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Most unnoticed functionalities in SPRO

May 23, 2014 | 1,191 Views |
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As a functional consultant, we might have seen SPRO screen day in and day out. But, many of us may have missed to notice, there are many additional functionalities available in SPRO. Usually, we just run to the node where we wish to do the changes, complete required changes and rush for testing.

Through this blog, I would like to bring to the notice of fellow community members about many unnoticed functionalities available in SPRO.

1. How to find the list of tables that are updated through particular SPRO node?

Place cursor on the node where changes are being done and go to below path in SPRO.

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In next screen, double click on underlying view.


Note: Usually last 4 letters of IMG activity ID is transaction code for that node.

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Select other view and double click on Piece list option.

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Next screen shows the list of tables that are updated under this node.

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2. How to Search in SPRO?

Looks pretty straight forward option right? I am sure everybody must have already used this option.


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But did you notice “Text Index info” in the search popup?

SAP search engine uses Indexing concept. We can correlate this to normal text book index. Index have the address number of a topic like page number. Similarly, SAP stores the database address of the nodes of SPRO. When search is done, system would first go to this Index data and find the position of the node in SPRO path. Then respective node would be pointed out. If multiple addresses are found for the search word, complete list is displayed in popup. We can further navigate by selecting appropriate item.

System has the information on when was last index generated. If we have implemented some patches/upgraded system to next version, we may face issues with search engine. In this case, just regenerate the Index. It is suggested to do this activity in background with the support of BASIS team.

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3. Expand all:

This option will expand all the sub-nodes of a particular parent node.

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4. Position:

This helps in scrolling down a node to topmost row. Place the cursor on the node and click on position. This action moves the node to topmost row.

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5. Change logs:

Precondition for this functionality is, change logs are active in system. For the reasons related to performance and database optimization, change logs are usually activated in development system only.

This displays list of all changes done in the node with details like date, time, change done by user ID etc.

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Enter appropriate selection parameters in next screen and execute.

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If the node has multiple tables (How to find was discussed earlier), select the required object in the popup and proceed. Output would show the changes done in the selected period and object.

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6. Additional information:

Document name: This is the name of the documentation key with which IMG documentation is stored.

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IMG activity: Each node of SPRO is stored with the key field as IMG activity name. This is the unique key to identify a particular node in SPRO.


Attributes: Each SPRO node has different attributes. These attributes are stored with key field attribute key.

E.G.: If a node is critical/non-critical, mandatory/optional, is it country specific etc.

Maintenance object: This shows the name of the maintenance object which has the information of list of tables/views which are updated through that node.


Enhancement ID: This is used to enhance SPRO/add any custom paths in SPRO.

E.G: If you want to add some custom add-on to SPRO paths, you can enhance it with this option. Check t-code S_IMG_EXTENSION for more details.


Release notes: By selecting show notes, we would see small ‘i’ Icon beside the SPRO node. Clicking this would list the component names and respective release version through which this node was created/changed.


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Other attributes:

Below attributes are self-explanatory. Name itself says what that option stands for.

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BC Sets:


BC sets (Business configuration set) are used for collecting the customizing settings. They can also be used for a group  rollout, where the customizing settings are bundled by the group headquarters and passed on in a structured way to its subsidiaries. SAP has delivered BC sets for some standard industry processes. We can create custom sets as well. Please check out below WIFI which has detailed information about this.


http://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/Basis/Business+Configuration+Sets+(BC+Sets)+and+their+use


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Business add-ins: This option would display, if there are any BADIs available for a node.

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Translation: This is used for maintaining translations for the text fields available in a node (If applicable).

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Hope you enjoyed reading this and got to know some new things 🙂

Please feel free to share your feedback.


Thanks,

V V


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86 Comments

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    1. ManiKumar Yandrapu

      Babu Vinod,

      Fantastic ! It is very useful. Spend more time in SCN for us ,share more knowledge like above. As per your earlier document exchange rate’s TCURMNT ,which is very useful tool & same introduced to my client ,he was too happy about the same. ( Credit goes to you with NV)

      Regards

      Mani Kumar

      (0) 
      1. Former Member Post author

        Thanks a lot Mani for such a nice feedback 🙂

        I am pleased to know your client did like the solution (TCURMNT). You can checkout my other blogs/documents also.

        Vinod Vemuru

        SAP has so many awesome unknown functionalities. Exploring those when ever I find time 😉

        And yes, you can see one screen always open on my laptop on free time i.e. SCN 😆

        It gives great opportunity to share and gain knowledge at the same time. Its a Win-Win for self and community.

        Thanks,

        V V

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  7. Former Member

    very good work, thanks.

    I should add the following tip:

    TIP for finding the transaction associated to any IMG activity:

    Example: in General Settings/set Countries/Define country codes.

    When running this activity from IMG tree, the system/status gives transaction SPRO, not the actual transaction.

    For finding actual transaction: in the IMG tree, choose menu Additional information/Display key/IMG Activity.
    For “Define Country Code”, IMG activity is SAPG_0001.
    Search this activity in CUS_IMGACH table. The field CUS_IMGACH-TCODE gives S_BCE_68000188.
    You have now the actual transaction to use for launching the activity from anywhere without searching in SPRO tree.
    You can place it in your favorites if necessary.

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    2. Former Member

      Hi Henry,

      Thank you so much for the wonderful tip.

      So far I used to get transaction codes only for some IMG activities through this Display IMG Activity key.  When it specifies only SM30, then I used to assume that there might not have been a transaction code for that.  Now you proved my assumption wrong.

      Though it is not a better idea to remember transaction codes in SAP, this tip will help to save time for going to the regularly visited IMG activity directly.  Thanks for sharing this tip.

      Regards,

      Sridhar

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  18. Former Member

    Hi Vinod,

    Excellent Document Sir. I learned many new things. Can you please share the link of that (TCURMNT). I want to know that thing. Can you also if possible share the link for that document.

    Regards,

    Malhar.

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  25. Former Member

    Nice work Vinod…….A quick question for you, if you can help…….I was looking for some nodes say e.g OVX5 as where does it exist within IMG, i expanded all the nodes and then additional info—- display key—-IMG activity/attributes and Ctrl ‘F’ but I could not find OVX5 there?

    Thanks,

    Syd

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    1. Former Member Post author

      Hello,

      Search function searches only texts in SPRO.

      I this case, I would prefer to approach differently. OVX5 is for sales org configuration. So, it must exist in enterprise structure definition. I would go to this node and search there.

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    2. Anton Farenyk

      Try to search the table CUS_IMGACH (SE16N or SE16) either by ACTIVITY (in your case input *OVX5* in ACTIVITY) or by TCODE (for vaste majority of IMG transactions but not for all). In case of OVX5 you’ll find IMG activity named SIMG_CFMENUSAPCOVX5 and its corresponding text will be “Define, copy, delete, check sales organization”. Now go back to SPRO and in the search(Ctrl+F) paste exactly this same text and run the search. You’ll find exactly one node under Enterprise Structure-Definition-Sales and Distribution.

      Where there’s a will, there’s a way

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  34. Emmanuel Fuentes

    Great post!!

    Sometimes you can access SPRO node with the transaction SM30 (depending on the table), this help me when sap shows error message “Missing entry for table XXXX”

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  39. Former Member

    Amazing!!!!

    I thank you Vinod and thank all other contributors who have given great tips..  thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with others.  A great gesture from all of you..

    Thanks again,

    Sadhana

    (0) 

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