In MM Purchasing, the term "message" is used in the context of communication between a buying entity and its vendors. A message is a document in output format, allowing transmission of the information contained therein to vendors via various media (printer, e-mail, EDI, or fax, for example). (This type of message should not be confused with error, warning, or informatory messages issued by the SAP system in response to user activities, which are properly termed "system messages".)

Each time you create an RFQ, a PO, a contract, a scheduling agreement, a scheduling agreement release, or a standard delivery schedule issued under a scheduling agreement, the system creates a message for the relevant document. This message is placed in the message queue. The message queue contains all the messages that have not yet been transmitted to the vendor.

The following options are available for outputting messages (e.g. as hardcopy printout, as a fax or e-mail, or via EDI) from the message queue:

• Immediate output
  The system outputs the message from the queue directly the document is saved.
• Later output
  You can either schedule a background job (RSNAST00), which processes the message queue at predefined intervals, or initiate outputting directly via the Purchasing menu (<Purchasing document> ® Messages ® Print/transmit or using the program RM06ENDR_ALV). As a rule, you will use the background job to output messages and only use the manual output facility in exceptional cases (e.g. rush orders).

A message contains information such as the following:

• Transmission medium (e.g. printer, EDI, or telematic services (fax, telex, or teletex)).
• Transmission time-spot

Message via E-Mail