Saturday, August 17, 2013

SAP VC Master Data Distribution Using ALE

Introduction:

SAP Variant Configuration (VC) Master Data can be distributed across the different Clients /Systems in the organizations using ALE functionality of SAP.

Master Data Includes the following objects:
  1. Characteristics and Values
  2. Classes
  3. Variant Table Structures
  4. Variant Table Contents
  5. User Defined Functions
  6. Object Dependencies (Selection Conditions, Pre Conditions and Procedures)
  7. Dependency Nets
  8. Configurable Materials
  9. Configuration Profiles
  10. Bill of Materials
  11. User Interface

Message Types Used for VC Master Data:

Characteristics and Values: Most objects for variant configuration are dependent on characteristics. For this reason, characteristics must be   transferred first.
Message Type used for Characteristic and value transfer is CHRMAS. 
SAP Transaction: BD91

Classes: During the ALE distribution of the classes, the characteristic assignment also transferred.
Message Type used for Class transfer is CLSMAS
SAP Transaction: BD92 

Variant Table Structure: Variant table structures created to support the maintenance of the data relevant for variant configuration.
Message Type used for Variant Table Structure transfer is VTAMAS
SAP Transaction: CLD3

Variant Table Contents: After distribution of the variant table, table contents can be transferred.
Message Type used for Variant Table Contents transfer is VTMMAS
SAP Transaction: CLD4

User Defined Functions: User defined variant functions are used to check and infer the characteristic values. In side these function, ABAP function modules are used.

Note:The distribution of functions only transfers the framework (Characteristics, texts, etc.,) the function modules used in functions must be transported first using the standard SAP transport management system.
Message Type used for User Defined Functions transfer is VTMMAS
SAP Transaction: CUFD

Object Dependencies: The dependencies transferred here are global object dependencies. Local object dependencies are transferred with the objects to which they are assigned.
Message Type used for Object Dependencies transfer is KNOMAS
SAP Transaction: CLD2

Constraint Net (Dependency Net): These also can be distributed as of release 4.5
Message Type used for Dependency Net transfer is DEPNET
SAP Transaction: CUK2

Configurable Materials: Depending on how many configurable materials you have, you can use ALE to distribute them or create them in the target system. The other materials in BOMs for configurable materials are transferred to the target client by the usual data transfer.
Message Type used for Material transfer is MATMAS
SAP Transaction: BD10


Configuration profiles: These must be distributed after the configurable materials, because the key of the material identifies the profile. During the ALE process, the dependencies for the configuration profile are also transferred, and are reassigned to the profile in the target client. At the same time, the class assignments belonging to the configurable material (in the variant class) are transported.

Message Type used for Configuration Profile transfer is CNPMAS
SAP Transaction: CLD1


Super BOM: Material BOMs for configurable materials can be distributed using ALE. The transfer also assigns the dependencies for BOM items to the items. Make sure that the dependencies and all the materials required already exist in the target system.
Message Type used for Material BOM transfer is BOMMAT
SAP Transaction: BD30

User Interface: You can use ALE to transfer interface designs for variant configuration.The distribution of interface designs uses BAPI technology
Message Type used for User Interface transfer is VCUI_SAVEM
SAP Transaction:CUID

System Setup:

The following steps need to follow to setup to use the ALE functionality for master data distribution.