The document type is used to categorize documents according to their distinguishing features and the organizational procedures that result from them. The description of the document type is language-dependent.

It has important control functions in document management and is used, for example, to control the processing flow via a status network.

The document type is an alphanumeric field in which you can enter up to three characters.

The following overview shows some examples for documents of the same and of different document types.

In Customizing for the Document Management System, you can define document types by choosing Define document types.

For example, the following control aspects are supported by the document types:

• Type of number assignment and number range
• Version increment
• Field selection
• Additional fields
• Status processing
• Storage in Knowledge Provider
• Transport of original application files using ALE

In the standard system, the following document types are defined and are used in various applications:

• Print list (D01)
• Batch record (EBR)

• Quality agreement (Q01)

• Technical delivery conditions (Q02)

Since these document types are used internally, you cannot change or delete their settings in Customizing for the Document Management System.