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Configure Customized Material Master

In this IMG activity, you configure the dialog for maintaining the material master. On accessing this IMG activity, an overview appears of the actions possible. They are as follows:

You perform these actions in the order given, except for the first action which you need perform only if you want to create customer-specific subscreens. Each of the actions is discussed in detail below. The section entitled Configuring a Material Master Dialog of Your Own then describes the procedure for configuring a material master dialog with subscreens different to those in the standard SAP R/3 System.

Create Customer-Specific Subscreen Program

This option allows you to create a copy of the function group containing the standard subscreens for industry or retail. You can use the copy to maintain subscreens of your own. However, be sure to read the program documentation first.

Maintain Screen Sequences, Logical Screens, and Subscreens

You can structure the dialog for maintaining the material master in the form of screen sequences, logical screens, and subscreens.

For information on screen sequences, particularly those contained in the standard SAP R/3 material master, see the documentation for the Screen sequence field.
A logical screen is a screen that you can select in the Select View(s) dialog box. A screen container is assigned to each logical screen. A logical screen is made up of subscreens.
Subscreens are normally the individual frames of a logical screen. They are the program screens that are processed in the material master dialog.

Maintain Screen Sequences

When you choose Maintain screen sequences, logical screens, and subscreens , an overview screen appears on which all existing screen sequences are displayed. You now have the following options:

By selecting a single screen sequence and choosing Logical screens , you can access a screen containing all the logical screens that exist for the screen sequence selected.
By selecting a single screen sequence and a logical screen, and choosing Subscreens , you can access a screen containing all the subscreens that exist for the screen sequence selected.
By selecting at least one screen sequence, you can delete the screen sequence(s) selected, the relevant logical screens, their screen order, and the subscreen assignments (not the subscreens themselves). All influencing factors for this screen sequence are also deleted.
By selecting a single screen sequence, you can create a new screen sequence. After you have specified a new screen sequence number, the system copies the screen sequence selected, the logical screens, the subscreens, and the order of the logical screens. The new screen sequence number must not already exist. A message will appear if it does.
The system branches to a screen containing the same information as in Change mode, but on which no changes can be made.
This function saves your changes in the database.
This function allows you to select the screen sequences you want to transport from the test system to the production system.

Maintain Logical Screens

You access this screen from the overview screen of the screen sequences. The logical screens that exist for the screen sequence selected are displayed and can be changed here.

One of the following screen types is assigned to each logical screen:

Since initial screens and closing screens cannot be configured, they are not displayed.

You use this function to manage the logical screens for a screen sequence; that is, you assign logical screens to screen containers. However, before using the following options, be sure to read Important Information for Maintaining Logical Screens.

This returns you to the overview screen of the screen sequences.
(See under Maintaining Screen Sequences above.)
By selecting a logical screen, you can delete it and the relevant subscreen assignments (not the subscreens themselves). At the same time, the system reorders the logical screens and redisplays them.
By selecting a single logical screen, you can create a new logical screen with the same parameters as the screen selected. After you have specified a new logical screen, the system copies the logical screen selected, the subscreens, and the order of the logical screens. The new logical screen must not already exist. (A message will appear if it does.) The system then redisplays the logical screens.
With this function, you access a screen on which you can enter new logical screens. Enter the following information for the new logical screen:
This number must not already exist. A message will appear if it does.
In the screen order, the new screen follows the last screen.
(See under Maintaining Screen Sequences above.)

Important Information for Maintaining Logical Screens

Testing
When configuring the dialog, be sure to test it with the following functions to see whether the maintenance statuses assigned are consonant with the screen, and to see whether all necessary required fields can be accessed in the screen sequence.

You must be able to save your data without an error message.

Positioning Fields
In Create mode, it must be possible to maintain at least the base unit of measure and the material description. Since the base unit of measure must be maintained before all other units of measure, position it accordingly on the screens.

With MRP data, always position the MRP type before all other MRP fields.

With forecasting data, always position the forecast model before all other forecasting fields.

It must be possible to maintain each field no more than once on the complete screen; that is, the same field must not occur on two different subscreens of the same screen.

Screen Order
If you create new logical screens, whether by copying them or creating them, always check the screen order too. The system appends the new screen to the last screen.

Preventing Runtime Errors
To prevent runtime errors, fill any blank subscreen areas in screen containers with a blank subscreen. The blank subscreen must have the screen number 0001 and, for performance reasons, be in the same program as the other subscreens of the logical screen.

With different screen sequences, set the GUI status of the initial screens independent of the material type and industry sector since the first screen will otherwise have the incorrect GUI status and then be automatically repeated.

Choose the maintenance status of a screen in accordance with the fields on the screen (on all subscreens); that is, each field on the screen must have at least one of the maintenance statuses that the screen itself has. If they do not, an abend will occur when maintaining data on the nonconforming screen. For example, if you include field MARA-BSTME (order unit) on the Basic Data screen, you must also assign status E (purchasing) to this screen.

For all screens, use only the GUI statuses (see Menu Painter) maintained for the main program.

Configuring Screens
The Classification screen must be a separate screen.

Long texts must be on a separate screen. You cannot configure them together with other subscreens (each long text separate). The GUI status must be DATELTEX.

You can configure consumption values and forecast values at most as Extras screens , but not as main screens.

If you maintain separate screen sequences with customer-specific subscreens, make sure that the customer-specific subscreens have the same numbers as the SAP subscreens used as a reference. Otherwise, the screen-specific F1 help will no longer be displayed unless you re-create the assignment yourself.

Configuring Logical Screens as Tab Pages
If you want to switch an existing screen into a screen with tab pages, be sure to heed the following:

There are different tab page screens for main screens and Extras screens.

For tab page screens, it is recommended that you use GUI statuses without Goto or Extras menus since the navigation provided by these menus is replaced by the tab pages. Instead of these menus, the GUI statuses DATE00 and DATELT00 for the main screens contain an Extras pushbutton.

You can switch only Extras screens previously contained in the Extras menu into tab page screens; that is, you cannot switch Extras screens configured only as pushbuttons into tab page screens.

It is not possible to switch special screens such as Status Information and special Extras screens (recognizable by GUI status DIALxxxx or by no GUI status and screen container 0001) into tab page screens.

Maintain Subscreens

You access this screen from the overview screen of the screen sequences or from the overview screen of the logical screens for a screen sequence. The subscreens that exist for the logical screen selected are displayed and can be changed here. Before using the following options, be sure to read Important Information for Maintaining Subscreens.

Processes the screen container and the subscreens displayed, thus simulating how the logical screen appears in the material master maintenance dialog.
Requires you to select a single subscreen. It is processed so that you can see how it appears.
(See under Maintaining Screen Sequences above.)
By selecting a subscreen, you can delete it. To keep the correct number of subscreens, the system adds a blank subscreen (number 0001).
Inserts a blank subscreen (number 0001) in front of the cursor. However, this is possible only if the screen container contains at least one blank subscreen; that is, if the number 0001 occurs at least once in the subscreen list.
(See under Maintaining Screen Sequences above.)
(See under Maintaining Logical Screens above.)

Important Information for Maintaining Subscreens

For performance reasons, choose the subscreens of a logical screen from one program where possible.

Customer-specific subscreen function groups require screen 4000 for special F4 help (possible entries).

If the Descriptions subscreen is configured on the main screen, the Description field on the header subscreen is no longer ready for input. For this reason, description subscreens may only have screen numbers between 8000 and 8010.

Be sure to read Configuring a Material Master Dialog of Your Own.

Maintain Influencing Factors and User Settings

On choosing this action, you access a screen with the following options:

Maintain Influencing Factors

On choosing this option, you access the overview screen of the influencing factors for screen sequences. Here, you define what screen sequence is chosen depending on the following influencing factors which you choose under Navigation . (You may need to use the scroll arrows to display all the options.)

In material master maintenance, you use this screen reference to group together transactions by assigning the same freely definable name to all transactions in the group. By specifying this group as an influencing factor, you can assign the same screen sequence to all transactions in the group.
In material master maintenance, you use this screen reference to group together users by assigning the same freely definable name to all users in the group. By specifying this group as an influencing factor, you can assign the same screen sequence to all users in the group.
In material master maintenance, you use this screen reference to group together material types by assigning the same freely definable name to all material types in the group. By specifying this group as an influencing factor, you can assign the same screen sequence to all material types in the group.
In material master maintenance, you use this screen reference to group together industry sectors by assigning the same freely definable name to all industry sectors in the group. By specifying this group as an influencing factor, you can assign the same screen sequence to all industry sectors in the group.
Note
Retail customers set retail as the industry sector.

Only the following combinations are allowed when entering screen references:

Trans User MT IS
1 x x x x
2 x x * *
3 x * x x
4 x * x *
5 x * * *

Key:
x Specific, valid screen reference
* No particular screen reference (wild card)

Maintain User Settings

On choosing this option, you access the overview screen of the user settings for the screen reference user . Under Navigation, you can choose one of the following options to maintain individual user settings:

  • User settings for industry sector
When you maintain material master records, this determines what screens are displayed depending on the user and on the industry sector, and the order in which the screens appear.
  • User settings for organizational levels (industry) / (retail)
Here, you can set default values specific to user, industry sector, and screen sequence for the organizational levels.
  • User settings for the Select View(s) dialog box
Here, you can select according to the user and screen sequence the logical screens to be proposed in the Select View(s) dialog box.

Maintain Screen Order and Assignment

On choosing this action, you access a screen with the following options, each of which is discussed in detail below:

  • Maintain order of main screens
  • Maintain order of Extras screens
  • Maintain assignment of secondary screens
  • Maintain pushbutton function codes
  • Switch Extras function - pushbutton function

Before choosing any of these options, you are required to specify the screen sequence to which they apply.

Maintain Order of Main Screens

On choosing this option, you access a screen on which you define the order of the main screens. They are logical screens of screen type 1. You can change the displayed order by entering a ranking number. After you have entered a new number, the screens are displayed again in the newly defined order.

The order of the main screens affects the Select View(s) dialog box and the two Goto menus in the material master. You can have 29 main screens max.

Maintain Order of Extras Screens

On choosing this option, you access a screen on which you define the order of the Extras screens. They are logical screens that you call up from the Extras menu in a material master record. They are recognizable internally by having a function code beginning with ZU. You can change the displayed order by entering a ranking number. After you have entered a new number, the screens are displayed again in the newly defined order.

The order of the Extras screens affects the Extras menu in the material master. You can have 15 Extras screens max.

Maintain Assignment of Secondary Screens

On choosing this option, you access a screen on which you can assign a secondary screen a processing routine that must be carried out before the secondary screen is processed. For example, the processing routine procures the data for the secondary screen.

Maintain Pushbutton Function Codes

On choosing this option, you access a screen on which you can do the following:

  • Assign a pushbutton function to a secondary screen
  • Change the existing function codes for a pushbutton function

Pushbuttons are freely positionable controls on a screen. The supporting functionality is described as a pushbutton function. It supports a particular processing routine. The pushbutton function must have the same name as the function code of the field on the screen.

Switch Extras Function <-> Pushbutton Function

On choosing this option, you access an overview of all Extras functions and pushbutton functions. By selecting a screen and then choosing EF <-> PB (Extras function <-> pushbutton function), you can change an Extras function into a pushbutton function, and vice versa.

Note
If a function is included under Extras and also contained in a view as a pushbutton, you cannot change it from an Extras function into a pushbutton function, or vice versa.

Requirements

  • If you change an Extras function into a pushbutton function, you must enter a function code beginning with PB in the pushbutton function code field. By displaying the possible entries, you can display the pushbutton function codes assigned in the standard material master.
Function codes PB9* are reserved for customer-specific pushbuttons on screens. Do not use any other function codes for these pushbuttons since new standard functions may be added from time to time.
Assign pushbuttons only to consonant secondary screens; that is, the main screen must contain the maintenance status of the secondary screen to be accessed.
  • If you change a pushbutton function into an Extras function, a new function code is generated automatically. Check the order of the Extras screens afterwards.

Maintain Maintenance Status Determination Type

On choosing this option, you access a screen on which you can assign a maintenance status determination type to a screen sequence for data transfer.

Configuring a Material Master Dialog of Your Own

To configure a material master dialog different to that in the standard SAP R/3 System, you must first copy the standard screen sequence. If you also want to use subscreens different to those in the standard system, this is what you do:

1. Create a material master record containing every view in the standard material master, and note down the following information:
  • Technical names of all the fields that you want to appear on your customer-specific subscreen
You can find this out by pressing F1 on the field and choosing Technical info.
  • Subscreens on which the fields appear
You can find this out by choosing System -> Status and looking under Program (screen) and Screen number.
You can also integrate customer-specific fields into online maintenance if they can be assigned to standard material master tables.
2. Create a customer-specific subscreen program using the option described above.
The name of the new function group may contain up to 25 characters.
3. Copy the screens already containing as many as possible of the field names that you want to use in your customer-specific function group. You do this as follows:
a) Display main program SAPLMGD1 (material master for industry) or SAPLMGD2 (material master for retail) in the Repository Browser.
You access the Repository Browser from the SAP standard menu by choosing Tools -> ABAP Workbench, and then Repository Browser.
b) Choose Screens, position the cursor on the corresponding screen, and choose Copy.
c) Enter the program to which you want to copy the screen, and the new screen number.
d) Generate the copied screen.
4. From the copied screens, delete the fields that you do not want to appear on the screen.
For additional fields from other subscreens, see the ABAP Dictionary. You can include such fields using Screen Painter techniques. This is described in the R/3 library documentation ABAP Workbench Tools (BC-DWB).
5. Generate the screen.
If errors occur such that fields are unknown, the errors are due to the inclusion of fields in checks, though you have deleted the fields from the screens. In this case, search for the fields in the source code using the find command and mark the line in which they appear with an asterisk (*). Then regenerate the screen.

Note

With customer-specific subscreens, a field statement must exist for each field of the subscreen since the transport of data cannot otherwise be ensured. You can use subscreen SAPLMGD1 2002 as an example.

When reconfiguring the order of fields that are checked together (such as the reorder point and safety stock), the check module must be deactivated for the first field and activated for the second field. The system would otherwise transport the first field, and carry out the check before the second field is transported.

1. Check whether all check modules are present for the newly added fields. You do this as follows:
a) Search through the modules of the screens and the modules for self-programmed F4 help (possible entries) from which the field has been taken. The fields' modules or F4 modules normally have the same names as the fields themselves. When you find a module, copy the chain or statement containing the field to your customer-specific subscreen.
b) Generate your customer-specific subscreen.
2. Carry out the following steps in the IMG activity Configure customized material master:
a) Select a screen sequence (create a separate screen sequence in this case).
b) Within the screen sequence, select the logical screen on which you want to include the subscreens.
c) Assign your customer-specific subscreen program and the corresponding subscreens to the logical screen.

Notes on Transport

You can transport customized screen sequences as follows:

1. Display the list of screen sequences.
2. Choose Table view -> Transport, and choose or create a transport request as required.
3. Select a screen sequence, and choose Edit -> Transport -> Include in request.
4. Save your data.