Using Advanced Class Maintenance Functions

When using advanced class maintenance functions, the focus is on the Basic Data and Characteristics tabs.

The following video explains the screens for Class Management.

You can use the Same Classification check to prevent the creation of duplicate objects that are identical to existing ones. The image below shows an example of this functionality.

The following restrictions apply to the "Same Classification" check:

• A check is performed only when values have been assigned to all characteristics.

• Values of reference characteristics and inherited characteristics are not considered.

• The Same Classification check is limited to objects within a single class. It does not verify whether objects in other classes—or identical assignments within a class hierarchy—have the same classification.

• If a later change, such as deleting a characteristic, causes classifications of different objects to become identical, this duplication is not detected retroactively.

• Changes made using Engineering Change Management are not subject to the Same Classification check.

Working with SAP master data typically involves three levels of authorization, as illustrated in the following figure:

1. The first level controls access to the transaction itself.
2. The second level is defined by authorization objects.
3. The third level is implemented through authorization groups.

The following video demonstrates how authorization groups are configured and used within the Classes screen.

The characteristics assigned to a class are generally defined in characteristic maintenance. However, a central definition is not always sufficient. For this reason, you can override characteristic settings for a specific class. These changes apply only to the characteristics used within that class.

The following image illustrates how class-specific changes are applied.

On the Characteristics tab, you can override the indicators displayed on the image below. You can also adjust the value range of a characteristic to meet the requirements of a specific class. In addition, you can assign class-specific object dependencies or class-specific documents to a characteristic or to a characteristic value.

If you modify a characteristic for a specific class, the Oindicator (Overwritten) is automatically set.

When you change the values of a characteristic for a specific class, a copy of the characteristic values is created automatically. Any subsequent changes made to the global characteristic values are no longer reflected in the class-specific version. However, you can update the class-specific values if required.

Class-specific changes to a characteristic affect not only the application behavior but also the underlying database tables.

To analyze these effects, examine the modified class and identify the internal numbers of its characteristics as well as any overwritten characteristics. The following video provides an example of this analysis.