Activation Example 

Starting Situation

This example deals with the activation of a specific business process. The process "Paint" is activated only through a PC, whereby the color is varied from the standard. The classification Standard, as well as White, Red, Green and Blue are found in the Material master.

The following data is assumed. The information in parentheses is for the data required by IDES.

Step-By-Step Procedure

Looking Into Material Classification

  1. Choose Logistics ® Materials management ® Material master ® Material ® Display ® Display current.
  2. Enter the material number.
  3. Mark the view Classification.

    4. The Class Types screen appears. The created Class Types are shown.

  4. Double click on 001 material class.

    5. The Display material screen appears. Classification. Provided for you to view are Class PC01 with the description Characteristics for PC’s and Components.

  5. Double click on PC01 in column Class.

    6. Characteristics and characteristic values of the material are displayed; these are for r-4000 in IDES: Color coat number 3 and color red.

  6. Double click on the value red.

    7. You are provided an overview for all the created values of the characteristic color: 01 = standard, 02 = white, 03 = red, 04 = green, 05 = blue.

  7. Return to screen Characteristic value assignment display and choose View ® Language.
  8. Mark neutral as well as characteristic and value

Now you can view the internal characteristic names: T-COLOR. You will need this description when you create the process template.

For more information on creating material classes, characteristics and characteristic values see: The Classification System and Characteristics

Results of this step

You are now familiar with the information which you need to enter the correct formula in the activation column of the process template; namely, material class, characteristic and characteristic value.

Entering Activation Requirements in the Process Template

If you wish to only view the activation requirements in IDES, see section "View Activation Requirements in IDES".

  1. Call up the process template for editing.
  2. Double click on column Active. Plan.
  3. Choose Column insert.
  4. Choose MATERIAL_CHARACTERISTIC_VALUE as Comparison operand 1.
  5. As characteristic of the classification enter Value T-COLOR in the column.
  6. In row Class type of the classification, column Value choose Fixed value through F4 .
  7. Choose class type 001.
  8. In row Material number choose the function MATERIAL_NUMBER (containing the material just calculated), through F4 Function/Variable.
  9. Save your entries.
  10. Mark not equal to as Comparison operator.
  11. In row Comparison operand 2, enter the fixed value 01 .

Result

The activation requirement represents: activation of the business process when the material characteristic value of the PC (the entered material number) is not equal to the standard color (that is, white, red, green or blue).

 

View Activation Requirements in IDES

  1. Call up the process template for editing (T-PROD1).
  2. Double click on column Active. Plan.
  3. Double click on the entry 01.

You can see the activation requirement (see above).

 

Checking and testing the template

Go to the screen Choose Activity showing the template options Create process template and Change process template. To check the syntax of your entries, choose Test.

Follow these steps to test the template:

  1. Mark Process Test.
  2. Enter the test parameter, for ORDER_PLANT <Plant number> ( 1200) , for ORDER_MATERIAL_NUMBER <Material number> ( R-4000) , for TOTAL_ORDER_QUANTITY <Quantity of your choice> (1) .
  3. Choose Plan.

Process template: exploding

In the screen Evaluation process template you are provided with a results structure. If you open the path displayed, you will see the activated business process 300000 in row Object in IDES. The row Plan: Activation shows the result active. In the Material master, "red" is saved as the characteristic for material r-4000.

Exploding templates - Details

To see more details, double click on row Activation. You get the following information:

Formula/Method You can see the entered activation requirement. Because a function is used with parameters, the name is replaced through F1.

Function list: You see the complete name of the function and all parameters that you entered in the activation requirements (T-COLOR, 001; MATERIAL_NUMBER). The date entry stems from window Parameter for testing the process template. Per. 9 = 03 means that in period 9 the function gives result 3 (= Color Red).

Result: The condition "Result F1 (= 03) is not equal to Color 01" is fulfilled; thus, ACTIVE is set.

Field content: Material number and date stem from the Test entry field.