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 Using the Mass Maintenance Tool

Use

The tool for the mass maintenance of SAP APO master data is basically the same tool with which the mass maintenance of master data can also be carried out in SAP R/3. In addition to technical enhancements and improvements, the SAP APO version of the tool features a redesigned user interface and greater user-friendliness.

The new design has the following main advantages:

  • All activities on a single screen

    You perform all necessary activities for mass maintenance on one screen (single-screen transaction). You thus don’t have to navigate between different screens or screen sequences. You have a permanent overview of the chosen selection criteria, the change methods, and the selected data.

  • Predefinable display restriction

    You can set the maximum number of data records selected and displayed without a warning message. To do so, choose Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Display Restriction. End of the navigation path

  • Changing without displaying the data in the case of numerous hits

    In order to be able to change large volumes of data despite given runtime restrictions, you have the option of changing data without displaying it. This allows you do dispense with both the data selection process and the on-screen display of the data.

  • Suppression of warning messages after they have been displayed once

    You can permanently deactivate the display of warning messages after they have appeared once. The display of warning messages can later be reactivated for the less-experienced user via Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Display Warnings Again End of the navigation path .

  • Hiding of selection area

    When you have finished selecting the master data to be maintained, you can hide the selection area in order to obtain more space to display and actually maintain the data.

  • Cumulative effect of formulas

    Formulas are always applied to the values that are currently visible in the data table. This results in a cumulative effect if formulas are applied successively.

  • Comprehensive online help

    Choose Start of the navigation path Goto Next navigation step Help End of the navigation path to access additional information when working with the tool. The information available includes tips on selection, making systematic changes for all objects, table maintenance for individual objects, and how to use variants.

If you want to carry out the mass maintenance of master data in SAP APO using the redesigned tool, use the transaction code MASSD. If you prefer to carry out the mass maintenance of master data in SAP APO using the same interface as in SAP R/3, use transaction code MASS.

Note the functional differences between the two transactions.

Note Note

For information on the functional differences between the transactions MASS and MASSD, see Functional Differences MASSD <-> MASS .

End of the note.

Features

Selection of Data in Selection Area

You choose the data that is to be maintained in the selection area on the left-hand side of the screen. Selection is carried out according to object type, component, and attribute.

When the selection process has been completed, you can hide this area.

Maintenance of Data in Manipulation Area

In upper part of the manipulation area on the right-hand side of the screen, you specify the change methods by which the values of the attributes are to be changed. Below this, the attributes are displayed with their associated values in the data table.

Types of Mass Maintenance

In mass maintenance, you can change data in two different ways:

  • Systematic changes

  • Tabular maintenance

Systematic Changes

In the case of systematic changes, you enter a change method with which the change in an attribute is specified. This change is carried out for all objects. You can choose whether the changes are to be carried out immediately or in the background. It is also possible to save systematic changes as variants.

Tabular Maintenance

In tabular maintenance, you can change individual objects with different values. Once you have activated tabular maintenance, it is not then possible to make changes in the background. Neither is it possible to save a tabular change as a variant.

Activities

Basic Process of Mass Maintenance

In the mass maintenance of master data, you always proceed according to the following schema:

You first choose an object type (such as a location) in the selection area. Using the selection criteria, you then choose the component (header data, for example) containing the attribute to be changed (the location type, for example).

In the next step, you specify the attribute you wish to maintain. The selection made here determines the attribute to which the change methods are to be applied.

The result of the selection appears in a data table in the manipulation area on the right-hand side of the screen. In the process, the attributes for each selected component are listed on a separate tab page. Prior to the mass maintenance operation, the data table shows you the values read by the database. After the first change, you see the changed values that are subsequently affected by all further changes.

Invoking Mass Maintenance Function with New Interactive Design

To call up the redesigned mass maintenance tool, choose Start of the navigation path Master Data Next navigation step Mass Maintenance End of the navigation path (transaction code MASSD) from within SAP APO Easy Access.

Invoking Mass Maintenance Function with Conventional Interactive Design

If you prefer to use the same interface as in SAP R/3 to carry out the mass maintenance of SAP APO master data, you can call up the tool with the transaction code MASS.