Automate repetitive tasks in SAP

[Former Member]

Hello,

I am a standard SAP user.

We are just implementing SAP at our facility.

Component Version: SAP ECC 6.0

Database System:   ORACLE

Release:           10.2.0.4.0

There are repetitive tasks that users must perform that I would like to see somewhat automated to improve

productivity and efficiency.

A simple example would be whenever we create a new Router we must change the material status for that material number from IE to CA. Can this task be somewhat automated by using a macro inside SAP?  We would like macros to perform these types of tasks saved in our favorites so we can easily and quickly access them and improve our efficiencies. I thought these were called Function Modules in SAP, but I could be wrong. The idea is, we want to be able to click on the shortcut in our favorites, type in the material number and press enter, then the macro will go out and change the material status to CA on its own behind the scenes. These macros could make our productivity and efficiencies improve dramitically especially for complicated tasks.

I approached my support team already and they suggested this was a cumbersome deal to create such functionality and

the task would have to be something that was well worth the effort and expense of having someone make such a macro.

From what I understand about SAP, it shouldn't be so cumbersome to create this type of functionality for users.

Could someone please elaborate on what all is involved in the process for creating such functionality in SAP?

What are the proper terms for the functionality I am asking for?

I can't imagine it taking more than an hour to create, test, release such a seemingly simple macro.

Ofcourse I know nothing about it. I am thinking that if a repetitive task is costing the company $5k per year in time we can

cut that in half by automating part of the data entry process. So if it costs under $200 to create the macro we save $2,300 per year.

Seems like a completely sane, logical, obvious and desired solution.

I would like to please get a complete understanding of the process and terms so I can informatively speak to my

support team again about exactly what it is I am asking for.

Thank you,

B

[Former Member]

Hello Brandon,

This is a very broad topic. You might need to consult an experience SAP development consultant for how to exactly implement the change you want. One way of doing what you are looking for is to use an enhancement - like a BAdI or a user-exit (you don't want to use "macro" in this context). Function modules are stand-alone routines that can be called by other code objects. They can be called from within the BAdI or the user-exit that you would implement.

[Former Member]

If your support team knows ABAP, and if what you are changing can be updated singularly (i.e. the data exists only in 1 table), and other if other data that depends on this code is not affected, then... ask them to write an interactive ABAP program.  You enter the article (material number) and the new status, and the program updates the article with the new status.  Warning!  Any time you do something like this you must test all aspects that interact the the material status before you place it live.

mr.kim

[anjaneya_bhardwaj2]

I do not think this would be a cumbersome task (Although not an hour Job) ..

When you say shortcut where are you acessing your system from is it portal or r u inside SAP? .If it is portal you can have a call to to Releveant functions for update ..It is not a difficult thing to update the material automatically but it depends how do you want to update ..If you want to update it without getting into SAP then you need  connectivity to SAP .If you want it to ne done inside SAP you need to have an Automated job which will check for all materials which need update and then updates them in Background ...

[Former Member]

Hi Brandon et al,

I have the same sort of issue.  We have 16 steps that are exactly the same (no data input change required, just selections) to reprint an RGA document in the warehouse.  I would like a macro (or?)  that the guys can activate that performs these repetitive tasks (without errors!).    This would have to execute within va02 after manually entering the order number.  Possible?

[Former Member]

What about SAP GUI Scripting to automate tasks?