Process Manufacturing Cockpit (SAP Library - Process Management (PP-PI-PMA))

Process Manufacturing Cockpit

Definition

Process manufacturing cockpits are screen templates that you can define in Customizing using process instruction characteristics.

Structure

The SAP Standard Layout

You can define your own layout for process manufacturing cockpits. To do so, you must declare a layout in Customizing for cockpit definitions. For more information, see Layout Definition for PI Sheets and Cockpits.

If you do not specify a layout definition, the system uses the standard layout defined for manufacturing cockpits.

The cockpit consists of one or more sections that can be expanded and collapsed. Each section is generated from one process instruction. Each section has a separate heading. In a section, all input fields, output fields, pushbuttons, tables, short texts, and long texts for a process instruction are displayed in the sequence in which they have been defined on the characteristic overview.

Label Text for Sections

Which label text is used for which section depends on the contents you have defined in the process instructions. You can specify your own label text. The system follows the following logic:

Your own label text is used if you have defined the following characteristics in the process instruction:

Characteristic	Meaning	Allowed Values
<any long text characteristic>	Text displayed in the section	Any text; If you only want to define a label text, enter blank characters instead of text.
PPPI_OUTPUT_TEXT	Text displayed in the label for the section	Any text
PPPI_OUTPUT_CHARACTERISTIC or PPPI_OUTPUT_VARIABLE	Long text characteristic whose text is displayed in the section Variable whose value is displayed in the section	Long text characteristic to be displayed Variable to be displayed

For the system to be able to display the label text you have defined in the label for a section, you must define characteristics PPPI_OUTPUT_CHARACTERISTIC and PPPI_OUTPUT_VARIABLE before the following functions in the process instruction:

Input fields
Output fields
Calculations
Function calls

The Entry label is automatically used:

If you have not defined your own label text
If one of the following characteristics has been defined in the process instruction:

PPPI_REQUESTED_VALUE (message characteristic whose value is to be assigned manually)
PPPI_CALCULATED_VALUE (message characteristic to be calculated)

The ?Activity label is automatically used:

If none of the characteristics mentioned in point 1 has been found
If none of the characteristics mentioned in point 2 has been found
If the following characteristic has been defined in the process instruction:

PPPI_FUNCTION_NAME (name of an ABAP function module)

The Information label is automatically used if none of the characteristics mentioned in points 1, 2, and 3 is defined in the process instruction.

Interface Elements

Interface Element	Output and Meaning
Expand Collapse sections	The icon indicates that a section can be expanded. You can use the to collapse expanded sections.
* *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.
*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 whenever a dynamic function call, for example, a jump to different R/3 application, 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. When you choose , the system adds a new line at the end of the table. This function is identical to the Add line (table) function in the context menu.
*Close*	The icon is displayed at the end of a section whenever at least one process message has been defined in the process instruction. When you have entered all required values for this section (process instruction) in the cockpit, you can choose the New entries icon. The process messages for this section are automatically created. All input fields are deactivated. This function is identical to the Complete (process instruction) function in the context menu. You cannot complete a process instruction unless all required entries have been made. The asterisk next to the text field shows you which entries are required.
*New entries*	The icon is displayed at the end of a section, whenever: - Entries have been made or functions have been executed - The relevant process instruction has been completed and the input fields have been deactivated. When you choose New entries, all input fields become ready for input again. This function is identical to the New entries (process instruction) function in the context menu.

Navigation Using the Keyboard

In the cockpit, you can use the mouse to access all the fields and call up all the functions. In addition, you can use the TAB key to navigate between active fields. With icons, you need to choose Enter to start the corresponding function or open the dialog box. If you set the focus to the icon, for example, and then choose Enter, values will be calculated.

The following fields are active fields in the cockpit:

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

Expanding sections
Collapsing sections
Calculating data
Adding table lines
Completing a process instruction
New entries (process instruction)

You can also use a key combination to call up the following functions:

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

Integration

You can integrate a cockpit in PI sheets and other cockpits in any way you like. To do so, you must define a layout with a frameset. For more information, see Layout Definition for PI Sheets and Cockpits.