Process Instructions for the R/3 PI Sheet: New Fun (Release notes 40A)

Process Instructions for the R/3 PI Sheet: New Functions in 4.0A

Description

As of Release 4.0A, the following functions are available with regard to process instructions for the R/3 PI sheet. For more information, see the R/3 Library Process Management , section Process Instruction Sheet -> Process Instructions for PI Sheets , and the Implementation Guide (IMG) for Process Management.

Input validation

You can use characteristic PPPI_ACCEPT_INVALID_INPUT in process data requests to specify that invalid input values are not transferred to the PI sheet at all or only if a signature is entered.
When you decide on accepting invalid values with signatures, note the following:

In Customizing for the control recipe destination, you specify the type of signature required. You have the following options:

Signature without password check

Signature with simple password check

Digital signature (see release note

Digital Signature)

You can use characteristic PPPI_SIGNATURE_AUTHORIZATION to specify that a special maintenance authorization for PI sheets is required for signatures with simple password check and digital signatures (authorization object C_CRPI_BER, Activity field).

Signatures in tables

You can also define signatures in repeated data requests to sign individual table lines.
Note the following:

The signature should be in the last table column, that is, you must define it as the last input value in the data request.

If characteristic PPPI_SIGNATURE is marked as a required characteristic in the message category, you must enter a signature for every table line in the PI sheet. Otherwise, a signature is valid for all preceding table lines since the last signature.

The table is not completed unless you enter another signature after the data request or have reached the maximum number of table lines.

Output values

You can define output values in process data requests and calculation formulas. They are displayed in the PI sheet in addition to the input values or formula result.

You can define the following values as output values:

Values of message characteristics (for example, planned values for input values or characteristic values that have already been assigned in the process order)

Use characteristic PPPI_OUTPUT_CHARACTERISTIC.

Values of variables that are valid in the PI sheet.

Use characteristic PPPI_OUTPUT_VARIABLE.

Before an output value, you must also assign a text in the process instruction that is to be displayed together with the value. Use characteristic PPPI_OUTPUT_TEXT.
If you want to display several output values in the same line in a simple data request, define a text for the first value only.

Variables with enhanced validity

Using characteristic PPPI_GLOBAL_VARIABLE in process data requests and process data calculation formulas, you can define variables that are not only valid in the PI sheet but for the entire process order.

Calculating time intervals

You can use the following function calls to calculate the duration and dates of time intervals in the PI sheet:

Function call	Function
C_DURAT	Calculating the duration from start and end dates
C_END_T	Calculating the end date from duration and start date
C_STRT_T	Calculating the start date from duration and end date

Change system parameters in customizing

If you want to use the new functions, you must first transport the new characteristics to your client.
Transport predefined characteristics

You can then revise your process instruction categories and transport the predefined function calls from the SAP reference client to your client and copy them to your plants.

Define process instruction categories (general)
Define PI categories for R/3 PI sheet using PI assistant
Define PI categories for R/3 PI sheet using char. overview
Copy settings between plants