Objects
Use
An object is a globally unique tangible or intangible object that a company sells or provides services for. It is often a specific single unit derived from a product. Unlike a product, however, an object can be uniquely identified. This means that although there may be similar objects, at least one attribute describing the object is different. This is generally its identification. A car, for example, has its own specific number plate.
Objects constitute unique entities and serve as a central reference for business transactions between a company and another party. They can be objects a company sells or provides services for. A supplier of electricity, for example, can describe the location to which electricity is delivered using objects such as “building” and “apartment”.
Objects are integrated in the product master and provide you with the tools to create the data you require on the objects used in your business processes and track their use within these processes. The product master provides a central source from which object-specific data can be retrieved.
Object data includes the information required for specific business processes (such as customer inquiries, sales orders, service processes, contracts), and other basic data that essentially describes and categorizes the object. For example:
Data of a descriptive nature such as size and weight
Data with a control function such as the item category group for determining the item category for each item in a sales order
This information is stored in individual product master records. The integration of such data in a single database object eliminates redundant data storage.
Integration
The following applications use objects:
Features
Product Types
The product type describes the basic characteristics of an object. It also determines to which categories an object can be assigned, thus defining the character of the object and how it can be used. Only the product type Materialcan be used for objects.
Object Family
Each object belongs to an object family. An object family groups together the same types of objects based on the properties of the object. When an object is created, it must be assigned an object family.
Attributes and Set Types
Attributes are used to describe objects and are grouped together into set types. The use of set types make it possible to model an object in a detailed manner in your system. For more information, see Set Types and Attributes .
Categories and Hierarchies
Categories and hierarchies are used for structuring purposes, and allow you to group together objects according to different criteria. Categories define which set types and relationship types are allowed for an object, thereby enabling you to structure the information you require on your objects through the assignment of categories. For more information, see Product Hierarchies .
Relationships
Relationships can be created between objects and products or objects to represent certain object information. These may be parties involved, components, counters, warranties, or qualification requirements.
Reference Products
Technical and business data can be referenced from products.
Alternative IDs
Alternative ID types can be defined in the product master and used in business processes instead of the object ID. Alternative IDs therefore allow you to use an identification in your business processes that conforms to industry standards, for example vehicle identification number (VIN), serial number, ISBN. For more information, see the
Alternative IDs
section in the Implementation Guide (IMG) (
Cross-ApplicationComponents
SAP Product
).