The top SAP advice from the experts in 2009

Whether you have a question about SAP HR or FICO modules, SAP NetWeaver and integration, or data management, SearchSAP.com has an expert ready to help. This year our experts tackled these topics and more. Here's a look at the most popular advice they doled out in 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
   Can SAP NetWeaver PI 7.1 be installed on the same servers running ECC 6.0?
   Where can I find settings pertaining to retroactive accounting in SAP HR Payroll?
   What are the benefits of using standard SAP BI extractors, as opposed to a BusinessObjects Data Integrator (BODI), for an ETL process between SAP NetWeaver BI (SAP BW) and SAP ERP?
   Where can I get a trial version of SAP IDES?
   Is it possible to have multiple profiles to a single SAP role?

Q: We are running SAP ECC 6.0 on Sun SPARC Enterprise T5120 servers in our development, QA and production environments, and we want to install SAP NetWeaver Process Integration (PI) 7.1. Can we install this on the same servers as ECC 6.0, or do we need different servers?

A: Technically, it isn't a problem to install SAP ECC 6.0 and SAP NetWeaver PI on the same server. However, NetWeaver PI is middleware and therefore a central technical hub as well as part of the logical failover strategy. So it would not be wise to install NetWeaver PI on any server where another critical application is running.

NetWeaver PI should continue to run and buffer messages when the partner applications go down, and any maintenance of an application should never make PI stop. Therefore, for production use, keep PI in a completely separate sector of your network on its own machine. Also, there are a few cases in which PI is not critical in use (i.e., if used for mapping). But then the question is whether PI is too expensive a solution.

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Q: Where can I find settings pertaining to retroactive accounting in SAP HR Payroll?

A: Retroactive accounting settings at data entry may be found in table T582A. This table is configured by SAP HR infotypes. The retroactive accounting trigger section allows you to restrict entry for both payroll and time to:

• Blank: Infotype is not relevant for retroactive accounting
• R: Change triggers retroactive accounting
• T: Retroactive accounting is field-dependent according to T588G

At the payroll area level in SAP HR Payroll, the earliest retroactive pay period may be set when the payroll control record is open (that is, when released), opened for correction or exited.

At the employee level, Payroll Status infotype (0003) can restrict the earliest date for a retroactive entry.

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Q: What are the main benefits of using standard SAP Business Intelligence (BI) extractors, as opposed to a BusinessObjects Data Integrator (BODI), for an extract, transform and load (ETL) process between SAP NetWeaver BI (SAP BW) and SAP ERP?

A: SAP BI extractors are very well integrated with BI applications. There are standard extractors for all main applications, which have been stable since earlier versions of BI. These are easier to activate and enhance, and can have faster BI implementation. This is not the same in the case of BODI or any other non-SAP extractors. More time and effort are required for development, testing and implementation of these extractors.

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Q: I am learning SAP FI and wish to install a trial version of SAP's IDES (Internet Demonstration and Evaluation System) ERP ECC 6.0 on Windows XP for practice purposes. Where can I get a trial version of this software as well as instructions on how to install it?

A: I believe that IDES is available only for licensed customers. However, there are alternatives.

The SAP book ABAP Objects: ABAP Programming in SAP NetWeaver (SAP Press) comes with a Web application server. Unfortunately, it does not contain a lot of example data, as IDES does. Some companies offer IDES access via the Internet. A Google search should allow you to find them. They offer access to IDES systems, according to SAP release and functionality, via monthly or quarterly subscriptions.

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Q: We have found that a few of our SAP roles are mapped with multiple profile names. Is it possible to have multiple profiles to a single role? Note: These roles are derived roles, not composite roles and not the composite profiles.

Here are some examples that may provide a clearer view of what I mean:

A: Before SAP had roles, it had SAP profiles. Because of the data design, a profile could have only a limited number of authorizations. Roles are still only a technical layer on top of profiles, and profiles still have the original limitations.

Consequently, when a large role has too many authorizations for one profile, a second profile is generated and assigned. This is merely a technical feature. Your auditors should focus their evaluation on the roles assigned. There are other technical considerations, but this answer should be sufficient for almost all situations.

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