Show TOC

Define Partner Functions

In this IMG activity, you define the functions which distinguish between the functions of the partners in your system.

When you define a partner function, you specify for example, customers, vendors, the customer's employees or your own employees. Depending on the partner function, the system expects a customer number, vendor number, personnel number, or a free entry.

Enter the following parameters for a partner function:

Specify an alphanumeric key which can have up to 2 characters and a description for a partner function.
The partner type is an indicator which informs you of the type of partner, for example, partner type customer "KU".
Currently, you cannot change the partner types in customizing. You can only select the partner types that are included in the standard SAP R/3 System.
Using the error group, you assign an incompletion procedure to a partner function (see section "Incompletion log").
For a partner function, you can specify the higher-level partner function. In this way, you can portray an existing dependency between the partner functions.
If you characterize a partner function as unique, you can specify it only once in the customer master record.
The sold-to party has to be unique in the customer master record whereas you may specify several contact persons.
In this field you can specify whether a partner function can be used for a customer hierarchy. Enter the customer hierarchy type permitted for the partner function. Refer to the section "Define hierarchy types and assign to account groups".
If you work with several languages in the sales and distribution system, you can carry out a language-dependent function conversion.
This means you can display the internal key definition, for example, AG, WE, and so on, differently on the screen depending on the logon language of the user. For example, you can display the key CU as AG when logged on in German. (The conversion is necessary because the partner functions such as AG, WE are partially hardcoded in the programs.)

Note

The conversion of a new function key is always carried out in the language in which you are logged on to the system when changing.

SAP Recommendation

If you define a new partner function, the key should start with the Y or Z since SAP reserves these letters for that purpose in the standard SAP R/3 System. Exception: the ZM key is also already defined for the "Employee responsible" partner function in the standard system, so you should not use this key either for defining new partner functions.

Actions

1. Check to what extent you can use the defaults which are contained in the standard SAP R/3 System and to what extent you have to make changes.
2. Define your partner functions.
3. If necessary, carry out your conversions in the logon language.

Transport

To initiate transport of this data, select 'Partner - Transport' in the initial screen.