Step Methods

Definition

Method which which a step is executed in the strategy for Flexible assignment of costing keys . The following step types exist:

1. Assignment rules

Assignment rules are if-then rules, where tabular rules are set, determining which combination of characteristic values in the CO-PA line item to be valuated is to be accessed with which costing keys in the material cost estimates in Product Cost Planning.

2. Table lookup

Using a table lookup, it is possible to access individual data records in any SAP tables. The source fields correspond to the key of a table, from which you can take over the content of certain fields in target fields of type USERTEMP (help fields). The help fields which have been filled using a table lookup can then be used in a subsequent strategy step as source fields for an assignment rule.

With this combination of table lookup and assignment rule , you can determine the costing keys on the basis of the content of fields in any SAP tables.

3. Customer enhancement

A customer enhancement is available to allow you to set up a strategy for flexible calculation of costing keys.

A link to this 'customer enhancement' can be inserted anywhere in the strategy , more than once if required. The different links are then distinguished using the step identifier.

For more information about the ways in which costing keys can be determined in accordance iwth user-defined customer enhancements, see the documentation on SAP enhancement 'COPA0002' and the documentation for the function module 'EXIT_SAPLKEAB_004'.

Generally, a strategy for flexible calculation of costing keys is made by creating assignment rules and, where appropriate, by also creating table lookups and customer enhancements.

1. You can set up the steps assignment rule, table lookup or customer enhancement in change mode by choosing Edit -> Create strategy.

2. By choosing Edit -> Move, you can change the order of the various steps within the strategy .

If a 'strategy' consists of several steps, all steps will run in the given sequence when the system works through this strategy.

Actual access to data in Product Cost Planning does not take place until after the 'strategy' has been worked through completely. This is when the system has searched through all assignment rules for valid assignment rule entries, or when the system has worked through all table lookups and customer enhancements.

The following target fields are filled using the individual steps in the 'strategy':

KALAW1 KALAW2 KALWA3 KALAW4 KALAW5 KALAW6

Access to the cost estimates in Product Cost Controllling takes place using the costing keys which the above-mentioned fields contain once they have been worked through completely.