must delete the data in it.
Finally, you must refill the information structure.
The Archive Explorer enables you to search for archived data and allows
individual objects to be displayed from the archive.
The Archive Explorer uses functions of the SAP List Viewer. The fields appear in
the selection screen according to how they are stored in the archive information
structure.
In the selection screen, you can set which archived data should be read by the
Archive Explorer reporting program. An object list from the set information
structure is displayed as a result of this selection, from which you can access
single data objects in the archive.
Business Example
After being live with the SAP system for several years, the finance group has
requested that purchasing documents older then two years of age be archived. You
need to assist them in preparing and processing the documents
Task 1:
Task 2:
1. Archiving object MM_EKKO allow you to archive both internal and external
purchasing documents.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
Task 3:
1. Variant definitions are optional and allow users to save used screen field
values.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
Task 4:
Using the archiving object MM_EKKO, execute an archiving process.
Task 2:
1. Archiving object MM_EKKO allow you to archive both internal and external
purchasing documents.
Answer: False
MM_EBAN is used to archive purchase requisitions (internal purchasing
document).
Task 3:
1. Variant definitions are optional and allow users to save used screen field
values.
Answer: False
For certain tasks, variants definitions are mandatory, such as for
Preprocessing and Write.
Task 4:
Using the archiving object MM_EKKO, execute an archiving process.
1. Define residence time in customizing for archiving object MM_EKKO.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Logistics → Material Management →
Purchasing → Purchasing Order → Follow-On Functions → Archive
(ME98), or execute transaction SARA and then enter archive object
MM_EKKO.
You are now in the Archive Administration initial screen.
Choose the Customizing button in the toolbar.
The Data Archiving Customizing dialog screen appears, in which you can
see the Application-specific customizing group.
Choose C-MM-PUR Reorganization PO.
Select the line with purchasing doc type NB and item category Standard
and choose Details.
Define Residence Time 1 as 1
Save and exit.
2. Execute a report to choose purchase orders to be archived. Make sure that
there is no follow-on document pending for these purchase orders and that
the purchase order date is outside the residence time.
Answer: Choose SAP Menu → Logistics → Materials Management →
Purchasing → Purchase order → List Displays → By Supplying plant.
Choose Execute and look for a purchase order for which Still to be delivered
and Still to be invoiced quantity is 0.
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Explain the needs, benefits and important terms of archiving
• Outline the process of archiving purchasing documents
• Perform a simple archiving process.
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• State the benefits of configuring search help
• Explain how configure search help
• Configure and test search help.
• State the benefits of configuring copy rules
• Outline the process for configuring copy rules
• Configure and test copy rules.
• Describe the mass maintenance function for purchasing documents
• Outline the mass maintenance process
• Perform automatic document adjustment.
• Explain the needs, benefits and important terms of archiving
• Outline the process of archiving purchasing documents
• Perform a simple archiving process.
Unit Overview
Adjusting the SAP Standard Software:
• Explain the terms original, copy, correction, repair, customizing,
modification, and enhancement
• Describe which options are available for adjusting the SAP standard software
to your company’s requirements
• List the disadvantages of modifications and the advantages of SAP
enhancements
• List and explain the different enhancement types.
Unit Objectives
After completing this unit, you will be able to:
• Explain the terms original, copy, correction, repair, customizing,
modification, and enhancement
• Describe some options that are available for adjusting SAP standard software
to your company’s requirements.
• Find the different enhancement types provided by SAP and decide which
one to implement.
Unit Contents
Lesson: Adjusting SAP Standard Software .................................180
Lesson: Enhancement Types .................................................191
Exercise 8: Using Business Add-Ins .....................................207
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Explain the terms original, copy, correction, repair, customizing,
modification, and enhancement
• Describe some options that are available for adjusting SAP standard software
to your company’s requirements.
Business Example
You want to make adjustments to the SAP Standard but in doing so, you want to
avoid modifications because of their disadvantages.
Usually, changes should only be made to the original. These changes are then
transported to subsequent systems to change the corresponding copies. This
ensures that repository objects are consistent in all systems. It is possible to
change copies, but this could result in the systems becoming inconsistent if the
changes are not made to the respective original.
Originals can never be overwritten in transports.
During an upgrade, the modified SAP objects in your system might be overwritten
by new versions of the objects that are supplied by SAP. You need to make a
modification adjustment to get your modification back into the system. When
you do this, you must compare your old, modified version with the newly supplied
version and copy earlier changes to the SAP standard into the new version.
Such a comparison can be very time-consuming. Hence, you should use an SAP
enhancement instead of a modification. Enhancements also provide the option
of adjusting the SAP functionality. However, they do not depend on the release
and are thus low maintenance.
We recommend only making the modification adjustment in the development
system and then transporting the adjusted objects to subsequent systems
(by releasing the request you used). This ensures consistency between the
development system and subsequent systems.
Customer development: You can develop your own repository objects under
consideration of the customer name space. This may be necessary when there is
not a functionality in the SAP standard that is similar to the one you require.
Customizing: You can set certain system properties and functionalities by means
of appropriate maintenance transactions. SAP has planned for and organized such
adjustments. Customizing is a mandatory part of setting up an SAP system.
Enhancements: Repository objects can be adjusted without modifications by
means of enhancements. Enhancements are relase-independent and do not
require any adjustments. However, not all customer requirements are covered by
enhancement options.
Modifications: Modifications should only be made when there is no appropriate
enhancement option in the system, as they might cause an increased workload due
to adjustments that may be required. To support an organized modification and to
facilitate the subsequent adjustment, the Modification Assistant was integrated in
the system as of SAP R/3 4.6b.
SAP has implemented program exits in some SAP programs, to which you, as the
customer, can attach the appropriate source code. This is also processed at runtime
of the SAP program. This way, you have the option of realizing additional or
alternative functions without changing the SAP program. Program exits are the
most important type of enhancement.
SAP uses certain techniques to implement program exists:
• User exits
• Customer exits
• Business Transaction Events (BTEs)
• Business Add-Ins (BAdIs)
There is a special search function for each enhancement technique, which you can
use to find the program exits prepared by SAP.
Apart from the enhancement types already mentioned, there are also others,
such as:
• Append structure: You can attach an append structure with the required
additional fields to most transparent tables. You can implement additional
columns in SAP application database tables without modifications.
• Source texts areas commented out by SAP: Some SAP programs contain
source code areas that have been commented out. If recommended by SAP,
you can remove the comments to obtain additional functionality. Technically,
however, this is a modification.
The figure above shows the flow of a program providing an enhancement in the
form of a function module exit.
The function module exit is called in the Process After Input (PAI) logic of a screen
at a position determined by the SAP application developer. Within the function
module, the user can add functions in the customer namespace using an include.
The most frequently asked question concerning enhancements is, “how can you
see if an application program offers a function module exit?” There are a number
of ways to find the answer to this question.
To see quickly if an application program offers a function module exit, you can
follow the path on the left-hand side of the graphic (by choosing System → Status,
you can display the name of the current application program). In our example, a
suitable character string would be CALL CUSTOMER. Use the Find icon and
search globally in the program. If your search does not provide any results, you
can define a larger search area. Determine the environment for the corresponding
program and look for the specific character string in the program environment.
The right side of the figure shows you how to find the name of the required
enhancement using search tools. You can restrict the search in the Repository
Information System using different criteria: These are:
• Development class (also try generic entries)
• Technical name of the enhancement.
Menu exits allow you to attach your own functions to menu options in SAP menus.
SAP application programmers reserve certain menu entries in your GUI interface
for this. This allows you to define a text for the reserved menu entry and add your
own logic, often in the form of a related function module exit.
Once you activate menu exits, they become visible in the SAP menu. Whenever
this menu option is chosen, the system processes either a function provided
by SAP application programmers, or your own function, which you have
implemented in a function module exit.
Screen exits allow you to make use of reserved sections of a main screen
(subscreen areas).
In these areas, you can display either additional information or input data. You
define the necessary input and output fields on a customer screen (subscreen).
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Explain the terms original, copy, correction, repair, customizing,
modification, and enhancement
• Describe some options that are available for adjusting SAP standard software
to your company’s requirements.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Find the different enhancement types provided by SAP and decide which
one to implement.
Business Example
You want to explore the different enhancement types provided by SAP and decide
which one to implement.
Compared to earlier releases, the software delivery process now looks quite
different. Previously, only two parties were involved in the delivery: SAP
produced the software and delivered it to its end-customers. Customers could
enhance this standard using customer exits.
However, now that the software is more component-oriented, more parties are
involved in the process. SAP provides the R/3 standard to each industry solution,
which uses it as a basis to add on its own encapsulated functions. The next link in
the chain might be a partner firm, which builds its own Complementary Software
Program (CSP) solution based on R/3. The last link in the chain is the customer.
All of the parties involved in this process are potential users and providers of
enhancements. This requirement cannot be satisfied by customer exits, which can
only be used once. Consequently, SAP developed a new enhancement technique
in release 4.0, which allows enhancements to be reused.
Unlike customer exits, Business Add-Ins take into account changes to the software
delivery process. The top part of the above figure illustrates the typical delivery
process. It no longer consists merely of provider and user. Instead, it can now
contain an entire chain of intermediate providers.
The bottom part of the figure explains how Business Add-Ins work. Enhancements
are made possible by SAP application programs. This requires at least one
interface and an adapter class to implement it. The interface is implemented by
the user.
The main advantage of this concept is the capacity for reuse. Once implemented, a
Business Add-In can be re-implemented by other links in the software chain.
Furthermore, an implementation can also offer Business Add-Ins of its own.
As of SAP NetWeaver Application Server 7.0, two new enhancement options have
been added: enhancement points and enhancement sections. Enhancements using
implicit enhancement points – unlike enhancements implemented using previous
enhancement technology – require no preparation from SAP.
SAP also introduced a new BAdI technology for performance reasons.
The figure above displays how enhancement points and sections, as well as BAdIs
that have been created using the new technology, are grouped together and
managed using enhancement spots. Collected enhancement spots comprise both
simple enhancement spots and other collected enhancement spots. They serve to
semantically bundle enhancement spots.
Previous BAdIs (classical BAdIs) exist in the system, as before. However, in the
future, SAP will only implement BAdIs using the new technology.
An enhancement point is an option that allows you to add source code, variable
declarations, and parameter declarations to SAP programs, function modules, and
classes without having to make a modification.
Explicit enhancement points are insertion options that are prepared by SAP, while
implicit enhancement points are present at particular points in SAP objects by
default – that is, without any particular preparation by SAP.
The new BAdI technology works in the same way as the old technology. However,
adapter classes are no longer required, which saves the SAP application program
from having to instantiate them.
Instead, at the application program's runtime, the system generates a BAdI handle
in the kernel, which performs the same function as the adapter class, but calls the
available implementation methods much more efficiently.
Searching for BAdIs
The Switch Framework was conceived to give SAP customers the option to
activate industry solutions or Enterprise Add-Ons, rather than having to install
them.
The figure above displays the relationship between individual repository objects,
switches, business functions, and business function sets (industry solutions). You
can use transaction SFW5 to activate industry solutions or Enterprise Add-Ons.
Only then are the corresponding repository objects available.
If a switchable package contains enhancement implementations, they only become
active in the system when you activate the corresponding business function.
When a developer creates or changes a repository object for the first time, the
system will prompt him or her for a developer key. This key can be obtained by
means of a corresponding one-time SSCR developer registration. The developer
key is linked to the developer’s user ID and the license number of the SAP system.
You need an object-related access key (object key) for every repository object that
is to be modified. You can get this by means of SSCR object registration. When
you register, you must specify the repository object name, the object type, and the
SAP system license number and its release.
Business Example
The customer service personnel in the agency want the list of bookings that you
implemented in the exercise on menu exits to contain more information. The list
should contain the name of the customer in addition to his customer number.
Task 1:
The CATT needs to create SAPBC425_BOOKING_##.
Check if program SAPBC425_BOOKING_## (## = group number) can be
enhanced.
Task 2:
Implement the enhancement you found. Call your implementation ZSCM615##.
1. What data is passed to the interfaces of the methods? Are there already fields
here that should be displayed in the list?
2. Table SCUSTOM contains the information about the customers. Get the
customer's name from his customer number. Output the name.
Task 3:
Format the list.
1. How can you move the vertical line so that the additional fields are displayed
within the frame?
2. Is the CHANGE_VLINE method suitable for changing the position of the
vertical line? If so, use it.
Task 4:
Check your results
1.
Task 2:
Implement the enhancement you found. Call your implementation ZSCM615##.
1. What data is passed to the interfaces of the methods? Are there already fields
here that should be displayed in the list?
Answer: Add-Ins using Implementation → Create. Call your
implementation ZSCM516##.
You can display the interface parameters by double-clicking the method in
transaction SE18. In the Class Builder, place the cursor on the required
method and choose “Parameters”. The transfer structure does not contain the
fields that you want to display in the list. You have to read the corresponding
data separately.
2. Table SCUSTOM contains the information about the customers. Get the
customer's name from his customer number. Output the name.
a) Double-click on the method name to go to the Editor. A proposal for
implementing the methods is given below (group 00):
METHOD if_ex_badi_book00~output.
DATA:
name TYPE s_custname.
SELECT SINGLE name
FROM scustom
INTO name
WHERE id = i_booking-customid.
WRITE: name.
ENDMETHOD.
Task 3:
Format the list.
1. How can you move the vertical line so that the additional fields are displayed
within the frame?
a) Parameter c_pos defines the position of the right vertical line
2. Is the CHANGE_VLINE method suitable for changing the position of the
vertical line? If so, use it.
a) The method can be implemented as follows:
METHOD if_ex_badi_book00~change_vline.
c_pos = c_pos + 25.
ENDMETHOD.
Task 4:
Check your results
1.
Answer:
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Find the different enhancement types provided by SAP and decide which
one to implement.
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• Explain the terms original, copy, correction, repair, customizing,
modification, and enhancement
• Describe some options that are available for adjusting SAP standard software
to your company’s requirements.
• Find the different enhancement types provided by SAP and decide which
one to implement.
Course Summary
You should now be able to:
• Configure and apply Master Data Enhancements to both the material and
vendor Master
• Create Quickviews with the help of Quickviewer
• IDOC Generation
• Activate Workflow Process for Procurement
• Define search helps
• Define Text Copy Rules
• Perform Mass Maintenance and Document Adjustment
• Perform Archiving and Deleting.
Related Information
Recommended Follow-Up Courses
• SAPSRM
• SRM100
• SMI410
• SM520
• SM510
• SM100
Recommended Follow-Up Activities
• Go through the exercises using IDES data or your own data
• Read the online documentation
• Read the Implementation Guide (IMG)
• Read Release Notes.