Postprocessing Office

This component is used to support the rational processing of events that originate in any business process. All the data relevant for processing events is combined in a postprocessing order. You can, therefore, process error messages from mass runs of different object types, for example. Processing can be done across systems and components.

Postprocessing Office replaces the application logs of the mass runs as the initial function for error processing. You only need to call up the error logs to display an overview of the objects that were processed successfully in the mass runs.

Postprocessing Office offers the following advantages:

• Overview of all the information required for processing the events in any business processes

• Options for navigating to relevant objects

• Extensive selection options

• Distribution of postprocessing orders to worklists for processing

• Reference to events of the same object in other business processes

• Reference between objects from different application logs

• Authorization checks

• Status management

• Processing history

In the standard system, SAP provides an implementation of Postprocessing Office for a range of software components. For an up-to-date list of these software components, see the system table Connected Software Components (/SAPPO/SAP_CMPNT).

You can create your own implementation for software components for which SAP does not deliver an implementation of Postprocessing Office. For more information, see Connecting Software Components.

When SAP does not deliver an implementation of the Postprocessing Office for software components, you need only to enter the corresponding business processes or all business processes globally in Customizing for the Postprocessing Office under  Business Processes  Activate Creation of Postprocessing Orders . All other settings in Customizing are optional, but provide you with the chance to optimize the adaption of Postprocessing Office so as to meet your requirements. All of the central settings for the Postprocessing Office are stored in system tables. You can override these tables in Customizing. You can connect your own business processes, define your own object types, and adapt the tab page display in the Order and Object areas of the detail screen. For detailed information, see the Implementation Guide (IMG) for Postprocessing Office.

You can use the Postprocessing Office across systems and components. For more information, see Cross-System Processing and Cross-Component Processing.

To work with Postprocessing Office you need the following roles:

• Processor of PPO Postprocessing Orders (SAP_PPO_PROCESSOR)

• Postprocessing Office Administrator (PPO) (SAP_PPO_ADMIN)

For more information about this role, see transaction PFCG.

Postprocessing Office requires the use of a software component that is provided either by SAP or the customer.

Postprocessing Office creates a link between objects in different processes and between events for the same object in different processes.

Structure of Postprocessing Office

Postprocessing Office collects the messages from the connected business processes (for example, the mass run). All messages from a business process for the same object are combined under a main message in a postprocessing order.

In addition to checking the processor's authorization for general information and processing, the system can also check authorizations for individual postprocessing orders.

Worklist distribution is used to assign the postprocessing orders to the processors. If worklist distribution is not configured, all postprocessing orders are assigned to every processor. The processor can use individual or global filter variants to configure his personal worklist.

The processor receives data about the main object, basis object (object to which the business process belongs, such as the account for a standing order in banking), and environment objects (other objects relevant for processing, such as a business partner). He or she can then use the relevant processing methods (display, change, and so on).

The processor can process and/or complete one or more postprocessing orders. The processor can create a processing note and assign the postprocessing order to another processor or worklist.

Postprocessing Office offers the following functions in dialog processing:

• Worklist function

• Initial screen with filter function

• Overview screen

• Detail screen

• Mass reports for completion and deletion of postprocessing orders

You can also use Business Application Programming Interfaces (BAPIs) to connect your own business processes.