Planning Folder 
Definition
A planning folder is used to put together business-related planning levels, planning packages, planning layouts, and planning functions within a planning area that was defined before. The objects put together in this way are presented in a special user interface when executing the planning folder, and give the users the impression of a contained planning application, which is easy to operate.
Use
Planning folders make navigation and overview easier within a planning session when you want to plan with a limited number of layouts, packages and functions which are related from a point of view of content. This connection is established by common selection characteristics in all included packages, as well as by planning functions that process the data of an input layout to results, that are displayed again in output layouts.
For example, year-end planning normally refers to a balancing unit, a planning time frame, and a plan version (other versions or actual data are only required as reference data). The items of the year-end closing are planned in various differentiations within this global definition criteria: Sales revenue and sales costs according to market segments, overhead costs according to areas of responsibility, investments according to projects or investment programs. Planning functions derive other items from items, which were planned manually or were transferred from other subplans, and generate the plan closing on a summarized level. Numerous planning levels, planning packages, planning layouts, planning functions and parameter groups are required in such a scenario, which are, however, all part of a contained model. Visualization using two related layouts (data entry, and output or result layout) makes it easier to follow the effects of plan changes on the company’s target figures.
Structure
The
planning objects that you put together in a planning folder come from the
quantity of objects that you create in the 
planning
environment. With planning folders, you create another view of the
quantity of previously created planning objects.
Planning folders are structured as follows:
Layouts
· Input Layouts: Here you insert layouts of manual planning that should be ready for input when executing the planning folder.
· Output Layouts: Here you insert layouts of manual planning that are not ready for input when executing the planning folder, but should only be used to display values. Alternatively, for the tabular display of values, you can determine that the data is prepared graphically for an output layout.
Functions
·
You
can determine individual planning functions
or parameter groups for input and output layouts that are to be available when
executing the folder to change data.
· In addition to input and output layouts, you can include layout-independent Global Planning Functions in the planning folder. These functions are constantly available when executing a planning folder, independent of which input and output layouts are active.
·
If you
include global planning sequences
in a planning folder, you can also transfer data from other planning areas
into the planning area that the folder is assigned to.
When you execute the folder the system offers, by default, a pushbutton for each function with which you can execute the corresponding function manually.
Alternatively you can determine that a function is to be executed automatically, that is, dependent on particular system events being entered. You can find further information under:
· Automatic Execution of Planning Functions
· Automatic Execution of Global Functions
Variables
You
can include variables in the
planning folder for both input and output layouts. This means that the
variables with their current value are displayed at runtime, so that you can
recognize at a glance for which characteristic value combination the data
displayed is valid.
Including variables in a planning folder can even be absolutely
necessary when variables are contained in the layouts used for which further
restrictions must be made at runtime.
Documents
Documents either form part of a layout or are included in the planning folder as a list of documents (see Documents in Planning Folders).
Integration
To edit or execute planning folders, choose Business Planning and Simulation ® Planning Folders ® Customizing (transaction code UPSPM) or Execute (transaction code UPSPL) from the SAP Easy Access Menu screen.
When
processing planning folders, the planning objects are always offered which are
contained in the planning profile
set up for you in the planning environment. To have access to all available
planning objects, you must first choose Edit ® General
Overview in
the planning environment.
See also:
Editing a Planning Folder: Details