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 Posting Dates and Posting Periods

The system checks the posting date and the related posting period twice:

  • When you post an FI-CA document, the system checks whether the posting period belonging to the posting date is still open or whether the posting date is in the future (comparison date is the CPU date). In both cases the system allows you to post the FI-CA document. You define whether a posting period is open in Customizing (see IMG structure: Start of the navigation path Financial Accounting Next navigation step Global Settings Next navigation step Document Next navigation step Posting Periods Next navigation step Open and Close Posting Periods End of the navigation path ). The system checks the entry for account type +.

  • The system checks again during the transfer of the totals records whether the posting period belonging to the posting date is permitted. The system now checks the postings in the general ledger.

When you transfer totals records, the following three situations can occur with regard to the posting periods to be posted to in the general ledger:

  • The posting period is open in the general ledger.

    When you transfer totals records to the general ledger, the documents in the general ledger are created with the posting date of the totals record. The transaction figures of the G/L accounts affected are updated for the relevant posting period in the general ledger.

  • The posting period is not yet open in the general ledger.

    If you want to transfer totals records (of a company code) with a future posting date, for which the posting period is still closed in the general ledger, you carry out the transfer at a later time when the posting periods are open.

  • The posting period is already closed in the general ledger.

    If you want to transfer totals records (of a company code) with a posting date in the past for which the posting period is closed in the general ledger and cannot be opened, you have to enter alternative posting dates in table TFK001Z in order to transfer the posting totals. To do this, choose one of the following paths:

    • Role Start of the navigation path Transfer General Ledger and Profitability Analysis(SAP_FI_CA_TRANSFER_GL_PROFIT) Next navigation step Maintain Alternative Posting Dates End of the navigation path

    • SAP Menu Start of the navigation path Periodic Processing Next navigation step Forward Postings Next navigation step Preparation Next navigation step Maintain Alternative Posting Date End of the navigation path

      The system posts the general ledger documents with the alternative posting date.

The (alternative or original) posting date controls that after the end of the fiscal year, postings ar made to the special posting periods still open. As soon as the (alternative or original) posting date falls in the last period of a fiscal year, the system automatically determines the first open special posting period.

If the system is unable to determine special posting periods, you have to either enter an alternative posting date or change the alternative posting date (see point three).

The alternative posting date or special posting period is noted in the FI-CA totals record.

The check whether the posting date of the totals record can be used for posting in the general ledger is carried out individually for each totals record. To post a general ledger document, the system only uses the alternative posting date if the posting date of one of the totals records that contributes to this document cannot be used.