Purpose

Two tables are delivered in the standard system to determine the properties of infotype fields. For all standard infotypes (0000-8999), which are delivered by SAP, table T588MFPROPS governs the behavior of the corresponding fields. In contrast, customer table T588MFPROPC governs this behavior for customer-specific infotypes (9000-9999), but may also (where permitted) overwrite the standard entries in table T588MFPROPS and therefore also influence the behavior of standard infotypes.

Process Flow

To view (or, if applicable, maintain) the entries in either table for a particular infotype, execute the Create Infotypetransaction (transaction code PM01). On the subsequent screen, either on the default ITtabstrip, or on the adjacent IT Versiontabstrip, enter the corresponding infotype number. Then choose  Infotype Edit Field Characteristics (Customer IT) to view or maintain entries in table T588MFPROPC. For T588MFPROPS table entries, choose  Infotype Edit Field Characteristics (Standard IT) .

Each table describes the P structures of the corresponding set of primary records. Where applicable, each table also describes the P structures of the corresponding secondary records and cost PREF structures. As summarized in the following chart, various attributes can be assigned to the respective fields within each table.

If the MANDATORY attribute is specified, indicating that input is required, then the system will issue an error from this field in response to non-initial input.

If the READONLY attribute is specified, then the system will not permit the user to modify the field, and will in fact issue warnings if the user attempts to do so.

If the attributes MANDATORY and READONLY are both specified, then the system will consider the field to be required, during insertion, or read-only, during modification. (Specification of both attributes is appropriate for fields in which an entry is to be made once, but never changed again.)

If the UNUSED attribute is specified, then the system will subsequently ignore the MANDATORY and READONLY attributes. (Where this attribute is specified, the system will always initialize the corresponding field; no data can ever be stored in it.)

Finally, if the FIXED attribute is specified in table T588MFPROPS, then the system will not evaluate any attribute that is set for this field in table T588MFPROPC. In other words, for all fields except those to which the FIXED attribute is assigned, customers may overwrite the (standard) T588MFPROPS entry with a (customer-specific) T588MFPROPC entry.