Browser-Based PI Sheet (SAP Library - Process Management (PP-PI-PMA))

Browser-Based PI Sheet

Definition

As of Release 4.6C, you can also create PI sheets in HTML layout. The browser-based PI sheet is an enhanced version of the ABAP list-based PI sheet. It offers a new user interface that is intuitive and easy-to-operate.

To be able to best use the browser-based PI sheet, you must install Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and make some security settings in the Internet Explorer. For more information, see Setting Up the Browser for PI Sheets and Cockpits.

The PI sheet represents the result of a control recipe that was sent to a process operator and whose content is displayed as text on the screen. This means the PI sheet is an instruction for the process operator that describes how and in which order a product is manufactured. The PI sheet can, for example, contain information about the picking of raw materials as well as instructions about charging the mixer, filling silos, and so on.

The R/3 PI sheet is designed for processing on the screen, which means that the process operator should enter, confirm, report, or complete data interactively. In this way, the PI sheet enables communication between the R/3 System (PP-PI) and process operators in production lines that are operated manually (either fully or partially).

Use

Depending on the process instructions contained in a control recipe, the PI sheet supports the following functions:

Displaying control information such as instructions for the process operator on how to carry out production steps
Displaying additional notes, such as notes on specific rules that must be followed when dealing with dangerous goods
Recording of actual process data
Reporting of entered and calculated values using process messages, for example, posting goods issues and receipts or time-ticket confirmations
Navigating to other R/3 applications outside of PP-PI to make entries and afterwards return to the PI sheet
Performing calculations, such as calculating dates
Triggering a dialog or requesting data from internal or external applications

For more information on how to define PI sheets using process instructions, see Process Instructions for R/3 PI Sheets. Apart from process instructions of type 1 and 2 as well as type 4 to 7, which you can use to define the ABAP list-based PI sheet, there is now the new universal process instruction category of type 0. The new process instruction category supports new functions that are not available in the conventional PI sheet.

When creating browser-based PI sheets, you can either use the standard layout defined by SAP or use your own layouts. For more information, see Layout Definition for PI Sheets and Cockpits.

Structure

SAP Standard Layout

The following sections show you how the browser-based PI sheet is structured in the SAP standard layout and how the interface elements are displayed.

The browser-based PI sheets comprise a header (details) and the individual phases of the process order. The header and all phases are open when you call the PI sheet and can be collapsed and expanded.

All functions are available in the context menu. In addition, a menu bar in the PI sheet header contains the functions that refer to the entire PI sheet. To display the context menu, you position the cursor on the corresponding field and use the right mouse button. You can also use Ctrl + F10 to call up the context menu.

For more information on the functions that are available in the PI sheet, see Functions in Browser-Based PI Sheets.

The Header

The header is shown at the top of the PI sheet. It contains detailed information about the PI sheet that you can hide or show by choosing Details. The header contains information about:

The status of the PI sheet (test or active PI sheet)
The process order for which the PI sheet was created
The material to be produced
The batch to be produced if the material you want to produce is subject to batch management
The number of the control recipe from which the PI sheet was created
The number of the inspection lot if a QM inspection has been defined for the process order

The Phases

The lower section of the PI sheet comprises the phases of the process order. Each phase can be subdivided into several sections. Whenever a long text has been defined, a new section is created. A section ends when the next long text has been defined.

Phases can contain the following elements:

Control information, notes, and input fields for long texts that are displayed on the left side
All input fields, output fields, and pushbuttons that are displayed on the right side
Tables that are displayed over the entire PI sheet screen

Interface Elements

Interface Element	Output and Meaning
Expand Collapse detail information	The icon next to a field indicates that you can display additional information. It can be displayed: Next to the phase number to expand or collapse the phase Next to a note to display the note text Next to the signature strategy for input fields to display detail information for the executed signature You can use the icon to collapse these contents again.
* Required entry	A red asterisk to the right of input fields indicates that data must be entered into these fields so that, for example, a process message can be created or a process instruction can be completed.
*Calculate data*	This icon is always displayed to the right of a field if a value is to be calculated by the system. When you choose , the calculated value is displayed in the corresponding field.
Pushbutton	A pushbutton with the name of a function is displayed when a dynamic function call, such as a jump to QM inspection results recording, has been defined. When you choose the pushbutton, the corresponding function is called.
Input field	Input help If the R/3 System provides an input help for an input value, the icon is displayed to the right of the relevant input field. You can also use Ctrl + H to call up input help. Fixed values If fixed values have been defined for a characteristic, these values are offered in a dropdown list. User-defined default values Default values that you have defined in the process instruction are displayed directly in the input field. At first, they are displayed in blue. To use the default value, position the cursor in the input field and choose Continue.
Add table line	The icon at the end of a table indicates that you can add more lines to the table.
Deviations	If a certain value range has been defined for an input value, the icon is used to indicate input values that deviate from this value range. When you choose , you get more information about the deviation. In tables, the icon is displayed to the right in the table field.
Comments	Whether the icon is displayed to indicate a comment depends on the object for which your have entered a comment in the PI sheet. For a field: The icon is displayed to the right of the field. To display or change the comment, choose . For a table: The icon is displayed to the right of the table. To display or change the comment, choose . For a table field: No icon is displayed. You can only see if a comment exists if the Display comment entry appears in the context menu. For the entire PI sheet: No comment is displayed. You can only see if a comment exists if the Display comment entry appears in the context menu
Signature display in tables	The icon next to a table line indicates that digital signatures with a signature strategy have been executed in the table. When you choose the icon, a dialog box appears displaying the name of the signatory, the date and time when the signature was executed and, if available, a comment by the signatory.

Using the Keyboard for Navigation

You can use the mouse pointer to access all fields and call up all functions within the PI sheet. In addition to this, you can use the tab key to navigate between active fields. To trigger the function or dialog box for icons, you must choose Enter. If you set the focus to the icon, for example, and choose Enter, calculation is carried out.

The following fields in the PI sheet are active fields:

Input fields
Table cells that are ready for input
Pushbuttons
Icons that can be clicked, such as:

Expanding detail information
Collapsing detail information
Calculating data
Adding table lines
Displaying deviations
Displaying comments
Displaying signatures

You can also use the following key combinations:

Function	Key Combination
Calling context menu	Shift + F10
Calling input help	Ctrl + H

Integration

To create browser-based PI sheets, you must send your control recipes to a control recipe destination of type 4 : transfer to browser-based PI sheet. For more information, see Control Recipe Destinations.