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Output values

If you want to display values of characteristics or variables that are usually processed in the background in the PI sheet, you mark these values as output values in the process instruction.

You can display the following characteristic values in the PI sheet:

• Values of message characteristics that have been assigned in the process instruction

• The date and time that are automatically assigned as values to the characteristics PPPI_EVENT_DATE and PPPI_EVENT_TIME in the PI sheet

• Planned values for input values, provided that the planned values have been defined as default values in the process instruction

• Values of message characteristics that are assigned in the PI sheet using variables

You can display the value of a variable in the PI sheet, if the variable has been defined in one of the preceding process instructions and is valid for the PI sheet or the entire process order.

You also define a text for the output values in the process instruction. In the PI sheet, this text is processed as follows:

• In simple data requests, the text is displayed before the output value. If you define several output values to be displayed in the same line, you only define a text for the first output value.

• In repeated data requests, you must define a text for every output value. This text is displayed above the relevant table column.

In the PI sheet, output values are displayed after the input values or formula results after which they have been defined in the process instruction.
Assign the following characteristics at the appropriate position in the process instruction:

Characteristic		Meaning		Allowed values
PPPI_OUTPUT_TEXT		Text for output value		Any short text
PPPI_OUTPUT_		Characteristic		Message characteristic
CHARACTERISTIC		whose value is		(see above)
		to be displayed
PPPI_OUTPUT_VARIABLE		Variable whose
Variable (1)
		value is to be		defined before
		displayed

Further Notes

Using text symbols in text characteristics (2)

Notes

(1) Using variables in process instructions:

You can only use a variable in a process instruction if:

• The variable has been defined in a preceding process instruction and is valid for the PI sheet or the entire process order

• Its data type is suitable for what you want to use the variable for

If a variable refers to table entries, specific rules apply (see below).

Validity of variables

A variable is valid for the entire process order if it has been defined in a process data request or process data calculation formula using characteristic PPPI_GLOBAL_VARIABLE.

A variable is valid within the PI sheet if:

• It has been defined in a process data request or process data calculation formula using characteristic PPPI_VARIABLE

• It has been defined in a dynamic function call or an input validation

Data type of variables

The following table lists the data type a variable must have to be able to use it for specific purposes.

Using variables	Required data type
In check formula (input validation)	NUM
In check function (input validation)	Identical to parameter
In calculation formula	NUM
As default value	Identical to input value
As output value	Any
As values of message	Identical to mess. characteristic
characteristics
In dynamic function call	Identical to parameter

The data type of a variable depends on the characteristic that was used to define the variable (see table below). It is identical to the data type of the characteristic or parameter to which the variable refers.

Variable definition using	Data type of variable
PPPI_DATE_VARIABLE	Date
PPPI_TIME_VARIABLE	Time
PPPI_FLOAT_VARIABLE	Floating point number
PPPI_STRING_VARIABLE	Alphanumeric value
PPPI_VARIABLE and	Identical to data type of charact. PPPI_GLOBAL_VARIABLE	to which the variable refers

Reference to table entries

Variables that have been defined in a repeated data request refer to an entire table column. If you want to refer to a specific table entry, you must extend the table name. The following rules apply:

<Variable name>_1		->	Value in 1st table line
<Variable name>_2		->	Value in 2nd table line
etc.			etc.
<Variable name>_SUM		->	Sum of the values in table column
<Variable name>_COUNT	->		Number of values in the table column

(2)> Using text symbols in text characteristics:

You can use text symbols to refer to the value of another characteristic from within a long or short text (or from an alphanumeric characteristic value).

You can use text symbols, for example:

• In process parameters, to insert the name of the primary resource in the control instruction

• In process data requests for goods issue postings, to insert the name of the material in the input request

The system replaces the text symbol with the corresponding characteristic value when you:

• Trigger automatic characteristic value assignment in the process order

• Create the control recipe that contains the process instruction in the process order

Requirements

The text field is long enough and can accommodate the text symbol.

In addition, one of the following requirements is met:

• The value of the characteristic to which the text symbol refers can be assigned automatically in the process order.

• You maintain a process data request or process calculation formula. The characteristic to which the text symbol refers is assigned as a message characteristic in the same process instruction.

The process instruction assistant does not support text symbols that refer to the value of a control characteristic.

Activities

Inserting text symbols in short texts in the process instruction assistant

Inserting text symbols in the SAPscript editor or on the characteristic overview

Manually insert the text symbol using the following syntax:

• In characteristics whose values can be assigned automatically:

• In message characteristics assigned to the same process instruction:

Inserting text symbols in the PC editor