Rule Type 

Use

The rule type determines whether and how a characteristic/key figure or a data field/key field is updated to the target.

Features

The following options are available:

Unit of measure conversion, currency translation and reading of master data are only available in the second transformation, the transformation that follows an InfoSource. If you want to use one of these three functions, you must create an InfoSource and a second transformation; only then can you update data to an InfoProvider in the target format.

Direct Assignment:

The field is filled directly from the chosen source InfoObject. If the system does not propose a source InfoObject, you can assign a source InfoObject of the same type (amount, number, integer, quantity, float, time) or create a routine.

If you assign a source InfoObject of the same type that has a different currency to the target InfoObject, you have to translate the source currency to the target currency using a currency translation, or transfer the currency from the source.

If you assign a source InfoObject of the same type that has a different unit of measure to the target InfoObject, you have to convert the source unit of measure into the target unit of measure using a unit of measure conversion, or transfer the unit from the source.

Constants:

The field is not filled by the InfoObject but is filled directly with the value specified. 

Formula:

The InfoObject is updated with a value determined using a formula.

For more information, see The Transformation Library and Formula Builder

Reading Master Data:

The InfoObject is updated by reading the master data table of a characteristic that is included in the source with a key and a value and contains the corresponding InfoObject as an attribute. The attributes and their values are read from the key, these are then returned.

The Financial Management Area characteristic is in the target, but it is not in the source as a characteristic. However, there is a characteristic (cost center, for example) that has the Financial Management Area characteristic as an attribute in the source. You can read the Financial Management Area attribute from the master data table and use it to fill the Financial Management Area characteristic in the target.

It is not possible to read recursively, that is, to read additional attributes for the attribute. You have to use routines for this.

If you have changed master data, you have to execute the change run. By reading the master data, the active version is read. If this is not available, an error is raised.

If the attribute is time dependent, you also have to define when it should be read: at the current date (sy-date), at the beginning or end of a period (defined by a time characteristic of the InfoSource), or at a constant date that you enter directly. Sy-date is used as the default.

Routine:

The field is filled by the transformation routine you have written.

The system offers you a selection option that lets you decide whether the routine is valid for all of the attributes belonging to this characteristic, or only for the attributes displayed.

Transformation rules generally only have one return value. If you select Return Table, the corresponding key figure routine no longer has a return value; it has a return table. You can then generate any number of values from a data record.

For DataStore objects and InfoObjects: you cannot use the return code in the routine for data fields that are updated by being overwritten. If you do not want to update specific records, you can delete these from the start routine.

If, for the same characteristic, you generate different rules for different key figures/data fields, a separate data record can be created from a data record of the source for each key figure.

With InfoCubes: You can also select Routine with Unit. In the routine, you then also get the return parameter ‘UNIT’. You can store the required unit of the key figure, such as ‘ST’, in the parameter. You can use this option, for example, to convert the unit KG in the source, into tons in the target.

If you fill the target key figure from a transformation routine, the currency translation has to be performed using the transformation routine. This means that an automatic calculation is not available.

Time Update

When performing a time update, automatic time conversion and time distribution are available.

Direct update: the system automatically performs a time conversion.

Time conversions:

You can update source time characteristics to target time characteristics using automatic time conversion. This function is not available for DataStore objects, since time characteristics are treated as normal data fields. The system only presents you with the time characteristics for which an automatic time conversion routine exists.

Time distribution:

You can update time characteristics with time broadcasting. All the key figures that can be added are split into correspondingly smaller units of time. If the source contains a time characteristic (such as 0CALMONTH) that is not as precise as a time characteristic of the target (such as 0CALWEEK), you can combine these characteristics in the rule. The system performs time broadcasting in the transformation.

 

For example, divide the calendar month 07.2001 into the weeks 26.2001, 27.2001, 28.2001, 29.2001, 30.2001 and 31.2001. Each key figure that can be added receives 1/31 of the original value for week 26.2001, 7/31 for each of weeks 27,28,29 and 30, and exactly 2/31 of it for week 31.

The example is clearer if you compare it to the calendar below:

Time broadcasting always applies to all key figures.

Initial:

The field is not filled. It remains empty.

Unit of Measure Conversion and Currency Translation

You can convert data records into the unit of measure or currency in the target transformation.

For more information, see

●     Currency Translation in the Transformation

●     Quantity Conversion in the Transformation