Horizontal Synchronization

You use horizontal synchronization to synchronize various aspects of objects between different applications: Portfolio Management, and either Project Management or Project System (PS)). This means that when you change an object in one application the same changes are carried out in the corresponding object in another application.

Prerequisites

You have carried out the following Customizing activities for SAP Portfolio and Project Management under:

Common Functions Decision Flow Management Settings Define DFM Object Link Types
Common Functions Decision Flow Management Settings Maintain Objects for Synchronization
All activities under:
- Common Functions Decision Flow Management Settings Attribute Synchronization
- Common Functions Decision Flow Management Settings Authorization Synchronization
- Common Functions Decision Flow Management Settings Status Synchronization

Features

Item-Leading Versus Project-Leading

It is possible to determine whether horizontal synchronization is carried out based on changes in Portfolio Management(item-leading scenario), or changes in Project Management or PS (both project-leading scenarios). It is possible to use both item-leading and project-leading scenarios at the same time.

In an item-leading scenario, any changes you make in Project Management are not transferred to Portfolio Management. Thus the process is controlled only fromPortfolio Management.

Similarly, in a project-leading scenario, changes you make in Portfolio Management are not transferred to Project Management. Thus the process is controlled only fromProject Management.

Synchronization Pairs

The table below outlines which objects in Portfolio Management you can synchronize with which objects in Project Management and PS:

Portfolio Management	Project Management and PS
Item	Project Management Project PS Project Definition
Item Decision Point	Project Management Project Phase PS WBS Element

Portfolio Management

Project Management and PS

Item

Project Management Project

PS Project Definition

Item Decision Point

Project Management Project Phase

PS WBS Element

You determine which objects are synchronized (and in which direction) with regard to attributes, statuses, and (for Project Management integration only) authorizations.

Templates in Synchronization

When you create an item in Portfolio Management based on a predefined item template or item type you can determine the Project Management or PS template or type that corresponds to this and is used to create the corresponding project. In addition, you can specify which decision points in a particular item type or template are mapped to which phases or WBS elements in the corresponding project template.

You map item templates to Project Management templates and PS templates in Customizing for SAP Portfolio and Project Management under Start of the navigation path Portfolio Management Next navigation step Global Customizing Portfolio-Independent Settings Map Item Template to Project Template End of the navigation path .

You map item types to project types or project templates in Customizing for SAP Portfolio and Project Management under Start of the navigation path Portfolio Management Next navigation step Global Customizing Portfolio-Independent Settings Map Item Type to Project Type or Project Templates End of the navigation path .

Example

Synchronizing Attributes between Portfolio Management and Project System

In Portfolio and Project Management, you maintain the planned start date of the portfolio item. It is transferred to the start date of the PS project definition. This is an item-leading attribute.

In PS, based on the start date, the system schedules the project, including the assigned networks, in a bottom-up scenario. The system calculates the finish date of the PS project definition and transfers it to the portfolio item. The dates of the PS project WBS elements are also calculated and transferred to respective decision points of the portfolio item (project-leading attribute).