Simplified Configuration 

Purpose

Simplified Configuration with Generated Database Storage ( BUS2000149 )

As an alternative to configuration using Product Modeling Environment (PME), as of release CRM 2006s/2, you can add customer-specific fields to the utility contract by means of the Easy Enhancement Workbench (EEW).

Use the simplified configuration for simple value storage with simple checks.

The use of the simplified configuration in combination with the optimized utility contract item has the following advantages over configuration with the PME:

●      Significantly better performance

●      Less database memory required

●      Simplified error analysis

●      Simplified configuration
The reasons fort his are as follows:

○       No connection to IPC required

○       Fewer business partner relationships required

○       No quantities or price documents required

○       You can, but do not have to, maintain organizational data

○       No SD partner for business partners required in backend system

○       IPC is not called in the Interaction Center so there is no switch of user interface

The disadvantages of the simplified configuration are as follows:

●      Possible dependencies between attributes have to be defined in the ABAP source code

The following restrictions only apply for the database storage generated by the EEW, not the container storage:

●      The enhancement of the BDoc structures can result in invalidation of existing BDocs.

●      Transport and generation with the EEW cannot take place in productive operation

 

Do not select the Configurable checkbox when you create the product.

You have the following three options for data storage with the simplified configuration:

●      Storage in generated database tables (set types)

●      Storage in general container structures

●      Storage in customer enhancement of the item

All types of the simplified product configuration have the following in common:

●      Use of method GET_AVAILABLE_FIELDS in Business Add-In (BAdI) DEFINE_EDIT_EXT_ATTR.
This BAdI is called when selecting the product in the document.

●      Use of method GET_AVAILABLE_FIIELDS_DEFAULT in BAdI DEFINE_DEFAULT_EXT_ATTR.
This BAdI is called for each item line if the product is used.

●      The product attributes are displayed consistently on the user interface – that is, it not clear how product configuration took place.

Simplified Configuration with EEW-Generated Database Storage ( BUS2000149)

As a prerequisite for this data storage, you must have created the set types and attributes that you want to integrate into the contract. For more information on creating set types and attributes, see the Products in SAP CRM section.

To integrate the required set type and the respective field attributes into the utility contract, proceed as follows:

...

       1.      In the EEW, create a new project and a new enhancement.

When you create the enhancement, specify that you want to process a CRM business transaction. As the extension type, choose ADD_NEW_ITEM_COMPONENT.

An assistant leads you through the application.

       2.      Enter the technical name and the description for the business transaction component.

       3.      Select the set type that you want to integrate into the contract.

       4.      Specify that the new business transaction component must be valid for the following item object types:

○       Utility Contract Item CRM (BUS2000147)

○       Utility Contract Item (Simplified) (BUS2000147)

       5.      When assigning the new set type, select the Product-Independent indicator to denote that the business transaction component is product-independent.

This allows you to use set types that are not assigned to a specific product category in the utility contract. In this case, the system does not propose any attribute values that are defined in the product master.

       6.         The system creates all necessary objects for the business transaction component (for example, function modules and the user interface).

       7.         Allocate the new fields in Customizing for Customer Relationship Management under Industry Solutions ® Utilities Industry ® Transactions ® Settings for Contract Replication ® Maintain Customer Enhancements.

       8.      For more information, see Customizing for the Utilities Industry in the documentation for the Maintain Customer Enhancements activity.

You have added new fields to the utility contract. The system displays these fields automatically in the IC WebClient during move-in, move-out, move-in/out and product change, and takes the fields into account during contract replication. Contract replication also takes the attributes of the simplified configuration into account. You can allocate these attributes to individual nodes and fields in the master data template in SAP IS-U.

The use of the simplified configuration with generate database storage provides the following benefits:

●      Suitable for mapping product templates – this means logical groups, as structures are generated

●      Relatively little memory required

●      Suitable for use during the project

A disadvantage of this configuration is its complexity.

Simplified Configuration with Container Storage (BUS2000149)

As of release CRM 2007, you have the option to only add customer-specific fields to the utility contract using the Customizing settings. To do this, you use the Simplified Configuration with Container as data storage.

You can use the attributes of the simplified configuration with the EEWB at the same time as the attributes of the simplified configuration using container storage.

Proceed as follows to integrate fields into the utility contract:

...

       1.      Define the new fields in Customizing for Customer Relationship Management under Industry Solutions ® Utilities Industry ® Transactions ® Settings for Contract Replication ® Maintain Customer Enhancements.

For more information see the documentation for the Maintain Customer Enhancements Customizing activity.

       2.         In the Available Fields view, enter a parameter name and a short description.

Do not fill in the Business Transaction Component and Field Name fields.

       3.      Specify a data element that corresponds to the required field category - for example, CHECKBOX for a checkbox.

       4.      Make the settings for visibility if you only want the field to be visible for certain item categories or products.

       5.      You can influence the visibility by changing the Changeability, Visibility, Sorting, and ID field.

If you have not defined restrictions for certain products or preassigned fields, and you have chosen the generated view, the field is now available on the user interface and in the replication. In this case, steps 2 and 3 are not required.

       6.      If you have restricted the visibility to certain products, allocate the hierarchy of your product to the set types CRM_ISU_ATTR of view ISU_EXTENSION and define the attributes that you want to be available for this product.

       7.      If you want to preassign attributes with container storage, allocate the hierarchy of your product to the delivered set type CRM_ISU_VALUES of view ISU_EXTENSION, and, in the product, maintain the name/value of the attributes that you want to be preassigned to the field. Note that no input help or value checks are available in the product maintenance.

You have added new fields to the utility contract. These field are also displayed automatically in the Interaction WebClient during creation of a contract, ending of a contract, move-in/out of a contract, and during product change. Contract replication also takes the attributes of the simplified configuration into account. You can allocate these attributes to individual nodes and fields in the master data template in SAP IS-U.

Do not select the Configurable checkbox when you create the product.

Using the simplified configuration with container storage has the following advantages over the simplified configuration with the EEW:

●      Better performance

●      No generation of structures or programs

●      Maintenance or enhancement of the product characteristics possible in productive operation, as this type of configuration only takes place via Customizing

●      No BDoc invalidation

One disadvantage of the configuration with container storage is that there is no input help for the default values in maintenance for the product. However, input help is available in maintenance for the contract.

For more information on how to proceed with the simplified configuration, see Enhancement of the Utility Contract.

Simplified Configuration with Database Storage in Customer Enhancement Customer_I (BUS2000149)

As of release CRM 2007 SP3, you also have the option to add customer-specific fields from customer enhancement CUSTOMER_I via the Customizing settings.

For the enhancement Customer_I, proceed as follows:

...

       1.      In the EEW, create a new project and a new enhancement.
When you create the enhancement, specify that you want to process a CRM business transaction. As the enhancement type, choose ADD_NEW_FIELDS.
An assistant leads you through the application.

       2.      Define the new fields.

       3.      Allocate these fields to the item and the subobject “Item Data for Customers”.

       4.      Allocate the new fields in Customizing for Customer Relationship Management under Industry Solutions ® Utilities Industry ® Transactions ® Settings for Contract Replication ® Maintain Customer Enhancements.

This variant provides the following benefits:

●      Improved usability

●      No generation of new structures or programs

●      Relatively little memory required

●      Suitable for use during the project

●      No new set type of product required for preassignment

●      Fields can be used from previous projects and are automatically maintainable in the configuration. They are also available in the master data generator or are replicated in IS-U.

One disadvantage of this variant is that there is no input help for the default values in maintenance for the product. However, input help is available in maintenance for the contract.

Product-Dependent Preaasignment

You can preassign configuration values when you create quotations and contracts.

You can do this using the process framework or using the product maintenance.

To preassign values using the product maintenance, assign the set types used in the EEWB generation to the product and in Customizing under Transactions ® Settings for Contract Replication ® Maintain Customer Enhancements, select the Default Value for Product indicator for the respective attributes.