Why I cannot add a given relationship type to some product category

[JerryWang]

For example, I would like to test relationship type STRSET and then I plan to add it to product category 00001.

However, in available drop down list, I could not see relationship type STRSET. Why?

When debugging the backend logic to render relationship type drop down list entries, I found there is a check implemented by the function module below, to avoid a relationship is assigned more than once.

According to SAP help,

a set type / relationship may be assigned to more than one category within a hierarchy, but to only one hierarchy for each product type. Therefore even if two categories are in different hierarchies but have the same product type, it is not possible to assign the set type / relationship to both categories.

In my example, the check against my category 00001 belonging to hierarchy R3PRODHIER fails ( assign_not_allowed ).

The question is, how to find other categories in different hierarchy other than R3PRODHIER, which are already assigned with STRSET?

In order to make life easier, I write the following utility method to detect such collision:

Method input: relationship type name, here it is STRSET:

Output is a table with line type category id, hierarchy id and product type the category is assigned to.

By using this method, I know in current system, in another product hierarchy R3PRODSTYP, there are already three categories with relationship type STRSET assigned:

As a result I have several approaches: I can remove the relationship STRSET from category ZALTID, after that it will be possible again for me to add STRSET to category 00001. If there is already product created based on category ZALTID, it will not be possible to remove relationship from ZALTID, then I have to consider to directly add category ZALTID or its children category to my product.

The utility method signature:

type TT_USAGE used:

types:

    BEGIN OF ty_usage,

       cat_id TYPE comm_category-category_id,

       hier_id TYPE comm_hierarchy-hierarchy_id,

       prod_type TYPE comm_product-product_type,

        END OF ty_usage .

  types:

    tt_usage TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF ty_usage WITH key cat_id hier_id .

Method source code:

  METHOD rel_type_usage_check.

    DATA: lt_prcat_il_rel TYPE comt_prcat_il_rel_tab,

          ls_prcat        LIKE LINE OF lt_prcat_il_rel,

          ls_category     TYPE comt_category,

          ls_prcattype        TYPE comt_prcat,

          lv_hie_id       TYPE comm_hierarchy-hierarchy_id.



    CALL FUNCTION 'COM_PRCAT_IL_REL_READ_WITH_IL'

      EXPORTING

        iv_il_reltype   = iv_rel

        iv_il_direction = 'S'

      IMPORTING

        et_prcat_il_rel = lt_prcat_il_rel

      EXCEPTIONS

        not_found       = 1

        wrong_call      = 2

        OTHERS          = 3.

    CHECK sy-subrc = 0.



    LOOP AT lt_prcat_il_rel INTO ls_prcat.

      CALL FUNCTION 'COM_CATEGORY_READ'

        EXPORTING

          iv_category_guid = ls_prcat-category_guid

        IMPORTING

          es_category      = ls_category

        EXCEPTIONS

          wrong_call       = 1

          not_found        = 2

          error            = 3.

      CHECK sy-subrc = 0.

      SELECT SINGLE hierarchy_id INTO lv_hie_id FROM comm_hierarchy

         WHERE hierarchy_guid = ls_category-hierarchy_guid.

      CHECK sy-subrc = 0.

      CALL FUNCTION 'COM_PRCAT_READ'

        EXPORTING

          iv_category_guid = ls_category-category_guid

        IMPORTING

          es_prcat         = ls_prcattype

        EXCEPTIONS

          wrong_call       = 1

          not_found        = 2

          OTHERS           = 3.

      APPEND INITIAL LINE TO rt_usage ASSIGNING FIELD-SYMBOL(<result>).



      <result> = value #( cat_id = ls_category-category_id hier_id = lv_hie_id

      prod_type = ls_prcattype-product_type  ).

    ENDLOOP.



  ENDMETHOD.