Questions on CO-PA Top down distribution

[Former Member]

Hi experts,

I am looking at top down distribution and really wondering how does it work.

Like for example, we try to distribute transportation cost by executing top down distribution by setting

- actual data for direct posting from FI / overhead cost for the month, and

- reference data as billing data for the month.

What does the system actually do after we click execute? how does it determine that this transportation costs of $1000 should actually goes to customer A for $300, customer B for $200, customer C for $500 and material F, G and H etc?

Where is the configuration that determine this? Could an error in the configuration ends up distributing costs to dummy profit centre?

Under "Processing instructions" button, what is the meaning of the 3 options "Dist", "Ret" and "Summ" ? What is the difference if we select one instead of another?

Many thanks in advance for your kind sharing.

[marialuisa_munoz · Accepted solution]

Hi,

There is a general note (77476) which explains the concept of top down

distribution.

Most problems related to top down distribution were solved following

in detailed the steps indicated in it.

From similar issues, I can suggest to create a report in order

to check whether there exist reference data for the wished selection of

characteristics. Also, please keep in mind that top-down

distribution process only records which have the initial value

(# - non assigned) in each of the characteristics in distribution level.

Please check whether in your data one of the characteristics isn't

initial.

In this case no source data for top-down distribution are found and

no new line items are written, despite of the log shows "number of

receivers".

Common situation where no lines are found to be distributed :

The following are a list of common problems which maybe useful to you:

1. you can not distribute to a characteristic that already contains a

value. Please see note 77476. If you want to distribute to eg.

profit center, then the characteristic must be initial (in the data

to be distributed).

2. In the case where the log showed "number of receivers" but no line

written is a common problem in transaction KE28 logged by customers.

One example is that, if the amount of line items is 0.00 for all the

receivers, no line item will be written.

3. No values in reference data:

If there are no values in reference data for some segments (see the

log). No records are posted (segments which were distributed, but

their value is zero i.e. there is no value to be distributed, are not

posted).

The important thing is: When you select in the variant 'By value

fields' option, there has to be non-zero value in ALL value fields

which are selected in 'Value fields' screen (reference data).

You can check this by creating a user defined report.

4. No initial values in the distribution level (ie. # - non assigned)

in each of the characteristics in distribution level.

I hope the above explanation help you to resolve the issue.

Regards,

MLM

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Maria ... this is very helpful !