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Extensibility for Group Reporting
Purpose:
Purpose of this document is to explain the process of custom Field creation in group reporting and universal journal entry table. This document explains the various options that are available for creation of custom fields, how to enable them in various business transactions, what are the options in which we can use these custom fields and what are the limitations .
This document is intended for Consultants, Business users, Super users and Group Accountants
Overview:
In typical S/4 HANA Group Reporting implementations, there is always an ask from business users if there is any option to create custom fields and enable them to maintain during various business process such as posting, reporting etc. So far it was challenging task to create custom fields and making it available for manual maintenance. With introduction of 1909 FPS01 Group Reporting, SAP came up with an approach for creation of custom fields. Over a period of reading the document, we will understand the following.
- Custom fields and logic App
- Creation of custom fields in ACDOCA and ACODCU
- Creation of validation rules with custom fields
- Business transactions with custom fields
- Reporting
- Limitations
Custom fields and Logic App
Custom fields can be created either using fiori app – Custom fields and Logic app or through using a transaction code OXK3. In this blog, I will try to explain the process of creating a custom field using custom fields and logic app.
Setting up of custom fields and logic app
If the app is not available, we can follow the steps to configure it as per the link below
The main things we need to do are resumed here
Front-End Server: Activate OData Services
Component | External Technical Name |
OData Services (Version Number) | APS_CUSTOM_FIELD_MAINTENANCE_SRV (0001) |
SBLE_BADI_CTX_REGISTRY_SRV (0001) |
Front-End Server: Activate ICF nodes in SICF
Component | Technical Name |
ICF Node | /default_host/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/sap/nw_aps_lib |
/default_host/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/sap/nw_aps_ext_cfl |
Back-End Server:
Delivered Authorization Role (PFCG Role) – Copy them to your own roles
Delivered Role |
SAP_NW_APS_EXT_CFD |
SAP_NW_APS_EXT_CFL_APP |
In addition, you also need to assign to users the PFCG role SAP_UI_FLEX_KEY_USER for UI adaptation at runtime.
Once you have done the set up, we can see the custom filed and logic app.
Once you access the fiori app, you will be able to create new custom fields. For creating custom fields in ACDOCU table we will have to select the following
Business Context – Group Reporting – Journal entry item
Label – Enter the Field name you want to create
Identifier – this Identifier can be changed- Please check with your technical consultant
Type – select one from the possible options such as text, numeric, numerical text , check box etc.
Length- Specify the field length you would require
Sample is as below
Click on create and it will take you inside to the Field creation. Usage of the Field for various processes is controlled by UI and Report section. Based on the business need, enable the necessary functions for the custom fields. In this example , I have enabled the following Fields
- Group data Analysis
- Group data Analysis with reporting rules
- Journal Entry item
- Post Group Journal entry item
- Post Group Journal entry services
In the business scenarios, ensure that Accounting coding block to Consolidation journal entry is enabled.
Once the above process is completed, please save and publish the fields. Until fields are published, we will not be able to use the fields.
Once the publish is completed, we will be able to see the fields in both ACDOCA and ACDOCU.
ACDOCA table
ACDOCU table
Custom creation in ACDOCU
If you want your custom Field available only for ACDOCU table and don’t want it to be part of ACDOCA table, then while creating the Field in custom field and logic app, please do not activate the business scenarios Accounting coding block to Consolidation journal entry
Once you access the fiori app, you will be able to create new custom fields. For creating custom fields in ACDOCU table we will have to select the following
Business Context – Group Reporting – Journal entry item
Label – Enter the Field name you want to create
Identifier – this Identifier can be changed- Please check with your technical consultant
Type – select one from the possible options such as text, numeric, numerical text , check box etc.
Length- Specify the field length you would require
Sample is as below
Click on create and it will take you inside to the Field creation. Usage of the Field for various processes is controlled by UI and Report section. Based on the business need, enable the necessary functions for the custom fields. In this example , I have enabled the following Fields
- Group data Analysis
- Group data Analysis with reporting rules
- Journal Entry item
- Post Group Journal entry item
- Post Group Journal entry service
Once you publish the field, you can see that it is created in ACDOCU table
Creation of Validation with Custom fields
As a part of Data Monitor task in group reporting, we can validate the data that is extracted and loaded in Group reporting. This validation is done with certain validation rules and validation methods assigned to consolidation Unit. With 1909 FPS01, SAP has given an option to create validation rules for custom fields.
Now let us try to create validation rules. First step in creation of validation rule is to define selection
Open App – Define selection go to create selection .
Enter the general information – Selection id and description of the selection id
In the select expression, select the custom fields that you have created and specify the values that you want to validate.
Once the selection is created, we will then create new validation rules using Define Validation rule app
In the general information, specify the validation rule id, short and long description , group by (If applicable), Tolerance and control level (Error or warning).
In the Rule expression, specify the extended fields on the left formula – in the operand expression editor specify the selection created earlier and on the right formula, specify Amount – in the operand expression editor specify operand as amount.
Once the validation rule is created, assign the validation rule to validation method. Once it is done, assign the validation method to Consolidation unit.
Business transactions with Custom fields
In ACDOCU
After creating the custom fields, next important step is identify how can we use these fields in business transactions such as postings, reporting’s etc.
As discussed in earlier section creation of custom fields, once the Field is created , we will enable the usage of the Field in UI and Report section.
Since we have enabled the process of post group journal entry and other process, we will be able to use the custom fields for posting the business transactions.
In Group Reporting, data can be either loaded from ACDOCA to ACDOCU table or loaded directly to ACDOCU table using flexible upload mechanism.
We are using flexible upload process to load the data into Group Reporting. We will need to add the fields in flexible upload file as below
Upload the file prepared using the app “ flexible upload of reported financial data “ or with app data monitor task “data collection”
Once the data is upload successfully, we can see the uploaded data with custom fields in ACDOCU table
Apart from upload of data, we can also be able to enter the data manually in to this newly created custom fields in the post group Journal entry app.
Post Group Journal Entry app
In ACDOCA
When customer wants to upload data to ACDOCA containing custom fields, then we will create the custom fields in ACDOCA as explained above.
Once the custom fields are created , we will be able to use them as a part of upload file for upload the data using the app” Upload General Journal entries” .
We can download the template from the app and fill in our data.
Ensure that the custom field name is ending with “_COB” to enable system to recognize this Field.
Once the data is uploaded, you will be able to see the value Field against the custom fields in ACDOCA table.
When ever business releases data to group reporting, data in the custom fields are released to group reporting.
Reporting
Once data is loaded into the system with custom fields, next interesting thing would be to check if this fields can be available for reporting.
After we enabled the custom fields for group data analysis in the Ui and Reports section of custom fields and logic, we can find these custom fields as a dimension for reporting.
Once the Group data analysis is enabled and Field is published, we can find the custom fields in group data analysis app.
Limitations
Having understood the process of creation of custom fields, business transactions and reporting, let us understand the limitations.
- Standard ACCDOCA fields cannot be extended as a custom fields to Group Reporting
- Custom Fields are not available as a Characteristic in Group Reporting
The above given are the high-level limitations.
Final Note:
SAP has given more flexibility to business by providing the custom Field creation simpler. Using this functionality business would be able to understand and analyze the data if it is coming from different systems or interfaces or any other specific requirement. Once we load the data in Group Reporting with custom fields, when we run the balance carry forward in Group Reporting, data in custom fields will also be carry forwarded.
I hope with this blog, you are able to understand the process of custom Field creation and usage.
Excellent detail Prasad.. will be very useful for Functional Consultants.
Excellent document Prasad! Thanks for sharing
Very detailed and structured explanation. thanks for sharing
Thank you Prasad for the detailed info on the custom field extension.
What is process to add additional fields in Group Reporting (ACDOCU) which are present in ACDOCA (universal Journal) but not in ACDOCU. eg. FISTL (Fund Center) exists in ACDOCA but not in ACDOCU.
What is process to extend field from ACDOCA to ACDOCU?
Thank you.
Anil
Hi Anil
If you are referring to extending the ACDOCA standard field to ACDOCU, as mentioned in the blog post, this particular functionality is not supported.
If you want to extend any custom fields of ACDOCA, then you can use the app - custom field and Logic app to extend to ACDOCU.
Hope this helps
Regards
Prasad
Hi Prasad,
Thank you for posting this information. I am wondering if it is possible to use custom dimensions for the FS Item and Sub-Item dimensions. My understanding is that FS Item is based solely on GL Account field (RACCT) from ACDOCA. However we have a requirement to use a custom field for FS Item which exists in ACDOCA. Is this possible?
Similarly for Sub-Item, my understanding is this is based solely on GL Account & Transaction Type (RMVCT in ACDOCA). Our requirement is to have a mapping table to combine GL Account + Transaction Type + Custom Field to map to Sub-Item. This is how we are using the Account and Subtable dimension types in BPC 10.0 NW today so we are wondering how to transition to Group Reporting.
Thanks,
Kevin
Hi Kevin
You can create similar name field in ACODCA/ACDOC you can utilize this feature in Sub item categories - Like Profit Center/Functional Area/Trans Types
Transition to GRP is in the form of Flex Uploads from BPC using posting level concepts and by doing this you can achieve similar like in BPC
Hope this will help you
Thanks
Venkat
Well documented and structured. Thanks for sharing it
Hi Prasad,
Thanks for the blog.
I was able to create a custom field following your steps.
I can see it in validation rules and group data analysis reports.
However the post journals screen doesn't show this even though the Post Group Journal Entries service is enabled. The custom field type is Text.
Any pointers on how to fix this
Regards
Vineet
Very useful for consultants! 🙂
Hi Prasad,
This is very useful information for functional consultants and thanks for sharing this valuable information in-detail.
I have a query regarding the custom reporting in group reporting. is it possible to do custom queries and custom AO reports and forms in group reporting. please let us know is there any process to achieve the custom reporting like BPC.
Thanks,
Prasad
Hi Prasad,
Have a question - in your example you have created AREA_GR in both ACDOCA as well as ACDOCU. When user posts some data in ACDOCA with values in AREA_GR, then how can we consume that data into ACDOCU?
Data release from consolidation monitor is getting data into ACDOCU but the values in custom fields are not coming through
I think we need to do some mappings which are not available with On- Prem GR
Any ideas?
Hi Prasad,
Thanks for the blog, very useful! However, we are experiencing the exact same issue as Mohammed above. We followed these instructions to the letter, but the values in the new custom field of ACDOCA are not flowing through to ACDOCU after performing a data release.
Appreciate that we will be able to do a flex upload or GR journal to the new field, but these are all secondary in terms of usefulness - if we cannot release data for the custom field from ACDOCA to ACDOCU then this will be a big problem.
I am about to raise an OSS note on this, but given that a few people are having the same issue, I wonder if you had an answer to help us all?
Thanks,
Tom.
Please enable on Breakdown categories. it should be available in ACDOCU table
Thanks
Venkat
Venkata,
Can you please elaborate more on this? I am not able to enable the custom fields in Breakdown categories. It is a specific list of fields available and there does not seem to be an option to define any additional fields unless I am missing something.
I am using Define Breakdown Categories transaction under SPRO for Group Reporting/Master Data.
Thanks
Can
Hi,
I have the same issue. Can Erdogan have you been able to resolve it?
Thanks,
Arnold
Hi,
I have the same issue. Arnold Warhonowicz have you been able to resolve it?
Thanks,
Hi Prasad, great article. Do you have any considerations and updates for the 2020 release, including latest limitations and updates from 1909?
Hi Prasad
We created a field with new quantities in ACDOCU and ACDOCA, but once the field is populated in ACDOCA and I run the release universal journal task, it doesn't bring any data to ACDOCU.
Do you know why?
Thank you!