Copy Task

Use

You can use a copy task for the following purposes:

You can create a plan version based on current actual data.
You can translate existing data into a second group currency (see Consolidation in Multiple Group Currencies).
You can copy data to a different version to generate consolidated statements for other GAAPs (generally accepted accounting principles), such as US-GAAP.

In a copy task, you cannot use any copy method that copies data from another consolidation area. Instead, use the data collection method.

Integration

The task hierarchy is version dependent. You add the copy task to the task hierarchy of the target version; either as a replacement of, or in addition to, a data collection task.

Only data streams that are defined in the database are displayed in Customizing for the copy task.

If both the Sequence of Activities and Activity Sorting data streams are defined in the database, the only the Sequence of Activities data stream is displayed in Customizing for the copy task. Since the two data streams are closely related, when the system carries out a copy task for the Sequence of Activities data stream, it copies both data streams.

The Activity Numbers data stream cannot be copied.

Prerequisites

The data streams to be copied are defined in the database.

The copy method you perform in the copy task has been created.

Key Features

General

When you assign a copy method to a copy task, you can copy the following data in the consolidation system (SEM-BCS) periodically:

Reported financial data
Documents
Additional financial data

In the task's Customizing settings, you can determine which specific data streams you want to copy (such as reported financial data, documents, inventory data, supplier data, investment data, equity data, equity holdings adjustments, goodwill).

How a copy method is carried out depends on the following settings:

Using the consolidation frequency, you determine in which periods the consolidation monitor performs the copy method.

Using the processing type, you determine the type of organizational unit for the copy method and therefore also determine the usable data streams and posting levels for reporting data and documents. Assign the copy method to the organizational units depending on your needs.

The following table shows each processing type the usable posting level for reporting data and documents as well as the usable data streams for additional financial data.

Usable Posting Levels and Additional Financial Data Per Processing Type
Processing Type	Usable Posting Levels	Usable Additional Financial Data
Per Consolidation Unit	00, 01, 10	All additional financial data, but not data streams: Noncurrent assets (consolidated) Sequence of activities Activity sorting
Two-Sided	20	–
Per Consolidation Group	02, 12, 22, 30	Noncurrent assets (consolidated)
Independent of consolidation unit/group	–	Only data streams Sequence of activities Activity sorting

Using the period category, you can assign various copy methods depending on the period category. When performing a copy method, the system checks which period category applies and performs the copy method assigned to that period category.
You ultimately assign the copy method that is to be processed when carrying out the task for the given period category. You also determine for which organizational unit the copy task is to be performed. The range of organizational units depends on the processing type.

Note
The copy method must be compatible with the processing type. For example, if you choose the per consolidation unit processing type, the copy method cannot copy reporting data with the posting level 00.

If you have made a target selection for the document type in the copy method, then the posting level for the selected document type must match the posting level for the processing type.

End of the note.

If you have activated the Financials, Group Close, Check Digits (FIN_ACC_GC_CHKDGT) business function, the Customizing of the copy task contains the Global Settings group box with the Ignore Posting Block When Copying indicator. If you set this indicator, when the copy task is executed, the system also allows postings to items or transaction types for which you have set the Block Posting and Data Entry indicator in the master data.

Note Note

When this option is used, you need to keep in mind that the posting and data entry block is applied only when the copy task is executed. This means that this setting does not apply to further data transfer procedures (flexible upload, loading from the data stream, deletion) that you execute in the target environment after executing the copy task. Error messages are still displayed for blocked accounts during these data transfer procedures. You can only reset such data records in the target environment by using the Analyze and Repair Data Streams function (in the Tools view in the consolidation workbench, under Transaction Data).

End of the note.

Status of the Copy Task

When you assign a copy method to a copy task, the system takes the status of the source task into consideration. The relationship between the status of the copy task and the status of the assigned source tasks is the same as the relationship between the status of other tasks and their respective preceding tasks.

The following example illustrates the concrete relationships in status management:

Example Example

You define the copy task C1 in version 200 and assign the source tasks S1 and S2 to the copy task in version 100.

You execute either task S1 or S2 in version 100. The system resets the status of copy task C1 in version 200.
Tasks S1 and S2 are blocked in version 100, and task C1 is blocked in version 200. Now you unblock either task S1 or S2 in version 100. As a result, the system unblocks copy task C1 in version 200.
To be able to block copy task C1 in version 200, the source tasks S1 and S2 need to be blocked in version 100.

End of the example.

For more information on status management in the consolidation monitor, see Status Management in the Consolidation Monitor.

Copying to Another Group Currency

To copy into another group currency, enter a currency translation method in Customizing for the copy method that is to use a rounding method. When performing a copy task, the system carries out the currency translation specified in the copy method.

The copy task consists of the following steps:

Read source data
If defined: Execute mapping
If defined: Execute the BAdI
Currency translation and rounding according to the currency translation method
Write target data in the target version

When totals data is copied, rounding differences can cause additional data rows. When documents are copied, additional document line items can be created.

If you periodically copy data (that is not accumulated), you can create the opening balances by copying the associated totals records one time only using the nonperiodic copy function.

If you copy the totals records cumulatively and copy documents at the same time, the system behaves as follows:

Totals records and documents are translated separately. However, documents are always translated periodically.
Then the system compares the translated totals records with the sum of the translated documents. Here, the translation of totals records takes precedence.
If a difference is found, the system creates a correction document. The document text denotes that this is a correction document. The correction document is also listed in the copy task log.

When data is translated into another group currency, the copy task log shows the following in addition to the ordinary information:

In the source data section: The group currency key of the source version
Error messages generated during currency translation
In the target data section: Rounding differences
If created: Correction documents

Activities

Customizing for copy tasks can be done in the process view of the consolidation workbench under Start of the navigation path Consolidation Functions Next navigation step Copy Task End of the navigation path .

Example

Example: Consolidation in Two Group Currencies