Distribution Rule

Definition

This is part of a settlement rule that specifies the following for a settlement sender:

Which settlement receiver you settle to
Which part of the costs you settle
When you make the settlement

Normally there is one distribution rule for each receiver.

Use

To settle objects from the SAP Controlling component, each settlement rule must have at least one distribution rule.

You need to define the settlement rule before the first settlement of the sender object, as subsequent changes are only possible to a limited extent.

The system creates automatic distribution rules for some sender objects, such as networks. The system always generates rules for settlement to materials automatically. You cannot enter them manually.

For example, when settling a production order for an internally produced stock item to the warehouse.

Structure

Settlement Receivers

You can settle costs to one or more receiving objects. You need to define a distribution rule for each settlement receiver. Statistical receivers (orders or WBS elements) are also posted to, as well as true receivers, but are not debited with true costs.

You can also settle to each of the following statistical receivers:

True Receiver	Cost center	Order	WBS element
G/L account	-	-	-
Cost center	-	x	x
Order	x	-	x
WBS element	x	x	-
Fixed assets	-	-	-
Network/-activity	x	x	x
Profitability segment	x	x	x
Sales order item	x	x	x
Cost object	x	x	x
Business process	x	x	x
Real Estate objects	x	x	x

Settlement share

You can specify percentage rates or equivalence numbers . The system distributes the incurred costs to the individual settlement receivers accordingly.

You can also settle fixed amounts once costs have been incurred.

You can settle one fixed amount in each period. You may end up settling more costs than exist on the object, therefore your settlement rule should also contain percentage rules.

If you do not call up Percentage validation , the system checks automatically when you save the settlement rule.

You can specify an upper limit amount for all settlements for this sender. At the most, the system settles the costs that are on the sender in each period. The sender cannot receive a negative balance.

Settlement Type

The following settlement types are defined in the system:

Periodic Settlement (PER):

This settlement type settles costs by period. Therefore, the system only settles the costs for the settlement period.

Full Settlement (FUL):

The system settles all the costs incurred by a sender object for all previous periods that have not yet been settled. This settlement type only permits settlement of quantities for primary cost elements.

Caution Caution

During full settlement you can settle more or less than the order balance, if:

End of the caution.

You maintain distribution rules with an amount for the sender
There are no FUL rules with percentage rates or equivalence numbers.

Additionally, Investment Management has the following settlement types:

Capitalization to asset under construction (AUC):

This settlement type is used to make periodic settlements from investment measures to assets under construction. The system generates this settlement type automatically.

Investment measures are projects or orders used to process expenditure for fixed assets that cannot be posted as direct capitalization to fixed assets, either because they are too large or include too many internal activities.

Preliminary Settlement (PRE):

Preliminary settlement enables you to settle debits (charged to investment measures) to CO receivers before carrying out the periodic settlement to an asset under construction. Preliminary settlement of given line items is a good idea if certain incidental costs for an investment have been assigned to an investment measure, but are not to be activated. This may be necessary so that the overall cost for the measure can be monitored in Controlling.

For more information on settling investment measures, see Start of the navigation path SAP Library Next navigation step Financials Investment Management (IM) End of the navigation path

Line Item Settlement for asset under construction (LIS):

This type of settlement is used for the line item settlement of assets under construction. The system sets it automatically (not for investment measures).

Validity Period

Enter a validity period for the distribution rule using the fields Valid from and Valid to . The Valid to period is the only specification that you can change once you have used the distribution rule. You can change the distribution rule as far back as the period in which the rule was last used.

See also:

Creating Settlement Rules

Example: Replacing an Existing Distribution Rule with A New Rule

Example Example

You either corrected, changed, or specified a settlement rule. In this rule, you settle the collected costs on a sender object periodically to the Purchasing cost center and the Sales and Distribution cost center (50% to each). As of 1/1/99, you wish to replace the current receiver Sales and Distribution with Vehicles . To do this, reset the Valid to period for the distribution rule to 12/31/98

End of the example.