Time Distribution

Use

You want to perform time distribution for costs or revenue for various costing items in order to update the plan for specific periods. You have several options for period-related distribution of your planned costs and revenue:

  • Edit valuation date in the item view

    Here, you can define the period to which the full value of the item is updated.

  • Proportional equal distribution across a period

    This allows you to define an interval of periods among which the quantity, and thus the value of the item, is distributed evenly. The value of the item is calculated according to the valuation date.

    Note Note

    The costs are distributed across the period between the valuation date and the latest end date by quantity proportionalization.

    Easy Cost Planning in the Project System : If you have maintained the start and latest end dates for the higher level WBS element, automatic distribution is performed for all the assigned costing items accordingly.

    End of the note.

If time distribution is to take place according to predefined complex distribution keys, you can do this using the functions described here.

Note Note

A Sales revenue item is to be distributed according to a sales-time curve, which is typical for products of this type.

End of the note.

Integration

Time distribution for the individual items is copied to the plan values for specific periods.

This function is available in SAP Media from Release 4.62.

Prerequisites

You should have recorded characteristic distribution keys in the system. For information on creating distribution keys, see Start of the navigation path Planning Next navigation step Manual Planning Next navigation step Define User-Defined Distribution Keys End of the navigation path in the Implementation Guide for Cost Center Accounting.

Choose Start of the navigation path Logistics Next navigation step Media Product Development Next navigation step Media Product Cost Estimate Next navigation step Maintain Distribution Keyson theSAP Easy Access End of the navigation path screen.

Features

Time distribution according to predefined complex distribution keys allows you to distribute each individual item. You define the start and end period of the time interval for which distribution is to take place for each item. You use a distribution key to define how the quantity is to be distributed among the individual periods. You can also use a second distribution key to define a seasonal distribution, which overrides the original distribution.

Restrictions:

  • J items (planning forms) cannot be assigned to a distribution key.

  • You can only assign complex distribution keys and edit time distribution in the individual item view and not via the costing structure. Time distribution for cost estimates that were created using planning forms must be assigned manually afterwards in the individual item view. It is not possible to assign complex distribution keys automatically using the costing model.

Activities

Proportional Distribution

Enter a latest end date . The costs are distributed across the period between the valuation date and the latest end date by quantity proportionalization.

Easy Cost Planning in the Project System : If you have maintained the start and latest end dates for the higher level WBS element, automatic distribution is performed for all the assigned costing items accordingly.

Assignment of Complex Distribution Keys

  1. Select the item line in the itemization and choose the symbol with the quick info text Distribute Item(s) to access the time distribution function .

  2. Define the start period and either the end period or the number of periods in the distribution period.

  3. Choose the distribution key.

  4. You can map the overall distribution by means of two distribution keys. This superimposes the different methods of distribution. You can select a Seasonal indicator for each distribution key. If this indicator is selected, the corresponding distribution relative to the start of the year is taken into account, regardless of the period in which distribution begins.

  5. Choose Distribute . The distribution result is displayed in the bottom half of the screen as a quantity and value for the period in question.

  6. Choose Copy . The Distribution Indicator column in the itemization indicates that time distribution has taken place for the item.