A. Determine the Target Consolidation Area

If your target is new (the target consolidation area is still empty) and the target consolidation area will use the same data basis as the source consolidation area, follow these steps:

In the process view of the Consolidation Workbench, choose Master Data → Consolidation Area and display the consolidation areas.

Select the consolidation area you want to copy, and choose Copy in the context menu.

Overwrite a new entry with the name of the target consolidation area.

In the target consolidation area, adjust the values for the characteristics that are fixed in the consolidation area so that there are sufficient differences to all other consolidation areas.

Save your settings.

An alternative is to also create the target consolidation area for another data basis. However, the data basis of the target consolidation area and the data basis of the source consolidation area must then be identical with regards to the InfoObjects they use, the assignment of roles to the InfoObjects, and the data streams that are used.

The settings in the consolidation area that affect the Customizing that still follows (for example, the use of maximum sets or the use of consolidation functions) need to be identical in both the target and the source consolidation area.

B. Copy Consolidation Area-Dependent Settings

Go to the tools view of the Workbench .

Now choose Consolidation Area-dependent Settings → Copy .

Specify both the source consolidation area and the target consolidation area (for example, the one you determined in section A. above).

If you have no empty target consolidation area, determine how the system should treat the consolidation area-dependent settings in the target consolidation area.

Delete all existing settings: Set this indicator to delete all Customizing settings of the same category in the target consolidation area before performing the copy.

The system only does the deletion if there are, in fact, settings of the same category to be copied.

Example 1: Suppose the target consolidation area already contains consolidation units. If the indicator is set, all existing consolidation units are deleted in the target consolidation area when you copy one or more consolidation units.

Example 2: In the following cases, the consolidation units in the target consolidation area are not deleted, even if the indicator is set:

The object group Organizational Units is not selected for copying.

In the source consolidation area, none of the consolidation units matches the restrictions made in the selection screen.

Delete existing settings of the same name: This indicator only affects objects that have the same name, and exist in the target consolidation area.

Set this indicator if you want to retain existing enhancements to Customizing settings in the target consolidation area.

Example: The source consolidation area has three tasks: A, B, and C. Besides those, the target consolidation area also has the task Z. You want tasks A, B, and C in the target consolidation area to be identical to those in the source consolidation area, but you do not want to change task Z. In this case, you would set the indicator Delete Existing Settings of the Same Name .

Select the object groups you want to copy with the objects.

The following is true for object groups for all indicators (examples of object groups are consolidation chart of accounts and consolidation functions ): If you set the indicator, you can individually specify the objects to be copied within the group box.

If you do not set the indicator, the objects belonging to the group are categorically excluded from the copy, which means that all indicators within the group box are not applicable.

The individual settings have the following meanings:

Versions: Versions themselves are not dependent on the consolidation area. Instead, combinations of versions and assignments of special versions and rules are affected. These settings are copied if the target consolidation area is empty. We recommend that you remove the indicator only if you want to copy specific settings, such as tasks.

Consolidation groups and consolidation units: The system copies the consolidation area-dependent settings to the consolidation groups and consolidation units. For example, the fiscal year variant and the period/year of first data entry (not the first consolidation) are always consolidation area-dependent.

Hierarchy: If you set the indicator, the system copies all edges of the hierarchy. (Hierarchies cannot be selected: either the entire hierarchy structure is copied, or nothing is copied.) Make sure that the corresponding consolidation groups and units already exist in the target consolidation area.

Consolidation chart of accounts: Items can be dependent on the consolidation area (but do not have to). However, the assignment of breakdown categories is always dependent on the consolidation area.

Breakdown category: This indicator determines whether to copy breakdown categories.

Selected items: This setting corresponds to the workbench entry at Master Data ® Items

Consolidation functions: This corresponds to Customizing for consolidation functions, which does not belong to the consolidation methods.

Exchange rate indicator: This is the only setting of currency translation that is dependent on the consolidation area.

Customizing for elimination of IU profit/loss in inventory (IPI Customizing): This setting corresponds to the Customizing settings for elimination of IU profit/loss in investment (including product groups, as long as they are consolidation area-dependent).

Customizing for consolidation of investments (C/I Customizing): This setting corresponds to the Customizing settings for consolidation of investments in the workbench at Consolidation Functions ® Consolidation of Investments → Settings

Methods: The method layouts are always copied along with the methods themselves.

Method category: You set this indicator to restrict which methods are copied (for example, if you want to copy all validation methods).

Data entry layout: The system copies all related forms and reusable structures along with the data entry layouts themselves. We recommend that you copy all of your data entry layouts.

When copying currency translation methods, it is imperative that you also copy the related rounding methods (for example, using the multiselection feature).

When copying data collection methods, it is imperative that you also copy the related methods for flexible uploads (for example, using the multiselection feature).

Tasks:

Task hierarchy: Exactly one task hierarchy exists. If you set this indicator, the system copies all entries of the task hierarchy. Make sure that the corresponding tasks and task groups already exist in the target consolidation area.

Task category: You set this indicator to restrict which tasks are copied (for example, if you want to copy all reclassification tasks).

To turn the selection for tasks or task groups to the condition select nothing , place the cursor in a field for the selection and choose Select Nothing.

At first, run the copy in test mode.

The system generates a log with warnings if the selection of objects and settings is not consistent for the target consolidation area. The log also indicates which objects and settings in the target consolidation area are deleted, overwritten, or added.

Now, run the copy in update mode.