You need to create a separate project for archiving. This is necessary for the following reasons:

• It takes a long time before you can start to use the archiving productively (typically around six months).

• You need an exact time plan because lots of individual steps have to run to a fixed time frame.

• You need to involve several people/groups in the project, for example, employees from the IT department and specialist departments, archiving consultants and auditors.

• You need to clearly define the roles of the people involved, in particular for those who are only working part-time on the project (for example, employees from the specialist departments).

Here is a brief outline of the project flow to give you an overview of the steps required. For more detailed information on project organization and flow, see the documents Guide to Archiving in mySAP Retail and Managing SAP Archiving Projects (SAPNet http://service.sap.com/data-archiving).

Here is an overview of the process flow:

1. Analyze the database and identify archiving objects.

2. Perform consistency checks between MM and FI.

4. Organize a kick-off meeting for the project.

1. Establish contact persons.
2. Determine system environment.
3. Agree on a time plan.

5. Define demands on archived data and archiving objects.

6. Draw up order concept.

7. Consult the relevant SAP Notes.

8. Set up configuration and Customizing.

9. Perform archiving in the test system.

1. Test the archiving functions.
2. Start write and deletion programs.
3. Log archiving results.
4. Analyze and post process the list of errors.

10. Check technical concept.

11. Determine archiving cycle and variants.

12. Prepare production system for archiving.

13. Perform archiving in the production system.

1. Test the archiving functions.
2. Release productive archiving: perform write jobs.
3. Perform a data backup.
4. Plan and start deletion programs.

14. Document the project.