Process Message Destinations (SAP Library - Process Management (PP-PI-PMA))

Process Message Destinations

Definition

User or component to which process messages are sent for processing.

The standard SAP System comprises a number of standard message destinations of type R/3 function module that you can use or copy to define your own process message destinations. You can create your own process message destinations in Customizing for Production Planning – Process Industries under Process Management ® Process Messages ® Process Message Destinations ® Define and Set Up Process Message Destinations.

Use

You can send process messages to the following types of destinations:

Type 1: R/3 Function Modules Defined by SAP or the User

You can use this option to update data in other R/3 components such as material stocks in inventory management. The standard SAP R/3 System contains a number of message destinations defined for this purpose.
See: R/3 Integration Using Process Messages

You can define R/3 function modules for message destinations in Customizing for Process Management. Choose Process Messages ® Process Message Destinations ® Define R/3 Function Module.

Type 2: External Functions

This option mainly serves to coordinate between the different process operators and control systems involved in the execution of a process. For example, a process message can be sent to inform a control system that the manual charging of a vessel has been completed.

You must create an RFC destination in the SAP R/3 System for every external system. To do so, go to Customizing for Process Management and choose Process Message Destinations ® Define RFC Destination.

Type 3: Users of the SAPoffice Mail System

You can use this option to inform specific people within a company about the progress of the production run.

Type 4: ABAP Tables

Message data that has been sent to user-defined ABAP tables can be accessed for evaluation purposes using internal or external functions.

You can define ABAP tables for message destinations in Customizing for Process Management. Choose Process Messages ® Process Message Destinations ® Define ABAP Table.

Type 5: Alert Categories

You can use this type to send alerts from PI sheets, external process control systems, or manually to one or more recipients. The alerts can be sent to the recipients, for example, through SMS or e-mail. In this way, you can inform certain recipient groups about unexpected and maybe critical situations in the plant.

You can define alert categories for message destinations in Customizing for Process Management. Choose Process Messages ® Process Message Destinations ® Define Alert Categories.

For more information about alert categories, see Alert Management.

Depending on the destination type, you may need to define target fields or interface parameters for the characteristic data transferred.

For Destination type 3 - ABAP tables, you must define additional target fields to which the characteristic data is to be transferred.
For Destination type 4 – R/3 function modules, you may need to define target fields. This depends on how the function module is defined.
For Destination type 5 – alert categories, you must define target fields if you use text variables in the alert text.

You can assign process message destinations as follows:

To a message category in Customizing for Process Management by choosing Process Messages -> Define and Set Up Process Message Categories

Directly to the process message if message destination PI07 has been assigned to the message category in Customizing

You can assign more than one destinations to a message category. You can assign each message destination to several message categories.