Procedure documentationCreating a Method with a Step Hierarchy

 

You use this procedure to define methods and method steps based on a method layout that is intended for a step hierarchy.

You can apply this procedure in the following processes:

Prerequisites

In the technical view of the Consolidation Workbench, you have created a method layout with a step hierarchy for one of the consolidation functions (such as currency translation). Step hierarchies can have multiple levels.

Procedure

The procedure shown here is kept general in nature, since the procedures for individual consolidation functions will vary:

  1. In the technical view of the Consolidation Workbench, under Method, choose the required consolidation function (such as currency translation), and create a method.

    The Create Value dialog box appears. Under Layout, specify the method layout to be used as the basis for defining the method.

  2. First, define the global parameters that apply to all steps. (For currency translation, for example, these would be the source key figure and exchange rate type on the Reference Translation tab page.)

  3. Go to the Fast Entry tab page to define the individual steps. For example, for currency translation, you create a step for each combination of currency translation key and exchange rate type.

    When you create a step, the system assigns a dummy number as the name. This number does not have any effect on the order in which the steps are executed. (The steps are executed from top to bottom.)

    1. Choose the arrow in the Navigation column to go to step maintenance. Here, you define the selection conditions and properties of the step, and can also change the name of the step.

    2. In step maintenance, choose the and pushbuttons to navigate from one step to another within the same step level. Use the pushbuttons to navigate to the higher step level (the method is at the top).

    The new step hierarchy is also shown under the method in the screen area for Customizing objects (at the bottom left of the Consolidation Workbench). Expand the list, if necessary.

  4. In the screen area for Customizing objects, you can change the sequence of steps using drag and drop.

  5. Save the method.

    If you have activated the business function Financials, Group Close, Allocation (FIN_ACC_GC_ALLOC), the Copy entry is displayed in the context menu. This enables you to copy individual steps within a method.

Result

Once you have assigned the method to a task and executed the task in the Consolidation Monitor, the system executes the method and its steps in sequence (from top to bottom). A confirmation is displayed after successful execution.

Example

Note the following examples when creating method layouts and methods with step hierarchies: