APO Interview Questions with Answers

☞ QUESTION 1
QUESTION 1: APO DP PLANNING BOOK UPLOAD TYPE
I have to upload data in the DP planning book from a legacy
system. The different options available regarding the update
type from this field are as follows:
OW1 - Overwrite Completely, First Period distribution
OW2 - Overwrite Completely, Consistent distribution
PW1 - First: Overwrite partially Period Distribution
PW2 - Overwrite partially: Consistent Distribution
DL1 - Delta Update: First Period Distribution
DL2 - Delta Update: Consistent Distribution
My question is where can I find the PUPDATE field in APO to
specify the nature of update type for the DP planning book?
✍ ANSWER
You can do the following for update purposes:
1. Change this template: /SAPAPO/TS_PSTRU_SAMPLE_
MD_GEN in order to load with zeros.
2. Use the flag [X] Ignore zero values.
3. Update the values in table: RSSGTPCLA.
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☞ QUESTION 2
NEGA TIVE VA LU ES REQ U IRED FOR FORECA STING
I am using APO to forecast negative values, but I don’t see any
option in my forecast profiles to allow for negative values.
There also seems to be a system setting that automatically
changes negative values to zero, which leads me to believe
that I can turn it off as well. How do I enable my forecast
profiles to allow negative value settings?
✍ ANSWER
If you are working with APO 4.0, you can produce negative
values in forecasting MLR. Working with logarithms is
reasonable as well. That is, if you mean non-negatives with
time series.
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☞ QUESTION 3
Creating a new key figure for a planning
book
I started adding a new key figure in the planning book in
DP by using BW admin (rsa1) but it doesn’t show in the
interactive demand planning book. How do I create or add a
new key figure in a planning book in DP?
I did try to go in /sapapo/msdp_admin and select my planning
area to add new key figures in there but the system said that
there are some active versions and that I can only go in
display mode. How can I go in change mode?
✍ ANSWER
If you intend to do some calculations and do not intend to
save that data after exiting the planning book, you can use
auxiliary Key figures. Also, keep in mind that you can only
change inactive planning areas.
This being said, BEFORE you begin, please ensure that you
have a backup of your live cache and info cube information
required to rebuild the planning area when you have
finished.
You will then have to delete the time series objects against
the planning area (right click on the planning area and select
delete), this will delete ALL values in the planning area hence
the backup that is required.
Once this has been done the symbol next to the planning
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area should change from a green circle to a red square, you
should now be able to make your changes.
When you have completed the changes you will have the
pleasant task of uploading your data again.
I suggest that you try this several times in your DEV
environment before being sure of moving onto QA and
PRD.
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☞ QUESTION 4
CHA RA CTERISTIC DRILLDOWN
In the data view of the planning book, we have a number of
key figures. When I drill down by product, I get the first key
figure and the product drilldown. From there, the next key
figure appears and the list goes on.
I would like to swap the drilldown between the characteristics
and the drilldown.
Is there a way to change the format so that I can drilldown
by the product and show all key figures for each product
instead?
✍ ANSWER
Take the following steps to reformat according to your
specifications:
1. First, set up the macro to do this. In the macro use
statement DRILL_DOWN and specify the level (Product).
When you run the macro it will show you the options.
2. You will need to have your header row displayed, and a
header button created (i.e. for your product). Also make
sure to have selected more than one product from the
drop-down (or details) menu. This is required before it
will allow pivot sorting.
3. Lastly, right-click in the top left hand corner of the
dataview and select Pivot Sorting. From here, you can
proceed to reformat.
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☞ QUESTION 5
Choosing day in period for lc order in the
DP to SNP order
We have a monthly bucket in DP and SNP. When forecast is
transferred from DP to SNP, it is created as one live cache
order on the first day of the period covering the month. Is
there a way to change the transfer so that the forecast order
is on the 3rd or 4th day of the period?
For Example:
>DP 01/2006 forecast 100;
>Transfer to SNP;
>Forecast order created for 01/01/2006;
Instead, we would like it to be created for 01/04/2006.
✍ ANSWER
You can do two things to make the changes. First option is
to check the forecast horizon field in the SNP2 tab of the
product master. The second option is, if you are using CTM
and have one forecast a month, change the CTM time stream
to weekly and aggregate the forecast to this period via the
aggregation tab in CTM. From there, choose the CTM global
configuration setting to middle of the period. CTM will then
treat the forecast at the beginning of the month (FI period
actually) as if it was on the Wednesday of the first week of
the month, instead of Monday.
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☞ QUESTION 6
SCEM Triggers
What transaction is used to change the configuration of event
handlers? How do I set the triggers of the event handlers to
be inactive?
✍ ANSWER
Go to SPRO> Integration with other mySAP.com Components
> Event Management Interface > Define Application
interface> Define SAP EM interface functions. From there,
you can set the triggers of the event handler.
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☞ QUESTION 7
CHA NGE PLA NNED ORDERS TO PRODU CTION ORDERS
I was trying to convert planned orders created in APO to
production orders in R/3. I have placed the transfer indicator
in the orders and when I execute the transaction for transfer
it says transfer has taken place but I still cannot find the
orders in R/3. How do I effect the change?
✍ ANSWER
If you have the Im in place, proceed to check the r3 inbound
and outbound queues for any blocks.
The R3 conversion to process orders would have caused a
change in the order number so you can’t find the same order
number in R3.
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☞ QUESTION 8
Data load errors
I am getting the following errors in the data loads In APO
Quality system during monitoring checks: This is a quality
client copied system from the
APO production system.
1. There is no PSA for info source LISVCIT and source
system AP900.
2. System error occurred (rfc call).
3. Activation of data records is terminated.
How do I fix these errors?
✍ ANSWER
First, check that the info package is not loading directly
to the cube. Make sure that it is loading to PSA first before
going to the cube.
With errors 2 and 3, there seems to be a problem with
whichever system is calling your client, and you should talk
to your basis team to rectify rfc errors.
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☞ QUESTION 9
USING CU STOM KF IN TRA NSFER PROfiLES IN DP
We are using the Custom Key Figure in DP and I am using
the same custom characteristic figure in the transfer profile
for the transfer of forecast from APO to R/3. It is not getting
transferred nor does it throw any error log, and the other
settings are fine (Publication types etc). What I would like to
know is if it is possible to use the Custom KF in the transfer
profile? Or should we use 9AMATNR only for the transfer of
forecast requirements?
✍ ANSWER
You can use the custom characteristics to replace product
(9AMATNR) and location (9ALOCNO) in APO. However,
you have to define those characteristics when you build the
MPOS.
You can do this in the screen of Configuring POS using
EXTRA-->Assign Prod/LOC.
This should solve your release problem.
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☞ QUESTION 10
STORA GE B U CKET P ROfiLE
We are required to carry out storage bucket profile
maintenance in Production system as the horizon of storage
bucket profile is getting expired (data backup from planning
area has already been taken into cubes). Can I transport it
to production by defining a new storage bucket profile into
the development system? Or do I have to define it in the
Production system directly? If I can transport the storage
bucket profile, what is the Tcode for that?
✍ ANSWER
You can use the standard transport connection for DP and
SNP using the transaction /SAPAPO/TSOBJ. You will also
have to transport the planning area from dev to Prod plus all
the relevant details like POS, Storage buckets, and planning
buckets. Planning books will also get transported if you do
not remove them manually from the request.
From hereon, it’s your call to transport these things or just
change the storage buckets directly in production.
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☞ QUESTION 11
SA LES HISTORY FOR DP
We are trying to remove the duplicate storage of sales history
data in two places and the consequent system overheads of
loads and other similar items. Is it always necessary to load
sales history into APO or can it be stored in the central BW
(non-APO) and referenced via a remote cube in APO?
✍ ANSWER
This should be possible using BAPI “ PlanningBookAPS” and
using the methods “ GetDetail” and “ChangeKeyfigureValue”.
Similarly, this procedure also works for uploading data from
excel to live cache without using info cube.
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☞ QUESTION 12
INP U TTING A MA CRO NOTE
How can I enter or attach a note to a macro in APO 4.1 Macro
Workbench or MacroBuilder?
✍ ANSWER
Note can be maintained by clicking Macro workbench ->
Planning Book.
When you click this, window is split in two and you get all
the macros available.
From here right click the macro, you will get the option to
add a note to macro.
Then, choose the change mode of the planning book>Right
Click on any value in the planning table>choose ‘display
notes’. From there, you will see the notes and be able to give
your own notes too.
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☞ QUESTION 13
TRA CKING OF ALERTS
We have a requirement to see and keep track which Alerts
User was worked on.
For Example: we have 19 alerts and want to see on which
alerts (the number of alerts) the user worked on and how
many more remaining alerts he/she needs to conclude the
work.
How do I track, monitor and identify these alerts?
✍ ANSWER
The alerts have status which tells you whether they have
been processed or not. If you look at the alert monitor screen
you will find that there is a prompt whether to accept the
alerts or undo it. Therefore, your option is on ‘alert’ monitor
screen. Meanwhile, ‘alert’ status is stored in a structure. You
can easily do a little research and put these all together to
fulfill your requirement.
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☞ QUESTION 14
PA RA M ETER CONVERSION ERROR
How can I resolve the parameter conversion error when
running alerts?
✍ ANSWER
You can run a consistency check on the alert and then reactivate
it.
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☞ QUESTION 15
PA ST DU E DEM A NDS (BA CKORDERS) A ND APO
OP TIM IZER
We just started testing APO Optimizer v4.1 and have the
following issue:
‘THE OPTIMIZER IS IGNORING PAST DUE DEMANDS’
EXAMPLE: We have a Sales Order with due dates in the past.
This shows up in the INITIAL column of the planning table
(transaction SNP94). When we run the optimizer, it ignores
these Sales Orders (and any other past due demands). This
action results in Supply Shortages throughout the entire
planning horizon.
Heuristics does consider past due demands. Unfortunately, it
does not meet our needs for developing a constrained supply
plan.
How can we fix this problem so that the APO optimizer will
reflect Past Due Demands (Backorders)?
✍ ANSWER
There are some settings in the optimizer profile that are
used when building the model to send to the optimizer. If the
demands are not met when sending the optimizer model, a
value needs to be passed so that the system can recognize
that it is possible to build a pegging link, which can then be
analyzed and incorporate a ‘waiting’ program for possible
backorder delays.
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☞ QUESTION 16
SNP
If not using DP and PPDS, how does SNP Work? I understand
that Demand Plan has to be fed to SNP in order for SNP to
do short to mid term planning. I also assume that PPMs
came thru PPDS and if not using PPDS, we can use PPMs as
APO Master data. If my knowledge of R/3 is accurate, then I
further assume that we can transfer the demand plan from
R/3 to APO and then execute SNP. However, I am not sure if
these assumptions are accurate. Am I on the right track? If
not, can I have some inputs so I may adjust accordingly?
✍ ANSWER
These are some facts about SNP:
1. SNP has CTM, where you could actually use PP/DS
PPMs.
2. For Heuristics you’d need SNP PPMs only if you have inhouse
production.
3. You can plan for Demand (as you said can be transferred
from R/3) as well as sales orders, depending on the above
2 scenarios.
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☞ QUESTION 17
APO SNP
My CTM run produces no result. I have created PPMs and
assigned them to a model.
I am using standard planning book 9ASNP94. I am able to
see my resources having capacity of 8 hours a day and also
initial demand with stock on hand for my products.
I didn’t make many changes to the CTM engine (all I
mentioned is VERSION) and selected all master data. The
log does not show any errors.
What could be the problem?
✍ ANSWER
Check your master data selection. Incorrect master data
selection reflects no errors in Evaluation and yet does not
produce any planning results either.
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☞ QUESTION 18
PPDS quantity alerts
I found the results of the PPDS quantity alerts to be difficult
to interpret in a real time business situation. Is there a
way for these alerts for receipts and requirements to be
programmed so as to reflect actual shortage and surplus in
terms of percentages?
✍ ANSWER
The PPDS alerts are based on the pegging situation of the
requirements and receipts. You can change the pegging
windows and the alert windows mode on the demand tab/
pegging sub tab. This will change the results significantly. In
general, set a broad range on the pegging limits that lets the
receipts peg to the requirements. Afterwards, set the alert
limits to see if things are late or early. This should take care
of your concern.
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☞ QUESTION 19
How to CIF the PPM without operations
We have setup a subcontracting flow. However, I need to
plan it in APO. I need to start from a DP forecast, in PPDS
to create a subcontracted PR (I have the subcontracted info
record in APO) I need a PPM with the BOM. But, I can’t CIF
the BOM (ProdVersion) since it doesn’t contain an operation.
Must a PPM always contain an operation? I don’t need that
operation in APO, for the simple reason that there are no
activities (except for the handling), and the service cost is in
the info record. I would like to know what the best way is to
go about it.
Should I create a dummy WorkCenter, and some dummy
activity, just for the sake of being able to CIF the PPM?
✍ ANSWER
Proceed to create a dummy, infinite resource and a master
recipe with 1 phase with a fast duration e.g. 1,000/hr.
As the PPM is used for the BOM explosion, the details of the
task list are irrelevant.
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☞ QUESTION 20
COM P LEX SETU P TIM E CA LCU LA TION
We are trying to figure out how to handle a complex
calculation of setup times. We are working in a metal mill
industry and setup times depend on dimensions. This means
that setup is a very big factor for increasing width, but zero
for decreasing width. As far as I know it is not possible to
model something like that using setup groups and setup keys
because this could lead to an infinite number of combinations.
If you also consider thickness or other characteristics like
color and even process characteristics like temperature,
then the whole thing gets too complicated to handle via
setup keys. How can I find a simpler method to approach
this and fulfill the requirement of setting up a program that
will automatically set up complex time calculations?
✍ ANSWER
You might be interested in some SCM 5.0 developments
where the system can generate its own composite matrices
based on matrices that you enter for swaps between
individual characteristic evaluations. I mean characteristic
evaluations, not setup groups. In this development, you can
maintain a setup matrix for setup swaps between thickness
characteristics, and another for length.
The system can then generate a composite matrix that will
have many more entries (but it saves you from doing it), and
it’s possible to specify that the composite swap should either
be the max, sum or badi dependent value with regard to the
individuals.
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The system also generates its own ‘setup group’ which it
applies to the order that can then be used to build the swap
time for the order in planning.
There are some restrictions, and you’ll need to contact SAP to
get some consulting if you are interested in taking it further.
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☞ QUESTION 21
No Entry FOR bw_user in the table RSADMIN
I am maintaining a source system in the Administration
workbench of the APO by the Menu Supply chain planning-
Demand Planning-Basic setting-Administrator workbench.
Once I create source system type Sap-r/3 Manual creation
selection and selected the R/3 Destination and logical system
name from the Popup menu, the system indicates ‘No entry
for BW_USER in the table RSADMIN is available’.
When I check for details, the following information is given:
‘No entry for BW_USER in table RSADMIN available;
Message no. RSAR 059
Diagnosis: Missing entry in table RSADMIN
System Response: Process for creating a source system
terminated.’
I then went to the table RSADMIN. It is having entry for BW_
USER as
‘Object BW_USER’ and further indicated: ‘Value ALLREMOTE’
When I need to maintain another entry in this table, I plan to
load the data from Sap/r3 Info structure to APO Info cube.
For this I am going to do the following setting:
Procedure: In Customizing> maintain Proposal for Users in
the Source System:
BW Customizing Implementation Guide -> Business Information
Warehouse ->
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Connections to Other Systems -> Connection between SAP
Systems and BW ->
Maintain Proposal for Users in the Source System (ALE
Communication).
I am concerned though that I might encounter the same
response from the system. How do I resolve this issue?
✍ ANSWER
Check for the following:
1. Verify if you have the BW_USER set up both for the R/3
system and the APO system. They need to have the same
password set for both systems.
2. Double check if you do not have BWREMOTE user. If you
don’t have it, go create a remote user (in IMG) and that
will fix the problem.
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☞ QUESTION 22
Location transfer via CIF
We have a new plant and we are trying to CIF to APO at CFM2
system. It is showing the error ‘Location does not exist for
external location number EF00, type 1001, BSG’. How do we
correct this error?
✍ ANSWER
First thing to do is to make sure you assigned the correct
logical system (R/3) to a business system group. Secondly,
check the Planning version attached to the plant. It should
reflect ‘000’.
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☞ QUESTION 23
PROP ORTIONA L FA CTOR
I need to set the proportion factor between a pack size (level
higher) and product for the entire forecasting period.
Example: Under pack size PK1 give 100% for product A for
months 1, 2 and 3 and 100 % for product B for the remaining
months. This will help me so that after every monthly
forecasting run, the plan numbers are disaggregated to the
correct product (i.e. the active one for that month).
I can make the changes directly to the proportional factor
key figure to achieve the above result but the problem is that
every month, the proportional factors will be regenerated
(i.e. new sales month included) and because of this, the
percentage settings will be lost.
Can anyone suggest a clean approach to handle this
problem? I need for the end user to maintain this and not the
IT maintenance team. If I need to use macros, can you please
give details on how it should work (i.e. the logic)?
✍ ANSWER
There are two possible ways to approach this:
1. Create a new key figure that will hold proportional
factors and make your changes in it. Then copy that to
the proportional factors row using a copy macro. Every
time you regenerate your prop factors, remember to run
a background job that will rewrite the proportional factor
based on the new prop factors row. Don’t keep your
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original prop factors row open to editing. Keeping the
new proportional factors open to edit must be enough.
2. Another solution is to use a new Key Figure. Store values
that you do not want APODPDANT to overwrite in this
KF and allow manual editing for this. Then overwrite
this MANUAL KF with APODPDANT with a mass job
or interactive fashion. Write batch planning books with
minimal rows and macros for the mass job.
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☞ QUESTION 24
Using fact sheet from one product to
determine sales of another product
The sale of some of our products is based on the sale of
another product. For example: a sale of product A will lead
to 2 sales of product B. So we should not have to forecast
product B since it will be derived from product A.
How do I factor this in APO DP so that forecasting should be
automatic for product B?
✍ ANSWER
Check the DP BOMS. It might present some possible
solutions.
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☞ QUESTION 25
Global view of Demand
We have created demand planning areas for different regions
in Europe, Americas, and Asia.
If I want to have a Global view of my demand, what do I need
to do?
Is there a similar concept to a BW multicube available in
APO, kind of a “Multi Planning Area” or something?
✍ ANSWER
You should only create one planning area for different
regions. But since you have already created a Multiplan,
copy the data from one planning area to another to be able
to show them together in data views. Or extract to BW in
different info cubes and create a multi cube on top.
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☞ QUESTION 26
Deleting product master from APO
How can I mass permanent delete product master (not just
set the deletion flag) from APO? I have tried to use BDC and
done /sapapo/mat1> Mark for deletion but the result comes
out to set the deletion flag as supposed to permanent delete
when you do it manually. Is there another way to do it?
✍ ANSWER
After setting the deletion flag just use the report to delete
product master.
Try this menu path:
Master Data > Product Master > “Delete Products” off the
Extras tab within the Product Master.
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☞ QUESTION 27
Product Interchange
We have activated product interchangeability function.
We want to have a range of substitution (one to many
or vice versa). For example: A -> B, C ->B with different
validity from date. Currently, system is not permitted when
we create substitution C->B. It states: ‘Error occurred:
Interchangeability not continuous’.
What does this mean?
✍ ANSWER
The problem might have occurred because the assumptions
are not supported. PP/DS only supports linear super session
chains. In a linear super session chain, each product in the
super session chain can have only one predecessor and
one successor. The products in a super session chain are
therefore linked by 1:1 relationships. Super session chains
in which a product has several successor products (1:N), or
several products have one successor product (N:1) are not
permitted.
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☞ QUESTION 28
CREA TING PPMS IN APO
I am trying to create PPMs in APO but then I am not able to
understand as to how to satisfy this requirement. Is there
a way to create PPMs manually in APO without getting
anything transferred from R/3?
✍ ANSWER
If you have the products and the resources created in APO
then you can create a plan (PPM).
First, you need to create the master data product and location
manually. Then you can be able to create PPM manually, or
get the master data CIF ed. One prerequisite of the PPM is
having the master data.
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☞ QUESTION 29
NO AUTOLOG FILE
We have installed SCM 4.1 on windows 64 bits (live cache
7.5).
I noted that there is no AUTOLOG file on operating system.
I have defined AUTOLOG Medium and it is in status AUTOLOG
ON, but there is no file on operating system.
DEVLog is 2GB and LOG_SEGMENT_SIZE is 85333.
I think there is not a lot of activity on this system (it is not yet
in production life).
But why there is no file on operating system?
Must I reduce LOG_SEGMENT_SIZE?
What problem could it generate?
I do a DATA backup one time by day and LOG backup 3 times
by day.
I think when I do a LOG backup (and stop AUTOLOG before
and restart it after), the log is empty? (And data are put in
DATA?)
So may be it is normal there is no file in AUTOLOG.
Is it a problem for a restoration of warm backup?
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✍ ANSWER
You will only get a log when the LOG is filled or if you force
it to write it on logs. To force a log switch:
DBMCLI -d LCA -u control, control -uUTL -c autolog_off
DBMCLI -d LCA -u control, control -uUTL -c autolog_on
Or:
Create a media:
dbmcli -u control,control medium_put LOGS X:\LOGS FILE
LOG 0 8 YES
Start backup on disk:
DBMCLI -d LCA -u control, control -uUTL -c autolog_off
DBMCLI -d LCA -u control, control -uUTL -c backup_start
LOGS
DBMCLI -d LCA -u control, control -uUTL -c autolog_on
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☞ QUESTION 30
FORECA STING P ROfiLE
We are now in the process of testing various history data
models to see what forecast APO will give us. So far we were
not impressed with the auto models. Most of the time, they
are just giving us constant models. Meanwhile, the history
data clearly shows a trend and/or seasonality.
How we can make the forecast more accurate and reflective
of relevant trends to enable the auto models to show it?
✍ ANSWER
Forecast models in APO are just the Statistical tools to
help you arrive at forecast. So try playing with the forecast
parameters for better accuracy
In case of Auto Model 2, try the following:
- Use an appropriate forecast horizon (> 2 years) if you
are having a 1 year seasonal cycle;
- Clean the data to get rid of the known values of overselling
or underselling (Promotions/Stock outs);
- Use APO outlier correction and sigma value of 1.25;
In case if you are not satisfied with the APO forecast values
you can also use some external forecast models and bring
the data back to APO using the User exits.
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☞ QUESTION 31
SELECTION ID IN M A CRO
I am in need of a selection ID in macro to send the information
or save the information in a z table. The objective for this
is to essentially monitor which selection ids are being used
and by whom, in the interactive planning. How do I fetch a
selection ID in macro?
✍ ANSWER
The solution is simple enough. Use table /SAPAPO/TS_
SELKO.
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☞ QUESTION 32
Live cache returns error 4016 when executed
Live cache returns error – ‘4016 An SQL error occurred’ when
executed (while /SAPAPO/OM03).
It seems that live cache installation program do not create
procedures in MaxDB and are not initialized properly. Is it
possible to somehow initialize them manually? How do I
create a clear instalation procedure?
I am currently using Platform win64, live cache version 7.4...,
SCM version 4.1.
Is it easier to install & run it on win32?
✍ ANSWER
The best way to resolve this is to check initialization log
and go from there. However, since you have SCM4.1 which
is supported only with Live Cache 7.5, you’ll have difficulty
doing this even if attempted on win32. An upgrade review
maybe in order to resolve the issue.
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☞ QUESTION 33
APO relevance
I am getting one warning message saying that ‘work center/
resource is not APO relevant while creating integration
model’. What does this mean?
✍ ANSWER
During the transmission of PPM, every operation of routing
is checked. If a work center does not have a control key
which shows that it is relevant both for capacity planning
and scheduling, and both formulas are maintained in the
work center to calculate capacity demand and scheduling
time, the system tells you that it is not relevant for APO.
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☞ QUESTION 34
Stock in transit
How to reflect the values in Intransit key figure of planning
book for SNP (std). I have two location - One is shipping
location A and the other one is Receiving Location.
I have created an STO IN TLB from A location and created GI.
Delivery from location A STO disappeared from the location
A. But I am not seeing any values in key figure in transit at
location A OR B. I have an integration model for stock in
transit active. How do I fix this?
✍ ANSWER
You must create an inbound delivery at the receiving location
for the stock to show up being in transit. The inbound delivery
is SAP’s standard way of showing it in transit.
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☞ QUESTION 35
Planning book problems
I encountered two problems in my planning book design:
1) I want certain key figures to be input/output and others as
output only in my data view. When I went into design view
of the Planning book and right clicked on the selected
key figure and made it as output, all the other key figures
were also grayed out. Not trusting the design view, I
checked in interactive planning and it is indeed setting
all of the key figures to output only. I further checked
and found there is no grouping on the key figures.
2) Typically, in interactive planning, those time buckets in
the history are grayed out (output only) yet this is not
occurring. I have checked my storage bucket profile and
periodicities and all seem fine.
As far as I am aware this is not a GUI problem, as I am on a
recent GUI patch. How do I resolve these issues?
✍ ANSWER
This can be fixed by going to a newer release of the GUI.
Build 779065 patch 13 add on that comes with the new GUI
and SCM will resolve the issues mentioned.
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☞ QUESTION 36
SAP SCM Components
As far as I know SAP SCM has APO, EM and ICH as its
components. However, when I checked with on-service.sap.
com, it gave this list?
1. Demand and Supply Planning
2. Service Parts planning
3. Procurement
4. Manufacturing
5. Warehousing
6. Order Fulfillment
7. Transportation
8. Analytic
9. Supply Chain Event management
10. Supply Chain collaboration
I can understand that these are the processes in any supply
chain. But are these all part of mySAP SCM 4.0?
✍ ANSWER
The SCM portal in SAPNet views the Supply Chain
Management as the combination of the SCM components
and the R3 Logistics components working together. That is
the reason why when you open Procurement you get a link
to Materials Management.
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☞ QUESTION 37
Extending selection conditions for prod
orders in cfm1
The selection conditions for production orders do not meet
the requirements of my customer when the integration
model was generated. I am aware that OSS Note 507696 can
be used to extend the selection criteria for MARC fields in
cfm1. But information regarding this is not readily available
in the production order selection. Is there a way to extend
the selection criteria for production orders
(i.e. with order type AUART)? If utilizing a user exit, which
one?
✍ ANSWER
For the first question on extending the selection criteria
for production orders, I am not aware of such functions to
comply with the requirement. For the second query, you can
try the user exit CIFORD02 with ZXCIFU07.
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☞ QUESTION 38
✍ ANSWER
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☞ QUESTION 39
Periodic date Function in Macro
In my date view I got weekly buckets. I am working on a
macro, wherein I need to know the week’s placement in a
month. The week is either the first of week of the month
or the second week of the month. I saw the function which
can give me the week’s position in a year. However, it does
not show the week’s position in a month. I tried using both
MONTH and WEEK function but did not yield the needed
results. How can I derive the requirement of either first or
second week of the month?
✍ ANSWER
There is no direct function to calculate this. However you
can use the functions WEEK {BUCKET_BDATE (ACT_
COLUMN)} for the week period requirement. Use a similar
formula to place the week within the monthly period
requirement. Afterwards, use EVAL to get the desired results
from the above two functions.
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☞ QUESTION 40
cfm1 (integration model)
I am trying to transfer a plant from R/3 to APO but while
doing so, I am getting the error:
‘Error when creating address of location -- type Production
plant’.
I have checked the address of the plant in R/3 but I didn’t find
anything wrong with it. What can be the problem and how do
I resolve it?
✍ ANSWER
There are several ways to approach this issue. You may
check any of these:
1) Have you copied the same factory calendars you are
using in R/3 to APO? It is because, if they do not exist in
APO it will not create the location.
2) Check the Time Zones. Ensure consistency between R/3
and APO.
3) This is a slight possibility - do you have Geo-coding set?
If so, have you given the Plant the correct level to define
the Geo-code in APO?
4.) Check up the region code in the location R/3. If there are
special characters ‘o’ with a dot on top, then the plant
can not be transferred to APO. There is a BW setting to
permit that.
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☞ QUESTION 41
Demand Planning
We are doing implementation for Demand planning (Version
3.0A).The requirement is, they have seven (7) states for
which they want to do forecasting, promotion planning, life
cycle planning, etc. for each individual state based on the
history data of each one. After which they want to add up the
final forecast of all the states and use it for R/3. (There is no
connection between R/3 and APO).
The question is, is it feasible to define seven (7) info cubes
to have history data for each state and seven (7) Planning
books (one for each state) to take the forecast run separately
and then add up all these states’ final forecast to arrive at
a national level forecast? After this, the promotions will be
added again at the national level to arrive for a final forecast.
This will be downloaded and will be sent to R/3.
Is there a way to make it more feasible or easier to configure
rather than doing the run around?
✍ ANSWER
To simplify things and still meet your requirements, instead of
having 7 separate info cubes for each state, you can have the
same results by having a single cube fed from 7 different info
sources (if required). You can then have 7 planning books to
control access for each state and as long as you have ‘State’ as
a characteristic you can then forecast each state individually
but still allow a higher view of the combined forecast within
an overall planning book.
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☞ QUESTION 42
Currency Conversion in APO DP
I want to convert the volume level data into ‘Value’ by
converting the volume into a corresponding value. One
way of doing this is by maintaining the conversion factor in
the product master and setting the unit of measure in the
planning book. But the problem is I want to show value in
only one key figure and the rest will all be key figures that
should show the volume data only. I also want to show the
Key Figure in currency terms by setting the Info object Unit
as currency. However, it doesn’t display the same way in the
planning book and shows the Planning Area UoM as the Key
Figure. How can I resolve this?
A corollary question is the standard SAP demo shows value
and volume information in the same planning book but I am
not able to decipher how they manage to do it. How can I
find a way to decipher this function?
✍ ANSWER
Try the following measures:
1) Do not define UOM for the Info object.
2) While creating the Planning area, define the UOM as currency
(in the details of Key Figure, Unit of Measure column).
Ideally this should allow you to use the defined Unit.
3) Ensure that you have unchecked the UOM check BOX.
4) Now write a macro to derive the value of this KF.
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Reminders while doing the first four tasks:
1) When you define the KF (in which you have to put the
values), define it as number and not quantity. Say this KF
as KF1
2) Now while creating the Planning area, in the Key Figure
TAB click details and remove UOM check Box. Next to
this will be another column named “Unit of measure”.
Define the VALUE UOM here.
3) Save and generate the time series and the newly defined
UOM will appear in planning book. However, no automatic
conversion will happen here. If the conversion factors
are the same, then you can write a macro to convert. Try
some macros like DISPLAY_CONV_FACTOR or UNIT_
CONV_FAC (I am not sure about these macros) to get
the data from the product master of possible.
If the data ‘quantity’ is uploaded from a flat file to cube and
then to PA, then you can write a small ABAP in the transfer
rules to derive the value in another KF and then upload the
same to PA.
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☞ QUESTION 43
Loading Purchase info into Live Cache
I have been asked to load SNP data (purchase orders) into
APO 3.10 from a flat file so that the client can view it in the
Planning Book [Live] SNP interactive planning/SNO plan
TCODE - /SAPAPO/SDP94.
Is this possible? If so, how could is this accomplished?
✍ ANSWER
You can upload the information using a BAPI -BAPI_
POSRVAPS_SAVEMULTI2. This can be used for the purpose
but you would need the help of an ABAPer to do the task.
Another option is to load them into the planning area as time
series key figures and proceed from there.
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☞ QUESTION 44
Changing values in a Key figure
I have a requirement from a user wherein he wants to change
the values for the key figure basing on a set of drill down. The
same key figure is computed by a Macro which is a default
macro. Is there a way or a Macro to achieve this? If so, how
is the process done?
✍ ANSWER
If you are using the standard workbook, you can make a
copy of it and use that one instead. Then go to the macro
workbench and change the macro so it does exactly what
you want it to do.
There is a standard macro Drill down (***). Create a collective
macro and put the drill down as first step. Afterwards,
execute the macro. Ensure that the collective macro is the
default macro.
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☞ QUESTION 45
Year Dependant Fiscal Year Variant in APO
DP
Our client wishes to do demand planning based on a production
month calendar. The calendar is based on 12 periods per year
with some periods containing 4 weeks while others contain 5
weeks. The start date and end of each period is not the same
year to year. For example the “December” production month
for 2005 runs from 27 Nov - 31 Dec, whereas the “December”
production month for 2006 runs from 3 Dec - 30 Dec. I have
created Fiscal year variants for these because the periods are
not consistent year to year. I did this through the creation of
a year-dependent fiscal year.
So I have managed to create the fiscal year without a
problem. However, when I attempt to assign the fiscal year
to the Planning Buckets profile, I get the following error:
‘Input error 8 in row 1: See long text
Message no. /SAPAPO/MA 840’
Further, I managed to create the Storage buckets profile
without a hitch but when I try and create time series objects
for the planning area, I get this error:
‘Period 2006006 is invalid for periodicity P P1
Message no. /SAPAPO/PRP104’
Diagnosis indicated that the period 2006 is not consistent
with periodicity P that was entered in the storage buckets
profile for the planning area. What could possibly be done to
correct these errors?
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✍ ANSWER
After changing the FY, make sure that you de-initialize and
re-initialize your planning area. The definition of the FYV
should be one year more for each in future and past period.
The same applies for the initializing horizon of the planning
area.
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☞ QUESTION 46
Interactive Demand Planning
Is it possible to disable the selection window in Interactive
Demand Planning? I want the user to work directly with the
data selection already created. Bottom line – I don’t want the
user to load data of his/her choice.
✍ ANSWER
This can be managed with authorizations. Have a look at
note 400434. I think the object you are looking for is APO_
SELID.
SAP SCM Interview Questions
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☞ QUESTION 47
Collaborative Demand Planning
I am working on collaborative demand planning scenario in
APO and need some clarification on the integration process
between APO and ITS.
1. We have configured demand planning in APO and ITS
has been integrated with APO system.
2. We are planning to give the access to external major
customers to input and share the data.
How can this be achieved? What are the steps to be followed
to achieve this?
✍ ANSWER
You will have to do some prior requirements:
1. First is to maintain the partner settings.
2. Second, you will have to convert your normal DP planning
book into a HTML based workbook including the alerts.
3. Lastly, you should also have a collaborative planning
workflow.
The second phase of the task is to do a whole of setting
changes:
1. Install the Internet Transaction Server (ITS)
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Before you begin with the installation, see the ITS
documentation provided on the Server Components CD
which is delivered together with the software.
In order to display the texts on the initial LOGON screen in
the desired language, you must first set the default language
in the global ITS data service using ITS parameter ~ language
and the language abbreviation of the SAP system.
File Name: global.srvc
Example: ~language EN (for english text display)
Requirement: ITS version 4.6D
2. Publish the Collaborative Planning HTML templates on
the ITS server.
Follow the standard procedure for publishing HTML templates
together with Internet Application Components (IACs) / Easy
Web Transactions (EWT). See the relevant documentation for
ITS and SAP@web-studio or ABAP workbench.
The following HTML service templates are required:
CLPAMON, CLPBID, CLPGLOBAL, CLPSDP, CLPPROMCAL
The templates can be obtained in the following ways:
CAR files /File Name: 30a_apo on SAPSERV3
See OSS Note 327567 (2000)
Check out templates from APO 3.0 system using SAP@webstudio
or ABAP workbench (transaction SE80).
See documentation for ITS and SAP@web-studio or ABAP
workbench.
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You must also install the WEBGUI and MINIALV service
templates that come with the ITS installation package.
Third phase requires more setting changes:
1. General requirements for interactive Supply & Demand
Planning (for ALL types of data exchange)
2. Maintain the following settings.
2.1 Assign a planning book to the user (Demand Planning
® Environment ® Current Settings ® Assign User to
Planning Book)
See also: Planning Book Maintenance
2.2 Assign selection profiles to the user (Demand
Planning ® Environment ® Selection Organization ®
Maintain Selection Assignments)
See also: Selection Management
2.3 Settings for drill down in the Internet planning books
Maintain the header information of the planning view
(Demand Planning ® Planning ® Interactive Demand
Planning ® Settings ® Header Information).
Choose the characteristics for which you wish to enable drill
down and select the Changeable indicator.
This setting must be made by the user. Otherwise the settings
have no effect.
1. Display graphic in Internet planning books
2. Maintain the following data under System ® User
Defaults ® Own Data on the Parameters tab page:
Parameter /sapapo/clp_webgraph, value X.
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In the Internet planning book, you can then show or hide a
graphical representation of your data by clicking.
If you are working with the drill down facility and wish
to hide totals lines for individual key figures, click in the
relevant line.
Then, use these settings for notes in Internet planning
books:
→ Maintain the following data under System ® User Defaults
® Own Data on the Parameters tab page:
→ Parameter /sapapo/clp_webnote, value X
In the Internet planning book, you can then click to switch to
note mode in order to enter notes on your data.
To be able to enter notes, you must use a unique selection
(i.e. you must uniquely identify all characteristics).
Use these settings for the export of data:
>Maintain the following data under System ® User Defaults
® Own Data on the Parameters tab page:
Parameter /sapapo/clp_webdown, value:
XLS (if you want to process the data in Microsoft Excel)
CSV (if you want to process the data using other software)
In the Internet planning book, you can then export the data
with:
Settings for sorting the data in the case of drill down
Maintain the following data under System ® User Defaults ®
Own Data on the Parameters tab page:
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Parameter /sapapo/clp_pivot, value X
When you have chosen drill down for a characteristic, you
can then switch between the following two displays in the
Internet planning book with:
Sorting of data by key figures
Sorting of data by the drill-down characteristic (e.g.
product)
Settings for header lines in drill down
Maintain the following data under System ® User Defaults ®
Own Data on the Parameters tab page:
Parameter /sapapo/clp_rephead, value X
The header line is then shown in the Internet planning book
between the objects for which you have chosen drill down.
Choose a drill down by products and maintained the value
x for the parameter /sapapo/clp_rephead. The data on the
products is then separated by the header line.
Settings for header lines:
>Maintain the following data under System ® User Defaults
® Own Data on the Parameters tab page: Parameter /sapapo/
clp_webbhead, value X
The header line is then repeated as a footer line in the Internet
planning book.
Settings for column width:
>Maintain the following data under System ® User Defaults
® Own Data on the Parameters tab page: Parameter /sapapo/
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clp_row_wi, values S, M, L, XL and ‘ ‘ (default).
This user parameter enables you to adjust the width of the
fixed columns (key figure and characteristic descriptions) in
the event of display problems in an Internet planning book.
Do S and M, if you want to display more columns.
This may result in the descriptions of the key figures and
characteristics being incompletely displayed.
Do L and XL, if you need wider columns for more text.
Maintain APO settings for data exchange between planning
books. Then, define the time series data exchange.
While APO Customizing for workflow, maintain the following
Customizing settings:
→ Create users for external partners
→ Assign user names to the collaboration partners
→ Create a Collaborative Planning Workflow.
→ Supply and Demand Planning via Web access
→ Install the CLP Internet component.
If you wish to view APO alerts, see the requirements listed
above.
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☞ QUESTION 48
Conversion of PP/DS PPM to SNP PPM
I am encountering complications when converting a PP/DS
PPM to an SNP PPM – that is, the primary resource is not
getting carried over. When I look at the SNP mode, there is
duration but the Primary Resource field is blank.
The resource in question is Multimixed, and the “Not SNP
Relevant” flag is not checked.
After further investigation, I called up the PP/DS PPM and
did a “check plan” - which gave me several errors...namely
“no bucket consumption maintained for resource”....or
something to that effect.
What could be causing these errors? How can these be
corrected?
✍ ANSWER
When the PP/DS PPM converts to a SNP PPM, it is the bucket
consumption that it uses not the variable consumption that
shows. You will need to add this in your PP/DS PPM.
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☞ QUESTION 49
Transferring data from R/3 to APO
I was trying to transfer data from R/3 enterprise to APO 4.0.
However, even though I have inferred from help.sap.com, I
still wasn’t able to do this function successfully. How do I
transfer data from r/3 to APO?
✍ ANSWER
Do the following steps:
1. Create integration models for master data and transaction
data
2. Activate the integration models and select CFM1.
3. Enter the model name> select the logical system > select
APO application.
Then, select each master data and enter the relevant data
for each master data.
4. After creating the model go to CFM2 to activate the
model.
5. Enter the model, logical system, and the APO
application.
6. Execute the transaction.
After these, you will get the model in that page. You can now
select the model and activate it.
Take note that you can create location in APO or you can
make one integration model for location by selecting plant
in CFM1.
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☞ QUESTION 50
Changing PPMs thru BAPI_PPMSRVAPS_
SAVEMULTI_30A
I want to change existing PPMs by using BAPI_PPMSRVAPS_
SAVEMULTI_30A. After setting up the itabs and calling the
BAPI and the necessary COMMIT WORK everything looks
fine (return - table is empty). However, the values to be
changed stay unmodified (checked through /SAPAPO/SCC03-
transaction). With the debugger, I could find out a place in
the source code where a flag is queried whether COMMIT
WORK should be done inside the BAPI - after switching it on
(= COMMIT WORK inside the BAPI) the new value was set
and showed up in SCC03! Is there any way to turn this flag
on programmatically?
If you wanted to change a field the capacity requirements
structure should indicate:
*” CAPACITY_REQ STRUCTURE BAPI10003REQCAP
OPTIONAL
You would also need to set an X in the corresponding entry
of the additional structure (below):
*” CAPACITY_REQ_X STRUCTURE BAPI10003REQCAPX
OPTIONAL
The German documentation of parameter PPM reads as if
for every entry in PPM a corresponding entry in capacity_
req is needed, independent of whether the capacity_req shall
be changed or not. In fact, this is not true. After leaving out
the capacity_req and capacity_req_x - tables, changes to the
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PPMs should be accepted by the BAPI and written to the
database.
✍ Answer
If you wanted to change a field the capacity requirements
structure should indicate:
*” CAPACITY_REQ STRUCTURE BAPI10003REQCAP
OPTIONAL
You would also need to set an X in the corresponding entry
of the additional structure (below):
*” CAPACITY_REQ_X STRUCTURE BAPI10003REQCAPX
OPTIONAL
The German documentation of parameter PPM reads as if
for every entry in PPM a corresponding entry in capacity_
req is needed, independent of whether the capacity_req shall
be changed or not. In fact, this is not true. After leaving out
the capacity_req and capacity_req_x - tables, changes to the
PPMs should be accepted by the BAPI and written to the
database.
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☞ QUESTION 51
CIF: Transferring Sales Orders from R/3 to
APO
I am trying to transfer sales orders from R/3 to APO. I am
able to transfer purchase orders, but not sales orders.
Once I activate the Integration Model in R/3, I am not able to
see the sales order in R/3 that has to be transferred to APO.
I am looking at the right place in APO for the transferred
sales orders (/SAPAPO/RRP3 - Product View). What could be
the reason why sales order cannot be viewed?
✍ ANSWER
You need to check some items on this:
1. Check your outbound q in R/3 and inbound in APO. You
will get more explanation there. May be some master
data or UOM may be missing. Check the q errors first.
2. If #1 is not the problem, check whether the integration
model is active and verify the inbound and out bound
queues.
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☞ QUESTION 52
APO Reporting
Does anyone know if there is a way to get at the APO or
Live cache database via some sort of reporting tool without
having to use BW?
I understand that the mySAP suite of products was designed
to have all of the analytics come from BW.
✍ ANSWER
You can use Business Explorer (BeX) which loads on MS
excel - needs to be setup. Or back up planning area data to a
remote cube and read it using list cube.
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☞ QUESTION 53
Data load into APO-DP planning book from
Excel
Is it possible to load data from an Excel file into planning
book in version 3.0A? I know this facility was provided in
APO 4.0 onwards (readings from sap.com).
✍ ANSWER
There is an ‘easy’ way to do it using the normal BIW tools
1. Create a Data Target with all needed characteristics and
key figures.
2. Create a Source System for a PC Flat File.
3. Create a Info source and a Info package.
Now load the Data from the CSV file into the Data Target and
use transaction TSCUBE to upload the data from the Data
Target into the planning area (DP).
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☞ QUESTION 54
SNP Optimizer take a lot of time running
I’m running the SNP optimizer and the solution is ok at the
end, but it takes a long time in order to get the solution
(around 6 hours).
We are running the optimizer for some like 4,000 SNP orders
with 2 level components.
Besides to check only the required parameters in the
Optimizer, what else can I do in order to shorten the planning
run time?
✍ ANSWER
The running time depends on the optimization technique you
are using. Linear is usually quicker than discretization. If you
are using discretization, then the more discrete functions you
use, the longer it will take. I recommend no more than 2.
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☞ QUESTION 55
Saving Data in Planning Book SAP APO DP
Do you know how can I recover the Live cache data after
an Initialization has been done? Is there any other option
besides restoring it from the backup?
✍ ANSWER
Are you using Basis? If so, you can always rebuild it from
data in your SAP APO system. It also depends on what was
lost. If you lost order data (snp) and you have a connection
to R3 you can rebuild almost all the results using the CIF and
your R3 connected client. If it is demand planning data that
is only in your dp planning area, I hope you have a back up
info cube of your planning area. It is because from there, you
can reload everything that was lost. If you have not yet made
a back-up info cube of your planning area, then I think your
best option is a system restore to a back-up.
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☞ QUESTION 56
Undoing a Live cache Initialization
Why is the data not saved in the key figure when the disaggregation
type is set to “N” (No dis-aggregation) in the
planning area? Each time the ‘save’ button is clicked in the
planning book, the data is lost.
✍ ANSWER
If you have dis-aggregation turned off, the only place you
can save data would be at the lowest level. Figure out
where your lowest level is and you’re your data there.
Or you could also try to save data at the level that you had
an aggregate function.
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☞ QUESTION 57
Product Planning Table set up
I’m working with APO 3.0. Using transaction /SAPAPO/PPT1
(Product planning table) on screen “Product view: periodic”
some PlOrd rows are modifiable (input/output) while some
are not (output only). The PPMs are different. PlOrd-s with
input possibility connects to different resources than others.
I want to modify all PlOrd quantity. What is missing here?
✍ ANSWER
Check the resource operating time assigned to resource. The
planed orders connecting to resource are used as output only
in the planning table if no time is assigned.
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☞ QUESTION 58
One or more planning areas/book in DP
I have 10 different countries set up in my system. Each of
them has their own demand planners. I have set up a planning
area and a planning book for one of them and my idea is to
set up identical planning books and areas for the rest. The
result will then to produce 10 different planning areas with
the same exact structure.
I want to know if that is the best practice (or option), or shall
I try to set up just one planning area for all of them? If so, are
the users going to be blocked when they start working?
✍ ANSWER
I would recommend one planning area/book. You can control
who accesses data via the selection profiles. As long as the
selection profiles don’t overlap, the users will not be able to
lock each other out.
There are some things that you have to look out for though:
1) If there is any change in process requested by a single
country it would become difficult to manage considering
the fact that all other countries also share the same
configuration.
2) Using a single planning area and POS will also increase
the CVCs handled and can cause a lag in performance.
3) The data management will be a bit tricky and functions like
realignment (if required) should be handled carefully.
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4) Impact of mismanagement (scheduling a wrong
background job for instance) would me on higher side
with such set of configuration.
Given the above, you can evaluate the pros and cons of both
approaches and go from there.
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☞ QUESTION 59
Assigning characteristic value for PPMs via
CIF
I’m trying to find a way to automatically assign characteristics
to the PPMs when CIF occurs. How can this be done?
✍ ANSWER
Try developing a user exit for the note 495825.
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☞ QUESTION 60
SNP standard planning areas- issues
I encountered some issues while doing SNP standard
planning areas:
1) The default UOM assigned to 9aSNP02 is PC, we don’t use
that unit of measure. What is the best option to go about
it? I need to create a new planning area of 9aSNP02.
2) When we initialize 9asnp02 it doesn’t ask for a date from
and to, like it does for 9aSNP01. Is this normal?
3) Initialization of 9asnp01 takes a long time while 9asnp02
is done in a few minutes. Why so?
✍ ANSWER
The responses are numbered accordingly:
1.) Yes. Create a copy of the 9ASNP02 planning area and
change the default UoM.
2.) The planning area 9ASNP02 is an order based planning
area and therefore doesn’t require a time series like
9ASNP01.
3.) This is related to the generation of time series (see
response to number 2).
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☞ QUESTION 61
APO -DP Inability to track quantity changes
in forecasts
APO - Demand Planning
Does anyone know if there is a method to track quantity
changes in forecasts? When a person changes an entry in a
planning book, the system does not automatically create a
historical record of the change. Does anyone know if there
is a way to handle the changes?
✍ ANSWER
There can be two (or more) solutions, depending on your
exact requirement.
If you need to capture the how, what, and when of a forecast
change, you’ll need audit trail functionality. Although no
such functionality exists out of the box, it can be developed
using macros. You can create a default macro that validates
whether a key figure value has changed. If it does change,
you can create an entry in a z-table that records the original
value, the new value, the user, and the date (or any other
data you might need). Then create a BW report that reports
this data.
If you just need to capture the values of all key figures at a
periodic interval, extract the planning area contents to an Info
Cube. By using a timestamp for the extraction period, you
can run reports that compare the values of key figures during
points in time. This is normally called a waterfall report.
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☞ QUESTION 62
Key figures in Planning book
I have created a Planning book with all custom key figures.
I want certain key figures to be input/output and others as
output only (so that they are grayed out in the book). When
I went into design view of the Planning book (from the
planning book) and right clicked on the selected key figure
and made it as output only I was surprised to see that all
the other key figures also were grayed out (in the sense, the
input output key figures that really needs to be made as input
key figure was also grayed out). I checked and there is no
grouping. Is there any grouping at Planning book level for
key figures?
✍ ANSWER
You should have the latest SAPGUI patches and SCM Add-in
patches. This will solve the problem.
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☞ QUESTION 63
ATP Horizon
Any idea where we can define the ATP horizon? For example,
the period for which ATP check would be carried out. I
believe it must be somewhere while initializing the ATP time
series. Where can I find this function and how should we go
about it?
✍ ANSWER
The ATP Checking Horizon is defined per product/location
combination in the Checking Horizon Field on the product
master. Remember to use an ATP Group that takes the
horizon into account
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☞ QUESTION 64
Dynamic pegging
How do we change the dynamic pegging relationship
interactively?
My problem is I have stocks dynamically pegged to say sales
order no 1.
Later on I have a sales order no. 2 which is to be confirmed
and delivered before sales order no 1. The system doesn’t
confirm any quantities due to the fact that the quantities are
dynamically pegged to sales order no1.
How can I change the dynamic pegging relation?
✍ ANSWER
You can do it from product view. Double click on element to
go to details. Over there you can see the details of pegging
relationship, and you can also see alternatives for pegging,
which you can fix.
From your description though, it seems this is not a pegging
issue, but an ATP issue. If the above does not work for you,
try using Tcode /SAPAPO/BOPI to switch confirmation from
one order to another (If you are using Global-ATP, otherwise
you should use CO06 in R/3).
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☞ QUESTION 65
LOADING TEXT AND MASTER DATA
I have encountered some difficulties regarding uploading
text and master data in BW Info Object. My client wants to
create his own report on the BW embedded on APO (3.0).
For example, 9ALOCNO has the code but contains no
description nor attributes. What kind of activity is necessary
for it to work in APO? Do I have to create a custom data
source reading /SAPAPO/* tables?
✍ ANSWER
You can load text since 9ALOCNO has a text table. But you
can’t load any attributes. It is because 9ALOCNO does not
have any attributes in its definition.
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☞ QUESTION 66
/SAPAPO/TSM 219: Invalid Data Status
When I try to load a particular product group in the planning
book, I am getting the following Error Message. This happens
only for 3 product groups but it works fine for the rest of the
other product groups:
‘/SAPAPO/TSM 219: Invalid Data Status.’
This Error should not occur during normal processing. If it
does occur, contact the System Administration or call the
SAP Hotline Number.
Application Area: /SAPAPO/TSM
Message No: 219
Is this a functional/configuration/master data problem or
does it have something to do with System Administration or
support packs?
✍ ANSWER
There are numerous reasons why this can occur. Data
inconsistencies in the system are usually the main culprit.
The solution will depend on the exact functionality that
is causing the message and also your APO release/service
pack.
The best bet for you is to go onto SAP service place and do
a notes search on that error message number and then apply
the notes that are relevant for your release/patch level.
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Usually the construction check program repairs the LC
errors with invalid data status. Run the program /SAPAPO/
TS_LCM_CONS_CHECK with the ‘Repair’ option.
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☞ QUESTION 67
User Exit for /SAPAPO/TS_PLOBS_
GENERATE
In order to create Character Combinations (CC) in the
background, it is possible to use the standard report “/
SAPAPO/TS_PLOBS_GENERATE” on the basis of an info
cube.
The report also offers obviously the possibility to use a user
exit. However, I can’t find the right user-exit. Where can I
find the right user exit?
✍ ANSWER
Use the BADI: /SAPAPO/SDP_MASTER exit for your purpose.
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☞ QUESTION 68
Forecast in weeks and months
My time bucket profile is 12 months of which the first three
months are in weeks and the rest are indicated in months.
The last week of the current month is common between
current month and next month.
For example:
Technically the last day of week 4 of August 2005 is September
2005. How can we make the system consider Aug 31st as the
last day of week 4 and Sept 1st as the beginning of the new
week?
✍ ANSWER
You can use the fiscal year variants and associate them with
your storage bucket profile. This will produce the results you
are looking for.
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☞ QUESTION 69
Blocked stock in APO
We are implementing APO 3.1 with SAP R/3 4.7. Blocked
stock is not recognized in APO 3.1 as available stock. I know
that it is recognized in 4.x but we can’t upgrade to 4.x at
present. So, I am looking for some help. How do I resolve
the blocked stock in 3.1?
✍ ANSWER
You can use the exit described in note 487166 for enhancement
of APOCF011.
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☞ QUESTION 70
Classification view of Product master in
APO
We would like to use the Characteristics in the Classification
view of the product master in APO. Normally, when I
create a characteristic in R/3 and attach it to a class within
the classification view of the Material master, the relevant
characteristic will be displayed out - of which I can select a
value.
For example:
If my Characteristic is color that I have attached to a class,
when this class is called in the Classification view of the
Material master, the Characteristic is called in which I can
either select RED or YELLOW etc. But in APO, I have done
the same thing by creating a Characteristic, attaching it to
a Class. However, when I called the Class in Classification
view of the product master and clicked the details icon, I
see only the Characteristic Name (but not the values) which
means that I cannot assign a value to that particular part
number (product) in APO.
I am not sure where I went wrong in any step. How do I
determine where I went wrong and how can I fix this?
Note that I have tried transferring the Class & Characteristics
using CIF - that too didn’t work. We are in APO3.1.
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✍ ANSWER
You need to maintain the Customizing in R/3 and the same
in APO as the Customizing are not CIFed throughout the
Integration models.
Please enter the organizational area at the level of the Class
and at the level of individual characteristic identifying it as
those that are supposed to go to APO.
In APO, select the table /SAPAPO/MATKEY and choose
Organizational Areas.
Choose ‘new Entries’ to create organizational areas. If you
have not maintained the system, it will still transfer but you
may not be able to display the input.
These things are primarily done since these customizing are
not transferred through CIF.
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☞ QUESTION 71
Stop live cache versus stopSAP
My question is regarding the activation of a parameter change
in Live cache.
Will stopping (stopSAP ALL) SAP have the same effect as
stopping Live cache to activate the parameter change? Or is
it entirely different?
Do changes to Live cache parameter require stop&start
Live cache only? Can it possibly be activated even after a
stopSAP?
✍ ANSWER
If you restart just the lc, then that is all you do - restart the
Live cache.
If you do a ‘stopSAP ALL’ then it depends:
As of SCM 40, then everything is stopped, including lc.
However, be careful with earlier SCM/APO versions - only the
app server and underlying database (i.e. oracle) is actually
stopped - the Live cache is still there.
You should have no reason to restart the whole system
just to activate some lc parameter changes. Simply use the
functionality in LC10. It is also safer than using the DBMGUI
(especially with older lc / APO versions).
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☞ QUESTION 72
Live Cache to APO tables
I need to know if there is a function modules/BADI that reads
the data from Live cache to APO tables.
For Example:
How does the SA line derive from the Live cache and stored
in transparent table?
✍ ANSWER
COM routines are called from the ABAP function modules to
perform actions on any lc data which is stored in the object
oriented data areas. For all other (relational) data you can
use native SQL calls.
If you want to view the lc data you can use /SAPAPO/OM16.
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☞ QUESTION 73
Connection between Live cache & BW
We have separate Live cache server, APO server and BW
server. The process we follow now is that after running
different programs in Live cache for demand planning, we
load the data to a cube (say cube xyz) in the APO server for
back up of the Live cache data. We then load the data from
cube xyz from the APO server to a cube in BW server for
reporting.
Is there a way to load data directly from the Live cache to
BW, without loading the APO server? If yes, what do I need
to do in Live cache to set up the connection to BW?
✍ ANSWER
You need to define your planning area in APO as a data source
for BW. IN APO, run transaction /SAPAPO/MSDP_ADMIN
and right click on your planning area. Use option ‘generate
data source’. In BW, in transaction RSA1, select APO as your
source system, replicate to see the data source you have just
created and build your system from there on.
However, if you mean connecting the Live cache directly to
the BW system, instead of saving the planning results into the
local APO system then copying them across to the remote
cube, then No, you definitely can’t!!!
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☞ QUESTION 74
Stock in transit Upload
Can anyone tell me what BAPI or RFC can be used to upload
Stock in transit data from the External source?
✍ ANSWER
Take BAPI_GOODSMVT_CREATE plus an integration
model.
Stock would be entered into the R/3 system via a goods
movement created by the above BAPI and an integration
model would transfer the stock information to APO.
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☞ QUESTION 75
Changing a resource in a Heuristic
I am using a Customer Heuristics in which I change the
resource for a specific order operation before the Function
“/SAPAPO/EFPL_ONLINE_SCHEDULER” is called.
When I debug the Function I noticed it calls another
Function “/SAPAPO/OM_ACT_SCHEDULE”. This function
in turn connects to Live Cache & calls the stored procedure
“SAPAPO_PT_ACT _SCHEDULE2” with the changed resource
data. However, it schedules the order operation with the
wrong resource.
I assume that the stored procedure uses the resource data
found in Live Cache and not the data passed to it by the last
Function.
How do I solve this problem?
My first guess is to change the order prior to calling the “/
SAPAPO/EFPL_ONLINE_SCHEDULER” Function.
What function do I use (if at all) to change the order?
✍ ANSWER
In the Internal Table containing the Capacity Requirements,
you should also change the MODE_NO to -1 prior to calling the
online schedular (/SAPAPO/EFPL_ONLINE_SCHEDULAR).