Workflow related

[Former Member]

Hi everybody,

Have an issue at hand and wanted your inputs.

In our SRM system,we have a few Workflows activated--one step,two step,confirmaton etc.E.g.Users,when they create a Shopping Cart,the workflow(say 1 step approval) automatically takes them to their manager specified in the organization plan.

Heres the tricky part:- For ordering products from a particular category,we have to seek approval from a specific department manager.

Now,is there any way to relate the products/category and the approver??Any Workflow with the start condition as 'if XYZ product category,go to ABC manager for approval'??

Or should a Workflow specialist build a customized workflow for this??

Appreciate all your help.

Priya

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Priya,

There is no Workflow with the start condition as 'if XYZ product category, go to ABC manager for approval'. In Start Condition, you do not decide who is the approver, you decide under what circumstances you want the worklfow to be started.

Your req is very common requirements with most client. In general, This is called Functional Approval based on Product Category. I have done in all my clients.

You need to do custom Approver Agent determination in the worklfow. You can either use SAP standard workflow or clone to custom, plug in there your custom Approver Agent determination rules in the Dialog Approval task.

Thanks,

Jay

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks a ton,Jay.Could you elaborate a little,please?

We have a simple 1-step(WS10000129) approval and 2-step(WS10000031) approval workflows in place.

-Where and how do you plug in the custom approver agent determination rules?

-How does one 'clone to custom'?

-Is a workflow consultant required to do the above mentioned tasks?

Thanks much for your help.Some details on the above 'Q's would save my day.

Priya

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Priya,

There is dialog tasks TS10008126 (WS10000129),and TS10008069, TS10008127(WS10000031). In the Agent expression, you can put your own rule. In SRM, Approval are done through Web, it would be better to use copy of method AAGENT to custom.

We created a custom look up table and maintain product category and corresponding approver.

Then, code in your custom object to determine the approver based on the product category in SC, get approver from look up table and pass it workflow.

It would be better if you have a workflow consultant to do it.

Thanks,

Jay

[Former Member]

Hey Jay....possisle to throw some light on my questions(post above)?

Would be great if you can do so.

Thnx

Priya

[Former Member]

Hi Priya,

I thought i answered your questions. However, i repeated by questions.

-Where and how do you plug in the custom approver agent determination rules?

There is dialog tasks TS10008126 (WS10000129),and TS10008069, TS10008127(WS10000031).

-How does one 'clone to custom'? You can use tcode swo1 to copy Bus Objects.

In the Agent expression, you can put your own rule. In SRM, Approval are done through Web, it would be better to use copy of method AAGENT to custom.

We created a custom look up table and maintain product category and corresponding approver.

Then, code in your custom object to determine the approver based on the product category in SC, get approver from look up table and pass it workflow.

You can use tcode Pftc_cop Workflow and task to customs.

In workflow, most of time we copy the workflow to implement any custom logic, that is easy to maintain.

-Is a workflow consultant required to do the above mentioned tasks?

It would be better if you have a workflow consultant to do it, that will help to troubleshoot the problem in case there are issues.

Thanks,

Jay

Thanks,

Jay

[Former Member]

I am sorry for the miscommunication.I wrote to you back again as you were typing me a reply,i guess.

Thanks much for the detailed mail.

Have awarded you full points.

Have a good one!

Priya

[Former Member]

Hello,

Since SRM 4.0, you have another solution that is really more simple that cloning different taks and playing with agent expression.

This is the solution that each customer should use when the standard WF templates do not cover complex requirements.

It really simplifyies the WF development, and reduces the solution TCO by supressing the need to maintain dozens of WF templates.

You must you the nStep BADI Workflow.

In this WF solution, the workload is more on ABAP side than in WF building side.

This nStep BADI can be used for:

- serial nSteps approval of whole SC

- serial nSteps approval of each SC item (this is linked to the new possibility to approve SC at line item level)

So you code everything in this BADI (can be based on custom tables to determine approvers):

- the number of steps

- assign approvers.

With SC approval at line item level, you can link the approval to the SC item category.

For WS14500015 Item-based approval for SC, you can look at online help:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_srm50/helpdata/en/a3/a6a34098022a54e10000000a1550b0/content.htm

If you want to use this workflow (WS14500015) you have to have implemented BAdI BBP_WFL_APPROVE_BADI. Here, you enter the approval criteria, their characteristics, and the respective approvers.

For more information, see the system documentation for this BAdI in the SRM IMG under SRM Server --> Business Add-Ins (BAdIs) --> SAP Business Workflow --> Determine Approvers for N-Step Dynamic Approval Workflow.

For more information on this workflow for item-based approval of shopping carts, see Item-Based Approval Process (WS145000015) in Release Note EBP_50_WORKFLOW (Changes to SAP Business Workflow [Enterprise Buyer 5.0]) and SAP Note 731637.

Rgds

Christophe