Definition of a Batch Search Strategy (SAP Library

Definition of a Batch Search Strategy

Use

You use this function to define rules for batch determination in particular business transactions. You specify:

The conditions under which batch determination is to be triggered
The search criteria that are to be used

Example

Batch determination is to be triggered if customer A orders material B, as this customer only accepts batches with particular specifications. You use your batch search strategy to look for these particular specifications.

Integration

Each individual batch search strategy is based on a strategy type. Several strategy types can be grouped together in a search procedure. Each search procedure is assigned to a business transaction.

Prerequisites

The following must be defined in Customizing for Batch Management:

Condition tables
Access sequences
Strategy types
Search strategies
Assignment of batch search procedure to business transactions
Selection classes
Sort rules

You can either use the predefined objects or define your own objects. See the Implementation Guide (IMG) for Batch Management, under Batch Determination and Batch Check.

Features

You specify the following information:

Key combinations

You are given different key combinations to choose from, depending on the strategy type. For example, customer/material/plant and customer/material.

Selection Criteria

You store the selection criteria as characteristics in a selection class. They must be characteristics or Standard Characteristics that you have used for the classification of the batch. Exceptions: You can use only LOBM_RLZ, LOBM_RLZ_PROZ, LOBM_LFDAT, LOBM_KRT, and LOBM_MBDAT for selection.

A selection class does not have to include all the characteristics that you used to classify your batch, only those you want to use for selection.

Characteristic	Description
LOBM_RLZ	Remaining shelf life You use this characteristic to enter the required remaining shelf life in days that a batch must be usable after delivery to your customer, for example. You use the characteristic during batch determination to select batches dynamically using the expiration date.
LOBM_RLZ_PROZ	Percentage remaining shelf life You use this characteristic to specify the remaining shelf life as a percentage of the total shelf life. Using the percentage remaining shelf life, you can select batches dynamically by their shelf life expiration date.
LOBM_LFDAT	Delivery date This characteristic refers to the required delivery date of the calling function. Characteristic value assignment for this characteristic is carried out automatically during batch determination. However, the value is not displayed. The delivery date can only be transferred to this standard characteristic and not to user-defined characteristics.
LOBM_KRT	Waiting period You use this characteristic to enter the period of time a batch must mature or be stored before it can be processed any further or sold. When using the batch determination function, you can use this characteristic to determine the availability date dynamically.
LOBM_MBDAT	Materials staging date This characteristic refers to the required materials staging date of the calling function. Characteristic value assignment for this characteristic is carried out automatically during batch determination. However, the value is not displayed. The materials staging date can only be transferred to this standard characteristic and not to user-defined characteristics.

Note

You cannot change the default value for the selection class. If you want to choose a different selection class in the search strategy, you must use a strategy type with no default value.

You will find further information under Define selection classes in the Implementation Guide (IMG) for Batch Management.

Sort sequence

In sort rules, you specify the characteristics according to which the system sorts the batches it finds. You can specify an ascending or descending sort sequence for each field.

The sort rule characteristics must be characteristics or Standard Characteristics that you have used for the classification of the batch. Exceptions: You can only use LOBM_LGORT and LOBM_MENGE for sorting. The characteristics LOBM_MENGE and LOBM_LGORT must not be contained in the batch class, otherwise sorting will not work with these characteristics.

Characteristic	Description
LOBM_LGORT	Storage location
LOBM_MENGE	Available quantity of the batch

You can change the default value for the sort rule.

You will find further information under Define sort rules in the Implementation Guide (IMG) for Batch Management.

Number of batch splits

If you allow batch splits, the system puts together the required quantity using several batches.

Proposed quantity

You use the proposed quantity to control how the required quantity is put together from the batches the system finds when carrying out a batch split.

Unit of measure

You can display the batches that the system finds either in stockkeeping units, or in units of measure from the document, for example, in units of active ingredient.

Batch determination online

You can run batch determination either online or in the background If you run batch determination online, you can Edit Results.

Activities

You choose a strategy type and a key combination.

The system automatically transfers the default values from the strategy type to your search strategy.

You change or transfer the default values. If you do not specify the selection class and the sort rule when you create the strategy type, you must choose the selection class and sort rule in your search strategy.