Creation of Structures
Use
This function is appropriate in cases where you want to create clear hierarchical structures. The structure represented in the installed base (IBase) structuring function is generally a physical "part-of" structure. However, it can also be used, for example, for a list of features, such as sales features, where there is no direct physical counterpart.
When creating structures, the objects involved are generally complex objects. For simple objects, it is normally easier to store information about their subparts as attributes.
Prerequisites
All the products and objects which you want to use as components in the structure of an object already exist.
Features
Adding Components
In the
Components
assignment block, you can add one or more components to an object at the same time. This is an unstructured list, with all components at the same level.
You can insert the following component types:
Product
Object
Text
The system generates a unique ID for the inserted component, with a hyperlink that you can use to navigate to the structure editing and create the structure, as well as store additional information. You repeat this procedure for each component of the object that requires additional levels.
Within the object structure, you can insert the relevant components and enter all the necessary information about each component, such as warranties, counters, service contracts, and parties involved. As in the edit list, you can insert the component types
Product
,
Object
, or
Text
.
When creating structures, the following rules apply:
You can use a component with the type
Object
in one structure only. If you try to insert a component that is an object that is already contained in another structure, an error message is displayed.By inserting a structured object as a component, you insert the entire structure of the object.
Unlike the normal IBase structures, links to other IBases are not allowed in the object structure. This avoids ambiguities in the modeling of the object structure.
Installation rules are defined in Customizing for
Customer Relationship Management
, by choosing
Master Data
Installed Base
Installed Base Category
Define Installed Base Category and Installation Rules
.
Note that the installed base category for the object structure is 03, as opposed to 01 for the IBase.
See also:
Removing and Repositioning Components
You can remove or change the position of a component within the structure of an object by cutting the component and reinserting it at a different position.
When you remove a component, you permanently delete all the information stored with the component, such as the history, counters, and, in the case of text components, the texts (component descriptions).
Installing and Dismantling Components
When you remove a component of the type
Product
or
Object
from the structure of an object, you can either remove it permanently, with all its information, through deletion, or you can merely dismantle it.
When you dismantle a component, this generates a placeholder, which you can later replace with the current or a different component:
You can dismantle components either in the edit list screen or in the IBase structure. The system indicates that the component has been removed and replaced by a placeholder. Any subcomponents it has remain visible.
You can install the components again either in the edit list screen or in the IBase structure. This re-installs the component you removed. However, you can also overwrite the ID to replace the component with another. In this case, the information associated with the original component is lost.
See also: