Physical Inventory Process

What are the step to do physical inventory process?  I want to make zero stock and then upload the actual stock?
First you can use the trn. MI01 there put all the material save, then use T-Code MI04 there you have to enter the count the if you want put 0, put it and make the tick then save then use MI22 post the difference.
About Physical  inventory process you have another way : 
1. Use t-code MI31 instead of using MI01 , it will give you a document number of all your stock.
2. If you did not get the document number use t-code MI24 .
3. MI21 to print  the document.
4. MI04 to enter the count if you want put 0.
5. MI07 post.
Create PI document using MI01 (MI31 -Using Batch)
Enter Count Using MI04 (Select Zero Stock Indicator)
Post Count results using MI07
Check Results using MI24
Upload initial Stock using MB1C 561

MM Reopen posting period - MMPI transaction

 

Today I had to deal with this MM reopen period issue.
Problem: One user opened by mistake period 06 year 2005 but they still had documents for posting in period 04.
Solution: The solution is running the MMPI transaction and read note 48781.


This is a post I found on sap.ittoolbox.com SAP forum which explain some basic steps to reopen the MM period.

1. Lock all users out of PRD
2. Take snapshot of MB5L for all materials at company code for current and previous periods

3. Add User parameter MMPI_READ_NOTE with value = current date in this format YYYYMMDD

4. Stop all processing that updates inventory values

5. Run t-code MMPI with correct period

6. Run Z_DEl_HIST_ENTRIES program

7. Take MB5L snapshot for all materials at company code fs01 for current and previous periods

8. Validate that values match on MB5L pre-post snapshots or are appropriate.

9. Unlock all users in PRD

10. Remove User parameter MMPI_READ_NOTE from user ID

How to write effective SAP functional specs

 As a functional SAP consultant, sometime early in the realization phase, for each FRICE-W item identified in the blue print phase, we have to write functional specs. This is very important especially when the ABAP development team is not on the project site but somewhere 8 hours or more ahead (like India).

The functional spec document is very important document as it captures:
1) the requirements (FRICE-W scope)
2) the design or how it should work




The requirements:
Tipically a FRICE-W object is developed to cover a GAP in a standard SAP process. Therefore most often the object is require in order for a SAP process to work as the company intends to work. In the requirement section of the spec, the writer has to list all the things that the object should do. Also, sometimes is good to list what the FRICE-W object will not do just to set out the expectations.
Also each requirement should be as detail as possible.




The design or how FRICE-W object should work
In this part of the spec, the writer has to define how the FRICE-W will work. Usually a flow chart should be drawn to show how the information will flow from the SAP process to the FRICE-W and also inside the FRICE-W.
If user interface elements (such a screens, menus) will be developed these should be mocked so that the developer will have all the information to design the UI element. Usually I mock up the screens in Excel but any other tool will work. Also if some new field needs to be added to a standard SAP screen, a screen shot of that screen will be a good starting point.


When I write my specs I try to give the developer as much information as needed so usually I put the table and fields from where the data needs to be selected. The best way to find where data is stored in SAP is to press F1 on a screen field and the press the technical details button (the buttun with a hummer as the icon). In most of the cases this will show you the field name and table where that information is stored.


Other things to consider.
Most of the specs are not done from the first iteration, they have to go multiple itetation before they are signed off by all partie involved. A brief change history and versioning works very good to keep track of all the stages the spec went through.


Add test scenarios to the spec. Define a list of at least few test scenarios that both the developer and the tester should perform to test the object.


If you have other pice of advice of tips about writing effective SAP FRICE-W functional specs, please feel free to comment on this article.

SAP Certification

 

Sorry for the relative quietness at my blog lately. I wasn't so inspired this spring, maybe because of the weather (it was a little to rainy), maybe because of the stress of starting a new project. But now I'm back and writing.
I want to share my exeprience of getting SAP Certified Consultant. I have a Certification on Purchasing (MM module) since December last year.
In the mid of 2004, my boss asked me to prepare for the certificaton. Back then I was working with MM module. So after about 1 year of experience and 2 MM courses at SAP UK Education (SCM500 - Processes in Procurement and SCM510 Invetory Management) I started to study hard for this certification exam. After one month of hard studying, I had to swich to SAP IS-U and I didn;t had so much time to study for certification. But luckly for my I have a "brilliant mind" and I only had to make a quick review of the MM courses.
After all those hours of studying, on Nov 12, 2004 I pass the Certification Exam with a score of 79 points.
My advice for the ones who wants to get MM certified:
- read all the courses. There aren't tricky questions but you should know as much details as you can
- study the IMG configuration
- study the SAP forums like www.sapfans.com
Review your knowleadge every day.

The IS-U house / Business Partner

 

The IS-U House is a famous picture among IS-U Consultants as it depicts a real house and how it is modeled in IS-U as IS-U Master Data.
Here is the IS-U House.


As you can see real life objects has been modeled as IS-U Master Data.
Connection Object = building
Premise = Apartment
Device Location = The location where a device is installed (e.g. Hall, Basement)
Meters = Meters
Installation = this is an object without real life correspondence and it is used for billing purposes
Contract = a contract for a specific type of utility
Contract Account = grouping of one or more contracts under the same umbrella for financial transactions
Business Partner = the customer


Let’s see what kind of data are stored at each master data level.

Business Partner
A business partner can have multiple roles within the SAP IS-U:
- Contract partner
- Installer
- Prospect
- Contact person

At the Business Partner Level we can store the following data:
General:
- Name
- Address
- Legal Form
- Group
- Search Term


Addresses
- Standard addresses
- P.O Box addresses
- Other addresses

Communication
- Telephone
- Fax
- Extension
- Internet
- E-mail

Payment Transaction
- Bank
- Bank Account

Biller Direct

Relationships
- Hierarchical
- Equal
- Connected

Additional Data
- Status
- Identification Number
- Register entry

SAP Books for Kindle

 

Kindle is a great reading device from Amazon.com. I see it as an interface to the largest library on the Planet Earth. Within seconds you have access to almost 1 milion books.

If you don't have one yet, you should get one now. I recommend the Kindle Wi-Fi - it's only 139 USD.

As a SAP Consultant, I checked if there are any SAP books available for Kindle. I found a lot of interesting books which cost a lot less than the paper edition.

Here is a list of the SAP Books available for Kindle:


Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 HoursBook Description: Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours, Second Edition is the perfect tool for learning one of the most sophisticated enterprise solutions available today. Designed to being with the basics, you will become acquainted with the entire SAP system, from navigation to creating your own reports. You'll also cover:

• Implementation tools and methodologies
• NetWeaver
• ECC 5.0
• Designing Screens and menus
• Reporting
• Integration with Microsoft Office
• And more

SAP Implementation Unleashed: A Business and Technical Roadmap to Deploying SAPBook Description: SAP can help you capture better information and deliver it more quickly, allowing you to make better decisions and maximize the business value of everything you do. However, SAP implementations require massive effort, total buy-in, and significant change throughout the organization. In SAP Implementation Unleashed, 10 expert SAP project managers, functional consultants, and technologists guide you through the entire journey, helping you avoid pain and pitfalls and gain all the benefits of SAP.

SAP R/3 for Everyone: Step-by-Step Instructions, Practical Advice, and Other Tips and Tricks for Working with SAPBook Description: SAP R/3 for Everyone is the nontechnical user's guide to working with SAP R/3, the leading business enterprise software product in the world. Written and road-tested by experienced SAP R/3 users and trainers, this book saves typical SAP R/3 users time and trouble by providing them with the universal skills needed to work with any module of this complex software.
SAP R/3 can be used effectively by anyone who can perform a handful of simple procedures that are employed in nearly every SAP R/3 transaction. The authors explain these procedures in plain English, using illustrations and real-world examples.

SAP® ERP Financials and FICO HandbookBook Description: This up-to-date quick reference guides the reader through the most popular SAP module. It includes material on SAP ERP Financials, SAP FICO, and SAP R/3. Unlike most books that only provide questions and answers for certification or interview preparation, this book covers fifty common business situations related to ERP Financials/FICO and provides practical solutions for them. In addition, the book begins with over 200 FAQs and certification questions for those who need a quick review of the material. A CD-ROM with FICO templates, short cuts, and color figures from the book is included with the text.

SAP® Business Information Warehouse ReportingBook Description: Your Hands-On Guide to SAP Business Information Warehouse. Give your company the competitive edge by delivering up-to-date, pertinent business reports to users inside and outside your enterprise. SAP Business Information Warehouse Reporting shows you how to construct Enterprise Data Warehouses, create workbooks and queries, analyze and format results, and supply meaningful reports. Learn how to use the BEx and Web Analyzers, Web Application Designer, Visual Composer, and Information Broadcaster. You will also find out how to forecast future business trends, build enterprise portals and websites, and tune performance. Group data into InfoCubes and DataStore Objects and generate reports using queries and workbooks. Work with the BEx Analyzer, Web Analyzer, and Query Designer. Build queries and reports using the Business Administration Workbench. Add attachments and drill-through using Document Integration and RRI. Format and distribute results using Report Designer and Information Broadcaster. Extend functionality with Enterprise Portal, Data Modeling, and Visual Composer. Deploy charts, maps, diagrams, and unit of measure conversions. Predict trends and possible outcomes using SBC and Integrated Planning. Generate HTML pages using Enterprise Reporting and Web Application Designer. Create BI-based corporate Web and intranet sites using SAP Enterprise Portal.

SAP Project System Handbook (Essential Skills (McGraw Hill))Book Description: Centralize and Control Enterprise Project Management Plan, execute, and track projects across the entire lifecycle using SAP Project System (PS) and the in-depth information contained in this comprehensive volume. SAP Project System Handbook explains how to configure PS for optimal performance, design structures and networks, create project blueprints, generate cost estimates and materials demands, and use the latest SAP tools. You will find full details on scheduling work, automating and tracking billing and POs, triggering events, and integrating with most other SAP modules. An invaluable reference to PS transaction codes is also included. * Configure and customize SAP Project System * Build PS objects, networks, and Work Breakdown Structures * Use customer and service projects to track sales and billing * Understand Assembly Processing concepts * Create integrated cost, settlement, and resource plans * Develop financial, workforce, and materials management blueprints * Perform resource-related billing using Dynamic Item Processor Profiles * Simulate and automatically generate sales documents, POs, and quotations * Manage corporate investments with IM structures and AUCs * Construct timesaving Project, Network, and Milestone Templates * Extend functionality with the Project Builder, Planning Board, and ProMan

Configuring SAP ERP Sales and DistributionBook Description: The first and only book to offer detailed explanations of SAP ERP sales and distribution. As the only book to provide in-depth configuration of the Sales and Distribution (SD) module in the latest version of SAP ERP, this valuable resource presents you with step-by-step instruction, conceptual explanations, and plenty of examples. If you're an SD consultant or are in charge of managing an SAP implementation in your enterprise, you'll want this valuable resource at your side.

• SAP is one of the leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software products on the market, with over 40,000 implementations
• Covers the latest version of SAP ERP-ECC 6.0
• Covers common through advanced configurations, so it's helpful no matter what your level of experience with SAP
• Explains the conceptual framework behind the configuration process

If your company uses the SD module, keep this indispensable guide on hand

SAP MM - A Complete Reference to SAP MM (Material Management)Book Decription: This book is for those who are in SAP MM or interested to learn SAP MM. This book is wrote keeping in mind the problems faced by newcomers or end users. It includes screen shot of SAP and Describes each and every aspect like customization paths, implementation etc...

SAP: An Executive's Comprehensive GuideBook Description: Crucial Help for Getting the Most from Today’s Information Systems Technology Deciding what type of information systems your company will need to stay competitive into the twenty-first century is a highly complex and risky exercise. SAP: An Executive’s Comprehensive Guide provides the information you need to assess your options realistically and make the most informed decisions possible. Written by a team of business, financial, and information systems professionals who have extensive experience with SAP system implementations at Fortune 500 companies, this book:

• Explores the strategic role of client/server enterprise computing now and in the next century
• Helps you to evaluate your company’s long-term IS requirements
• Offers an impartial look at SAP R/3 strengths and weaknesses
• Outlines the costs and benefits involved in implementing SAP R/3
• Helps you decide whether SAP R/3 is right for your organization
• Shows you how to make SAP R/3 an integral part of process redesign
• Covers all key technical SAP aspects of concern to IS professionals

SAP Enterprise Structure Concept and Configuration Guide - A Case StudyBook Description: SAP enterprise structure is organizational structure that represents an enterprise in SAP R/3 system. It consists of some organizational units which, for legal reasons or for other specific business-related reasons or purposes, are grouped together. I wrote this e-book to explain in details about the SAP Enterprise Structure (MM and related modules such as FI, Logistics, and SD) Concept and Configuration Guide. Just like other articles on my SAP Study Materials blog, I wrote the e-book in a simple-to-understand way, so you can learn it easily. You don't need to have extensive SAP knowledge and experience to be able to configure the SAP Enterprise Structure, as the e-book start explaining each step with the basic concept behind it. After understanding the concept, the e-book will show the step-by-step configuration with the screen shots.

SAP NetWeaver Portal Technology: The Complete ReferenceBook Description: Your Hands-on Guide to SAP NetWeaver Portal Technology Master SAP NetWeaver Portal with the most comprehensive, step-by-step reference available on the entire portal implementation life cycle. Written by SAP architect Rabi Jay, this book provides everything you need to plan, design, install, configure, and administer SAP NetWeaver Portal, including SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java. SAP NetWeaver Portal Technology: The Complete Reference is filled with detailed descriptions, numerous illustrations, and hundreds of expert tips. Design and deploy portals with high availability, scalability, and performance. Implement single sign-on to backend systems and integrate SAP and non-SAP applications. Configure reliable J2EE engine and portal security, and devise a flawless portal backup and restore strategy. Improve performance using portal workload, GC, thread dump, and HTTP analysis. Plan futuristically using PAM, release planning, and maintenance strategy Design global portals using federated portal networks and external-facing portals Implement self-registration and delegated user and content administration Enable authorization using security zones, UME actions, and ACL permissions Manage users centrally using LDAP, UME, and Identity Management Implement user-, type-, and attribute-based authentication Brand your portal using portal desktop rules, themes, and framework pages Configure portal transports, and deploy patches and business packages using JSPM Monitor your portal using CCMS and GRMG Availability Monitoring Manage your portal centrally using NWA and maintain systems using SLD.

Building Blocks of mySAP Technology

mySAP Enterprise Portal provides an open, user-centric integration infrastructure supporting unified access for users to all types of resources coming from SAP and third-party applications. SAP Enterprise Portal includes knowledge management capabilities for indexing and searching, publishing and subscribing, versioning and archiving, editing taxonomies, and managing document workflow of unsubscribed data.

SAP Web Application Server supports native Internet technology, such as HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition, and SAP's proven language ABAP. SAP Web Application Server allows quick development of individual Web applications with server-side scripting technologies, provides a scalable and reliable Web application infrastructure that delivers Web services at high performance, low cost of ownership and ensures an e-business solution is always online, and supports Web access via a Web browser and a range of mobile devices.

SAP Exchange Infrastructure provides an open process-centric integration infrastructure for free flow of information and business documents supporting XML-based messaging and integration through an Integration Engine. SAP Exchange Infrastructure manages shared cross-component collaboration and integration knowledge, driving end-to-end collaborative business scenarios that incorporate services from SAP and third-party applications.

SAP Business Information Warehouse provides extended data warehousing, reporting, and analytics capabilities. The new open hub features make it a source of aggregated information, originally extracted from a wide variety of systems. The native Web capabilities SAP Business Information Warehouse include query design, report presentation, and Web application design, which provides for the easy assembly of reports into portal-based information solutions. Enriched with business content, the SAP Business Information Warehouse is the infrastructure for analytical applications that work across boundaries.

Web Dynpro offers a powerful presentation layer designed to create professional and easy-to-use user interfaces. Web Dynpro provides a design time environment that allows developers to model and create browser-based user interfaces as well as a standards-based run-time environment that is device agnostic and bridges the gap between different platforms.

Business Benefits of mySAP Technology

mySAP Technology provides customers with an open, coherent, scalable, and standards-based infrastructure that can handle the complete range of e-business and enterprise applications. It provides open integration that allows for business innovation and future flexibility while ensuring non-stop business operations at a low cost of ownership.
Business innovation enabled through the Internet is about doing business in new ways with collaboration between people, business units, and enterprises. mySAP Technology provides user-centric collaboration, empowering people to work more efficiently and openly. mySAP Technology drives process-centric collaboration, allowing end-to-end business processes that enhance productivity, reduce time to market, and improve customer service.
mySAP Technology supports constant change driven by new partnerships, new customers, new business rules, and new economics that mandate flexibility now and in the future to change the end-to-end collaborative business processes. The value of existing solutions can be enhanced and integrated within flexible end-to-end processes.
mySAP Technology provides an infrastructure for mission-critical e-business solutions to reliably operate. It provides real-time services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Individual components can easily be changed and the system can easily be scaled without disrupting business operations.
mySAP Technology reduces the complexity inherent in many system landscapes through central management and shared business semantics even in heterogeneous environments, thus protecting the existing investment and helping to lower the cost of ownership.
The traditional strengths of scalability, broad functionality, and mission-critical performance provided by SAP are now extended to the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) platform. SAP combines a comprehensive, open, and integrated Web services infrastructure with the applications and data that companies need to rapidly adapt to change.
The collaboration made possible by mySAP Technology is essential for increased corporate agility and flexibility to respond to ever-changing business opportunities and market dynamics. It can help to reduce transportation and logistics costs, dramatically cut cycle times, achieve new levels of service quality and order accuracy, enhance visibility over product movement, and score big gains in asset productivity. Efficiencies and collaboration capabilities brought about by mySAP Technology will result in substantial reducation in cost of ownership for customers.

SAP TECNONOLOGY

Based on Web services and open standards, mySAP� Technology enables SAP to deliver an open integration infrastructure that unites people, processes, and information. This native Web technology environment allows companies to provide Web services through the SAP Web Application Server, combine Web services into collaborative business processes through the SAP Exchange Infrastructure, and make those Web services available to users through mySAP� Enterprise Portal. It exploits the knowledge management capabilities of SAP Enterprise Portal and the structured information management capabilities of the SAP Business Information Warehouse to integrate information.
As the foundation for SAP� R/3� Enterprise, mySAP.com� solutions, the newly announced SAP xApps, and non-SAP applications, mySAP� Technology empowers companies to collaborate successfully-anywhere, anytime. mySAP Technology masters heterogeneity by aligning and unifying people, information, and business processes, across technologies. It enables any organization-regardless of size and industry-to run its business more efficiently and productively and to gain significant competitive advantage.

SAP MODULES

The SAP FI (Financial Accounting) Module has the competence of meeting all the accounting and financial needs of an organization. Along with other managers, Financial Managers within your business and same module can review the financial position of the company in real time as contrasted to legacy systems which necessitate overnight updates before financial statements frequently and can be generated for management review. The real-time functionality of the SAP modules allows for better decision making and strategic planning. The FI Module incorporates with other SAP Modules such as MM (Materials Management), PP (Production Planning), SD (Sales and Distribution), PM (Plant Maintenance), and PS (Project Systems). The FI Module also assimilates with HR (Human Resources) that includes PM (Personnel Management), Time Management, Travel Management, Payroll. Document transactions occurring within the precise modules generate account postings by means of account determination tables.
The SAP CO (Controlling) Module endow with supporting information to Management for the purpose of planning, reporting, as well as monitoring the operations of their business. Management decision-making can be achieved with the level of information provided by this module. The Cost Element Accounting component provides information which includes both the costs and revenue for an organization. These postings are updated automatically from FI to CO. The cost elements are the foundation for cost accounting and facilitate the User the ability to display costs for each of the accounts that have been assigned to the cost element. Cost Center Accounting provides information on the costs incurred by your business. You have the ability to assign Cost Centers to departments and managers responsible for certain areas of the business as well as functional areas within the SAP. Cost Centers can be created for such functional areas as Marketing, Purchasing, Human Resources, Finance, Facilities, Information Systems, Administrative Support, Legal, Shipping/Receiving, or even Quality.
Some of the benefits of Cost Center Accounting:
(1) Managers can set Budget/Cost Center targets
(2) Cost Center visibility of functional areas of your business
(3) Planning
(4) Availability of Cost allocation methods and
(5) Assessments of costs to other cost objects.
Internal Orders provide a means of tracking costs of a specific job, service, or task. Internal Orders are used as a method of gathering those costs and business transactions that are linked to the task. This level of monitoring can be very detailed but allows management the ability to review Internal Order activity. Activity-Based Costing authorize a better definition of the source of costs to the process driving the cost and it also enhances Cost Center Accounting that allows for a process-oriented and cross-functional view of your cost centers. Product Cost Controlling allows management the capability to examine their product costs and to make decisions on the optimal price to market their products. The methods which can be utilized for EC-PCA (Profit Center Accounting) are period accounting or by the cost-of-sales approach. Profit Centers can be set-up to identify product lines, divisions, geographical regions, offices, production sites or by functions. Profit Centers are used for Internal Control purposes enabling management the ability to review areas of responsibility within their organization.

DEFINATION OF SAP

SAP, started in 1972 by five former IBM employees in Mannheim, Germany, states that it is the world's largest inter-enterprise software company and the world's fourth-largest independent software supplier, overall.

The original name for SAP was German: Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte, German for "Systems Applications and Products." The original SAP idea was to provide customers with the ability to interact with a common corporate database for a comprehensive range of applications. Gradually, the applications have been assembled and today many corporations, including IBM and Microsoft, are using SAP products to run their own businesses.

SAP applications, built around their latest R/3 system, provide the capability to manage financial, asset, and cost accounting, production operations and materials, personnel, plants, and archived documents. The R/3 system runs on a number of platforms including Windows 2000 and uses the client/server model. The latest version of R/3 includes a comprehensive Internet-enabled package.

SAP has recently recast its product offerings under a comprehensive Web interface, called mySAP.com, and added new e-business applications, including customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM).

As of January 2007, SAP, a publicly traded company, had over 38,4000 employees in over 50 countries, and more than 36,200 customers around the world. SAP is turning its attention to small- and-medium sized businesses (SMB). A recent R/3 version was provided for IBM's AS/400 platform.