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Object documentationBase Categories and Hierarchies

 

The base hierarchy used either for products in general or for specific product types.

 

A product can be assigned any number of categories. However, when you first create a product you must assign it to a base category. A base category is a category belonging to the base hierarchy, which is the basic hierarchy defined for products in general or for a specific product type.

Defining Hierarchies as Base Hierarchies

Within the product master, assigning a hierarchy to the application Product enables it to be used as a base hierarchy, which is required to create products. Each product created must be assigned to a category from this hierarchy. It is the starting point when you create a product.

You assign product hierarchies to applications in Customizing for Cross-Application Components, by choosing Start of the navigation path SAP Product Next navigation step Product Category Next navigation step Assign Category Hierarchies to Applications End of the navigation path:

  • You can assign a base hierarchy to a specific product type. This overrides the higher-level assignment between the hierarchy and application.

  • If a base hierarchy is not assigned to a product type, the hierarchy specified for the application serves as the base hierarchy for all product types.

The base category assigned to a product determines the product IDs allowed when a product is created.

You define the number ranges for internal and external number assignment in Customizing for Cross-Application Components, by choosing Start of the navigation path SAP Product Next navigation step Settings for Product Type Next navigation step Number Assignment Next navigation step Define Number Ranges for the Product Type "Material" End of the navigation path/Define Number Ranges for the Product Type "Service". Number ranges are defined for other product types in Customizing for Customer Relationship Management, by choosing Start of the navigation path Master Data Next navigation step Products Next navigation step Settings for Product Type Next navigation step Number Assignment End of the navigation path.

Base Hierarchies Replicated from SAP ECC

The main base hierarchy generally replicated from SAP ECC is the base hierarchy for Material/Service R3PRODSTYP. This hierarchy is assigned to the application Product.

Base Hierarchies Created in SAP CRM

In the following cases the base hierarchies are created in SAP CRM:

  • The report CRM_PR_FIN_CREATE_HIERARCHY is used to create a base hierarchy for the product type Financing.

  • Base hierarchy for the product type Intellectual Property

  • Base hierarchy for the product type Warranty

  • Base hierarchy for the product type Service

    If you are creating service products in SAP CRM and not replicating them from SAP ECC, do not use the hierarchy R3PRODSTYP as the base hierarchy for services, but create a new hierarchy in SAP CRM.