Sets (SAP Library

Sets

Purpose

A set is used to group data and to define data hierarchies. A set links together specific values or ranges of values under a set name. These values exist within one or more characteristics of a database table. A characteristic is a single field or column of a logical database (table). Account, cost center, and business area are examples of characteristics.

Using sets, you can group together values within a particular characteristic.

For the Account characteristic, you can collate values under the following set names: ASSETS, LIABILITIES, SALES, EXPENSES and EQUITY.

Sets are easy to create and maintain, and they give you more flexibility when maintaining your system. Also, with sets you do not have to maintain master data or tables. Advantages of sets include:

Single definition

You define a set once, as an independent object.

Multiple usage

You can use the same set in many other different modules. For example, if you create a set for reporting, you can also use the set for allocations.

Flexible processing

When you add a new value to a set, the value is automatically stored in the system.

You can create a set that contains a range of accounts, such as all cash accounts. You can then use the set in a report. If you add a new account to your system, you do not need to change the set or report definition; you only need to execute the report.

Efficient and unique structuring of values

With sets, you can organize your system values into logical groups and hierarchies according to your individual needs.

Table-independent usage

You can use sets for all characteristics (table fields) that use the same or compatible data elements.

In FI-SL, for example, you can use groups that have been created in the Controlling (CO) application component if the characteristic is compatible with the characteristic of the CO group.

You create a report for table GLFUNCT and want to enter accounts in the report rows. You could enter a cost element group as the row block (table CCSS, characteristic KSTAR). In this case, characteristic CCSS-KSTAR is compatible with characteristic GLFUNCT-RACCT.

Integration

You can use sets and set values in other Special Purpose Ledger (FI-SL) sub-components, such as:

In reporting ( Report Writer) In a Report Writer report the row structure, column structure and the general data selection are defined using sets.

In allocations

In planning

In rollups

During currency translation

For Boolean Logic/syntax

For more information on sets, see uses of sets.

Features

When you create sets, you decide how to organize set structures and which values should be included in a set. You can use the following types of sets:

Basic sets

Data sets

Single-dimension sets

Multi-dimension sets

For more information, see set types and set hierarchies.

A set consists of the following parts:

Set name (max. 24 characters)

In FI-SL the set name uniquely identifies the set.

Set header information (such as the database table and characteristic that the set uses, the set description, and symbolic name)

This information applies to all values within the set.

Set values (such as specific accounts or cost centers or other sets)

Set value information also includes data that is used by the Report Writer (such as symbolic names, format groups, and set row text).

In sets, you can use formulas to perform calculations within the set. For more information, see variables and key figures.