Template Framework 

Definition

The template framework is a technical environment where you create and maintain mini-templates and templates for the master data object Business Partner (BUPA).

Use

The template framework simplifies master data maintenance by giving you access to mini-templates and templates when you create or change business partners. For more information, see Working with Templates.

This enables you to save time and avoid data redundancy and errors, because you no longer need to enter and maintain data that is commonly required in a large number of business partners in each of these business partners individually. Instead, you maintain this data once only in a mini-template, which the business partners then reference. Any changes made subsequently to the mini-template are also reflected in the business partners that reference it, and in this way you can make mass changes quickly and easily.

In order to avoid unwanted mass changes, a where-used list ensures that you are aware of which business partners reference a mini-template, before you change or delete the mini-template in question. In addition, an authorization concept ensures that only the appropriate users can change or delete mini-templates.

Read strategies in the template framework define the sequence in which data is accessed for a business partner.

Structure

The template framework consists of the following parts:

●     Mini-template types

A mini-template type signifies the smallest set of attributes you can use to build a mini-template. It does not contain any values itself, but rather represents a structure in the application that can be filled with values. You can define a mini-template type to either allow or not allow its mini-templates to be assigned to templates.

●     Mini-templates

A mini-template is a concrete occurrence of a particular mini-template type. Thus, a number of mini-templates, containing different values in each case, can be based on one mini-template type. Mini-templates based on mini-template types delivered by SAP can be either sales-area-dependent or -independent. Due to the settings made for these mini-template types, you can only assign sales-area-dependent mini-templates to templates.

●     Template types

A template type consists of a collection of individual mini-template types that belong together. This, in turn, determines which mini-templates may be assigned to a template that is a concrete occurrence of a particular template type.

SAP delivers the standard template type CRM_SALES (CRM Sales Area Data) for the master data object Business Partner (BUPA). You can also define your own template types.

●     Templates

A template is a concrete occurrence of a particular template type.

The template, which in the standard case is based on the template type CRM_SALES, serves as a grouping of mini-templates, which are in turn based on a mini-template type used for sales area assignment. This ensures that the templates contain only sales-area-dependent data. You can then assign these templates directly to a business partner.

Integration

The template framework facilitates the transfer of changes made to mini-templates to external systems, such as SAP BI.