This function enables you to make data changes for a particular key date using a change number. In this way, you can, for example, today enter data that will only be valid in the future. Each change number is valid from a particular validity date so that the data has a validity period in accordance with the change number.
If you make changes without using a change number , the standard validity period used goes from 01/01/0001 to 12/31/9999. The system enters the current date as the key date.
When you use a change number to change a data record for the first time, the SAP system divides the overall validity period into two adjoining validity periods. Whenever you use other change numbers that have different validity dates, the system further subdivides the validity periods.
See Example: Engineering Change Management
Note
The SAP system writes change documents irrespective of whether you use engineering change management or not.
For more information about the SAP component
Engineering Change Management
(LO-ECH)
, see
Engineering Change Management (LO-ECH)
.
You have created a change number on the initial screen of the SAP system by choosing
. To use change management for specifications, you must have set the
Active
indicator for the object
Specification
under
Object Types
in the change master record you want to use.
You can use engineering change management within
specification management
to:
Import value assignments
Create specifications
By choosing
Specification Management
screens, you can find more information about, for example, the current validity period, the date of the last change, the name of the person who last changed the specification, the
data origin
, and the
data provider
.
You can work with or without engineering change management depending on your requirements. If you have used engineering change management to change the data of a data record, you must make sure that the correct key date is entered when you call the data or enter the relevant change number.
Note
The change number has higher priority than the key date (see Example: Engineering Change Management ).
The
Change number
,
Valid From
, and
Valid To
fields in the specification header data refer exclusively to the data of the specification header.
To work with a change number, or to change a key date, click on the date using the quick info
Key Date for Editing
in the navigation area of specification management.
The
Global Parameters
dialog screen appears. You can set a change number and the key date on this dialog screen.
If you set the
Keep Setting
indicator, your settings are stored for the next time you access specification management.
To delete your entries again, choose
with the quick info text
Reset Parameter
.