Deleting Cost Elements

Prerequisites

You can only delete cost elements in the current controlling area if no transaction data exists for the cost element in the plan, commitments or in the actual for the given fiscal year(s). You are also not allowed to plan any statistical key figures. The corresponding checks are executed by the system.

1. To delete individual cost elements, choose Accounting ® Controlling ® Cost Center Accounting (or Cost Element Accounting) ® Master data ® Cost element ® Individual processing ® Delete.

To delete several cost elements simultaneously, choose Accounting ® Controlling ® Cost Center Accounting (or Cost Element Accounting) ® Master data ® Cost element ® Collective processing ® Delete.

2. To delete one cost element, enter the cost element on the appropriate initial screen for individual processing.

To delete more than one cost element, on the initial screen, enter the criteria by which you want to select the cost elements. The following selection criteria exist for cost elements:

1. Cost element or cost element interval
2. Cost element groups
3. All cost elements in a controlling area
4. Selection variant (see: Selection Variants)
1. To create new selection variants, select Selection variant and choose Create selection variant.

- In the list of cost element fields, enter the criteria to be used for cost element selection. For example, you can select all cost elements of a given cost element category.

- Save your entries.

- Enter a variant name and a description for your variant.

- Save your entries.

2. To change an existing selection variant, select Selection variant and then choose Change selection variant.
3. To display existing selection variants, select Selection variant and then choose Display selection variant.
3. Select one of the criteria and enter the appropriate selection parameters.
4. Enter a time period in which the selected cost element(s) are valid.

Cost elements for deletion must exist in the selected time period. However, you can make a selection even if the validity period for the cost elements overlaps with the selected time period.

Deleting Cost Elements Online

5. Before you delete one or more cost elements, you should check in a test run whether the selected cost elements may be deleted.

To do so, accept the default values for the Test run and choose Execute.

1. The system carries out comprehensive checks on dependent data.

The system displays a list of those cost elements that you are allowed to delete.

The system displays a list of those cost elements that you are not allowed to delete. For each cost element, the system details the dependent data that prevents deletion.

The lists are displayed using ABAP List Viewer (see: ABAP List Viewer).

2. Return to the initial screen and correct the entries for the selection, if required.
6. To delete one or more cost elements, deactivate Test run and choose Execute. Answer the confirmation prompt with Yes.

The system lists those cost elements that it deleted.

It also lists all those coste elements it did not delete. For each cost element, the system details the dependent data that prevents deletion.

The lists are displayed using ABAP List Viewer (see: ABAP List Viewer).

Deleting Cost Elements in the Background

7. If you want to delete many cost elements, the checks for dependent data take some time. You should therefore carry out the deletion in the background at times of minimal system usage.

To do so, choose Background processing.

8. Choose Execute and answer the confirmation prompt with Yes.
9. Enter a job name in the dialog box.
10. Enter a date and time for the planned start or select Immediate start.

You can also define from which date and from which time no more starts should occur.

11. Choose Confirm to leave the dialog box. In the next dialog box, choose Save.

The R/3 System deletes the cost elements at the date specified.

12. Tto check the current status of the job, choose System ® Own jobs ® Job overview ® Execute.