Control of Message Determination for the Trading Contract

 

During message output for the trading contract, messages containing various information are created for the target groups Customer , Vendor and Employee of the trading company. Message determination schemas (see below), or output determination procedures as they are sometimes referred to in the system, are used to define the kind of information provided in the messages that are created.

Message Determination Schemas

In Customizing for Trading Contract , you define the message determination schemas that are to be used for the following target groups:

  • Sales group

    Here, you can define the message determination schemas that are relevant for the target group Customer . You can enter one schema for header messages (all contract items are included in the message) and one for item messages (the message relates to only one item in the contract).

  • Purchasing group

    Here, you can define the message determination schemas that are relevant for the target group Vendor . You can enter one schema for header messages (all contract items that the relevant vendor delivers are included in the message) and one for item messages (the message relates to only one item in the contract that the vendor delivers).

  • Contract type

    Here, you can define the message determination schemas that are relevant for the target group Employee . You can enter one schema for header messages (all contract items are included in the message) and one for item messages (the message relates to only one item in the contract).

In the condition technique, message application WT is used for trading contracts.

Possible Settings for Message Determination (Condition Technique)

Message determination uses the condition technique. A brief overview of the elements and settings that are required in Customizing for Trading Contract is given below .

  • Condition tables

    A condition table defines the combination of fields for which message records are created. Standard condition table 170 controls message determination dependent on the combination of purchasing organization and vendor, for example.

    In addition to the standard condition tables, you can define your own condition tables.

  • Message types

    In the SAP System, message types are used to map various messages such as the printing of a document for a particular target group. In addition, message types define which transmission medium is used, and when the message is sent.

    You can create your own standard message types depending on your requirements.

    In the standard system, message types for target groups Vendor and Customer are marked as partner-dependent . In message determination for these target groups, the recipient of the messages is determined using the partner functions. In contrast, the message types for target group Employee are marked as partner-independent . In this case, the system attempts to find an address for the employee to whom the message is to be sent. For this to be possible, the Person responsible field of the trading contract must contain a user name that exists in the user master.

    Note Note

    Condition records must exist for the message types, so that default values are available for the transmission medium, transmission time and so on. For further information, see Creating Condition Records for Message Determination .

    End of the note.

  • Access sequences

    Access sequences are search strategies that the SAP system uses to find valid condition records.

    You can create your own access sequences depending on your requirements.

  • Message schemas

    The message determination schemas contain the permitted message types for the various target groups for which messages can be sent for trading contracts. As a result, the system can automatically suggest the related messages for a trading contract. In addition to the standard message schemas, you can define your own message schemas.

    As different information is provided for the different target groups Vendor , Customer, and Employee , a separate message determination schema is used for each target group.

Further Settings

In addition to these elements of the condition technique, the following settings must be maintained for message determination:

  • For the target groups Vendor and Customer , specific message types must be assigned to the partner functions .

    The permitted type of message processing (such as printing or faxing) must be entered for a particular combination of message type and partner function.

    For the target group Employee , the message type is marked as partner-independent (see above).

  • SAP Smart Forms and programs must be assigned to the individual message types.

    The forms control the layout of the output documents, and the programs control message processing.

    Note Note

    You can choose Define forms to change existing forms and create new ones.

    End of the note.

  • You can choose Assign form texts to define which texts for address, letter header, footer, and style of greeting appear in the output document, dependent on purchasing organization, sales organization, and company code.

  • You can define print parameters dependent on the following keys:

    Sales organization/distribution channel/division

    Sales organization/distribution channel/division

    Sales organization

    Purchasing group

    User

For information on the individual Customizing settings, see the implementation guide (IMG).