The R/3 System consistently uses the document principle as a reference. For that reason, postings are always stored in document form. The document remains as a complete unit in the system until it is archived.

Only complete documents can be posted. A document is complete when its debit and credit items balance to zero. You must enter the minimum account assignments designated by the system: document date, posting date, document type, posting key, account number, and amount. Data must also be entered in all other fields that were chosen as required fields when making system settings.

During document entry, the system ascertains whether these conditions have been fulfilled. It also checks your entries, insofar as that is possible. If you enter a key that is not defined in the system, you will get an error message. You have to correct your entry before you can enter any more documents. These checks prevent incorrect, inconsistent, or incomplete entries from being made.

If you are interrupted while entering documents and wish to store data temporarily that has already been entered so that you can finish later, use the Hold document function.

If you cannot make a complete document entry because account assignments are missing or something is still unclear, you can park the document. Use the Park document function in document entry.