Specification Search (SAP Library - Specification Management)

Specification Search

Use

This function enables you to search for specifications in the specification database. From the initial screens of specification editing and the specification information system, you can do the following:

Use the search functions in the initial screens to define criteria with which specifications are to be selected

Start the specification search by executing a query

Integration

The results of the search are displayed in a hit list where you can extend, refine, or reduce the search results and save them as sets of hits. From the hit list, you can also display the search history.

See also:

Specification Management Hit List

Specification Information System Hit List

Basic Functions in the Hit List

Features

All search criteria in the initial screens of specification management and the specification information system are linked by AND operations. This includes searches using:

Identifiers (trade name, CAS number, structure formula, for example)
Regulatory lists
Material and material short text
From date/To date

The system finds specifications that fulfill the selection conditions you specified on at least one day within the given period. The days can be different for different selection conditions. In this case, the key date is the day for which the data is displayed.

Note

If you also want to display the data that was valid on an earlier date, you must change the key date, which is set to the current date as standard, and enter the earlier date.

Status

The system determines specifications whose data has a certain status (see Specification Status).

Usage

The system finds specifications whose header data, identifiers, or value assignment types contain the given ratings and validity areas. Searching for specifications via usage only influences the search result if the system determines hits using the header data, identifiers, or value assignments, meaning if an authorization group (for the header data), an identifier, or a value assignment is entered as an additional search criterion.

Example

For specifications of the specification category Substance, a hit is determined via the value assignment if you have entered search criteria in the search functions Substance with values assigned, Substance contains components, or Substance with phrases assigned.

When searching via usage, the system performs a rigorous check. This means the ratings and validity areas of the data record must be identical to the ones you entered as search criteria or must include them. If a data record does not have a usage, the system interprets this as follows in the search:

If a specification has no usage in the header data or an identifier has no usage, they are valid everywhere without restriction.
If a value assignment has no usage, it is not valid anywhere.

In Customizing for Product Safety you can specify a function module in Specify Environment Parameters in the environment parameter QRY_CHECK_FUNC that checks the search criteria in the search for specifications. You can ensure, for example, that zeros are always added to specification keys that are entered.

Extended Search Functions

Extended search functions are delivered in the standard system that you can check in the IMG activity Manage User Exits in Customizing for Product Safety. Call the documentation of the corresponding standard function module to define your own search functions. Write the new function module to correspond with the reference module and its interface.

The following extended search functions are available in the standard system for the specification category Substance:

Search Function	Result
Substance with header data	The system finds specifications that fulfill the specified search criteria in the header data. This includes: Specification details (key, specification type, and so on) Administration data (name of the person who created the data, name of person who last changed the data, data origin, data provider, and so on)
Substance with values assigned	The system finds specifications that have certain characteristic values for certain value assignment types. You use this function to select the required value assignment type in the Property Tree dialog box. The SAP System lists the corresponding characteristics for which you can enter the values you require. You can use the Nonempty Characteristics function to search for specifications of a certain specification category for which certain characteristics were already edited. If you choose the Nonempty Characteristics function for a selected value assignment type in the dialog box, the system displays the characteristics for the value assignment type, which you can select and transfer as required. As the search result, the system displays all specifications of the chosen specification category where the selected characteristics contain any values. You can set up the search to be exclusive or inclusive for non-phrase-related characteristics. To do this, call the input help for the characteristic. A dialog box appears on which you can choose the Comparison type function. If you then select the Exclusive field in the Comparison Type dialog box, the SAP System finds all specifications that do not have the characteristic values you specified. After confirming, you can choose more value assignment types and enter characteristic values.
Substance contains components	The system finds specifications that fulfill the specified search criteria. These include details covering reference quantity, specification key, component type, and concentration. You can also enter the value assignment type containing the relevant component. You can choose whether the specified component: Exists directly as an ingredient of the specification for which you are searching Exists as an indirect, further component of an ingredient
Substance uses reference substance	The system finds specifications with a particular reference.
Substance with phrases assigned	The system finds specifications to which a certain phrase was assigned as a value.
Substance is included in relationship	The system finds specifications that are included in inheritance relationships (see Inheritance) and thus fulfill certain search criteria. Using the search criteria you can also search for the following specifications: Specifications that occur in an inheritance relationship with a certain inheritance template Specifications that occur as partners in an inheritance relationship with a certain specification Specifications that occur in an inheritance relationship that has a certain approval status (such as Requested) or a certain inheritance status (such as Incorrect) Specifications that occur in an active or deactivated inheritance relationship
Substance contains document	The system finds specifications to which a certain document from document management was assigned using the user-defined texts and documents function.

Note

The following restrictions apply for specification searches:

Search strings in language-dependent search fields are not converted by EH&S Native Language Support. Consequently, you can only enter search strings in languages that can be mapped using the active code page for the application server.

The search result only ever contains specifications of the specification category you used to access the search, that is the specification category displayed on the initial screen.

Activities

Searching Manually for Specifications

Executing Queries