Most unnoticed functionalities in SPRO
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.
In next screen, double click on underlying view.
Note: Usually last 4 letters of IMG activity ID is transaction code for that node.
Select other view and double click on Piece list option.
Next screen shows the list of tables that are updated under this node.
2. How to Search in SPRO?
Looks pretty straight forward option right? I am sure everybody must have already used this option.
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.
3. Expand all:
This option will expand all the sub-nodes of a particular parent node.
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.
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.
Enter appropriate selection parameters in next screen and execute.
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.
6. Additional information:
Document name: This is the name of the documentation key with which IMG documentation is stored.
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.
Other attributes:
Below attributes are self-explanatory. Name itself says what that option stands for.
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
Business add-ins: This option would display, if there are any BADIs available for a node.
Translation: This is used for maintaining translations for the text fields available in a node (If applicable).
Hope you enjoyed reading this and got to know some new things π
Please feel free to share your feedback.
Thanks,
V V
Fantastic Vinod. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Naseem π
Hi Vinod,
Yes, I got some new things. π
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Sridhar
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
Thanks a lot Mani for such a nice feedback π
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 π
And yes, you can see one screen always open on my laptop on free time i.e. SCN π
It gives great opportunity to share and gain knowledge at the same time. Its a Win-Win for self and community.
Thanks,
V V
Thanks Sridhar π
Golden tips...thanks for sharing the knowledge.....
Thanks Mariks π
Nice job with this Vinod
Thanks a lot dear π
Good Tips Vinod.
Thanks Chandra π
Sir
This document exhibits your depth and catch (grip) on not only the subject but in total.
Excellent. I like it.
Regards
Rajneesh Saxena
Thanks a lot Rajneesh π
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.
Thanks Henri for adding one more point. Not sure how did I miss this though π
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
Hi Vinod,
Its Awesome π
Undoubtedly today i have learned some new things.
Thanks & Regards,
Lakshmi S
Thanks Lakshmi π
Hi, Vinod!
Thanks for an interesting document.
Best regards!
Hi Vinod,
Thanks for sharing such a useful document for new learners.
Keep posting like this.
Thanks&Regards
Lakshmi
Thanks dear π
Hi Sir,
Thanks for your useful information π
Thanks Muneer π
Amazing information.
Regards
Sanil Bhandari
Thanks a lot Sanil π
Seems you are back to SCN after long time!?
Superb document.Thanks for sharing your knowledge π
Regards
Prasad
Thanks Prasad π
Its useful, Thanks for sharing these tips Vinod
Thanks Bose π
Very good one!!! Thanks Vinod for your experience shared
Hai
Thanks Hai π
Very good and useful ...
Thanks Kapil π
Excellent vinod, very use full info, golden tips π .
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Javed
Thanks Javed π
Good Info!
Thanks!
Thanks Riyas π
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.
Thanks Malhar. Below is the link for TCURMNT blog which Mani was talking about.
Concurrent maintenance of exchange rates
You can also check out my other blogs/documents from my profile->Content
Happy learning... π
Thanks,
V V
Hi Vinod Vemuru
Good document
Regards
Raheem
Thanks a lot Raheem π
This is Awesome..Thanks for sharing...
Regards,
Vivek
Thanks Vivek π
Nice, realy helpful..
Thanks for sharing vinod...
Thanks Thiyagarajan π
Sir
Really appreciated...!
Sir
Really appreciated....!
Ibad Ali
Thanks Ibad π
Hello,
Great and helpful! π ➕
Thank you very much.
all the best Erwin
Thanks Erwin π
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
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.
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
Thanks Anton. This is nice tip π
Hi Vinod,
It is useful document.. Thank you for sharing...:)
Thanks dear π
Really Interesting one !!!
Nice work VV
Thanks dear π
Nice document... Thank you for sharing,
Ram S
Thanks Dear π
Hi Vinod,
Good information and nicely presented. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Prasoon
Thanks dear π
Hi Vinod,
Very informative and Good document man. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
B V
Thanks dear π
Good Vinod. The first point was very informative to me. Thanks for Sharing.
Thanks dear π
Hi Vinod,
This is a very well presented paper.
thanks
Arvind Leo Pereira
Thanks buddy π
Nice information vinod
Thanks Rajesh π
Very Helpful Details Vinod.. Many Thanks
Thanks Vineet π
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"
Thanks Emmanual
Hi Vinod,
It is very useful information.
Thanks a lot and keep sharing knowledge.......
Regards,
Raja M
Thanks Raja π
Hi Vinod
Now doubt it is a very good material. Thanks for sharing...
Best Regards
Venkat
Thanks Venkat π
Nice & Informative document π
Thanks
Vinod
Thanks Diwakar π
Hi Vinod,
It is very useful.
Thanks for sharing.
Raphael Shi
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
Thanks Sadhana:)
Fantastic document Vinod...!! Nice to see some interesting blogs from you π
Thanks a lot buddy. Nice to hear back from you after long time π
it's a great sharing and keep goingΒ !!