1. Introduction to Customizing Reports in SAP
Configuration and Use
Dr. Gail Corbitt
Fall 1998
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R1: Reports Intro

2. Introduction to SAP Reports: Topic Objectives
Review what reports are and why they are important
Identify Ways to Get Reports from SAP
Define Underlying SAP Framework used to develop custom reports within an organization
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3. Introduction to SAP Reports: Importance of Reports
What are reports?
Outputs from an Information System (automated or manual)
Standard Documents from an Information System
Why are they important?
Often the reason an organization gets a particular system
External requirements for Industry
Internal need for operational management, planning, strategic decision making, etc.
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4. Introduction to SAP Reports: Forms that Reports Can Take
Text and Narrative
Graphic
Tabular: Columns and Rows (Spreadsheet Format)
Statistical (Usually Combined with Tabular)
Zoned Output: Conforms to a Stnadard Form
Drill Down (level of detail varies -- available electronically)
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5. Introduction to SAP Reports: Characteristics of “Good” Report Design
Make Simple to Read and Understand
Always have a Date and Title
Always Include Column Headings for Tabular Data
Include Legends Anytime Abbreviations are Used
Include Legends Anytime Data Field Names are Used
Use Section Headings when Large Amounts of Data Are Presented in Difference Segments or Groups, I.e. Sales By Month Grouped by Product within Region
Remember “Style” of Report is User Dependent
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6. Introduction to SAP Reports: Ways to Get Reports from SAP
Standard Delivered Reports by Module
Report Tree is Configured to Include Desired Reports
Over 1500 Reports to Choose From
Use Report Navigator to Find Report Names
Report Painter
Report Writer
Drill Down Reports in CO-PA and EIS
ABAP/4 Custom Reports
ABAP/4 Query to get list of values from a table
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7. Introduction to SAP Reports: Finding SAP Delivered Reports
Information System >> Report Tree to see incomplete generic list of reports
System >> Services >> Reporting
Enter Program Name RXYZ1…Zn
R for ABAP/4 Programs that Produce Reports
X for Module (F=FI; M=MM; V=SD; K=CO; A=AM, etc.)
Y for Submodule (D=Customer; K=Vnedor, S=GL, et.c)
Z1 … Zn for Unique Identifier
Logistics >> Sales Information System
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8. Introduction to SAP Reports: Finding SAP Delivered Reports
Assignment:
Printout the List of all Reports for your Module
Look at the Reports (Pull them up and run them on-line -- Do Not Print All of Them Out)
Select Which Ones Need to Be Included in the Report Tree for Your Module (Note Your Choices on the Printed List)
Define Report Needs that Do Not Appear to be in the List
In other words, make of list of reports you’d like to see that are not delivered by SAP
Due in One Week: One assignment per Team
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9. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Tool in R/2
Based on COBOL Report Writer Concepts
Not User Friendly
Report Painter
New with R/3 versions
User Doesn’t Need to Understand Underlying Structures
Has Graphic User Interface
Used as a Front End to Report Writer (RP Code gets translated into RW structures)
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10. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Reporting Table or
Information Structure
Contain (SAP Defined):
Characteristics
Key Figures
REMEMBER:
Reports are compiled
& Run by Report Group
Library 1
Library 2
Library N
Libraries Contain:
Characteristics
Key Figures
Pre-defined Columns
Report Group 1
(Data Records)
Report Group 2
(Data Records)
Report 1
Report 2
Report N
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11. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
View of Sub-Schema
Oracle
Data Base
Library 1
“Sub-Schema”
Library 2
Reporting
Table
Library N
Reporting
Table
Logical
Schema
Reporting
Table
Report Group 1
Report Group 2
Report Group N
Set A
Set B
Report
Set Z
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12. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Physical DBMS (Oracle) Stores Data in Tables in Tablespaces in UNIX Data Files
Reporting Tables or Information Structures are Sub-Schemas or Views of the Data based on Multiple User Views (not linked to DB), I.e. Sales Data or Cost Data
Libraries are Sub-views or views of the Sub-schemas
Report Group is a group of reports that are compiled and executed together at the same time
Report is usually what a single user(s) wants
Sets are used by Report Writer to get specific values
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13. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Reporting Table
Not a Physical or Logical Table in the Database
More like a user view of Data, I.e. SIS or LIS for Sales, CCSS = Cost Data, or FILC = Legal Consolidation view
Also called Information Structure or sometimes (more rarely) Information View
Library
Common Set of columns from the Reporting Table used for similar set of reports
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14. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Report Group
Can Equal a Report (Report Group can contain only one Report)
Group may be Variations of the same data
Report 1 = Sales of Current Month compared to Last Month in summary
Report 2 = Current Month Compared to Last Month by Region or Customer Group
Report Group is Compiled and Execulted (run) at the same time
Icon appears on the top of Report 1 to show there are more
reports in this run
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15. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Set of columns and rows with specific data (row) selection criteria
Similar to Select statement in SQL from a view where ….
Reports are compiled or generated at the report group level
Anytime you make a change in one report in the group the whole group needs to be re-generated
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16. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Brainstorm: What Kinds of Data do we Find in Business Reports?
Sales Dollars
Sales Quantity
Planned Costs
Actual Costs
What do Dollars and Quantity have in common?
What do Planned and Actual have in common?
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17. Introduction to SAP Reports: Framework for Report Writer
Characteristics: Attribute in Table
Company Code, Customer Account, Region, Cost Center, etc.
Key Figure: Types of Data - typically numeric
costs, sales dollars, sales quantity, cost quantity
Predefined Column: Combination of Characteristic and Key Figure
Actual Cost Dollars, Planned Cost Dollars, Actual Sales Quantity, Planned Sales Quantity
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18. Introduction to SAP Reports: Summary
What are Reports?
Why are they Important?
Name 3 ways we Can Find What Reports Come with SAP.
Describe the Underlying Framework for using the SAP Report Writer and Painter
Table in the Database
Reporting Table
Library
Report Group
Report
Set
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