SAP Learning Journey

Modifying legacy and MDF foundation object definitions

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Modify legacy and MDF Foundation Object definitions when changes are needed

Corporate data model

The Corporate Data Model enables you to define labels for the XML-based Foundation Objects and fields and configure which are visible and required. You can also utilize the custom fields, customize the associations, and assign business rules when necessary. The Corporate Data Model can be imported and exported from Provisioning or the Import/Export Corporate Data Model in the Admin Center.

You can change the attributes and labels and add custom fields to the Corporate Data Model to meet specific customer requirements. 

Deconstructing the Corporate Data Model

Metadata Framework (MDF) objects

In the figure, MDF, you can see the structure of the Legal Entity object and a sample of the legal entity data. The Configure Object Definition is where you can customize the object structure. The Details section is where you can further configure other attributes such as labels, visibility, etc.

Looking at Manage Data on the right, you can see how these fields are reflected.

You can change the attributes and labels and add custom fields to MDF-based objects in Configure Object Definitions in the same manner that you can customize objects in the Corporate Data Model for XML-based objects to meet customer requirements.

Exercise: Customize Foundation Objects

Business Example

ACE Corp wants to ensure that organizational changes within the company align with its corporate data structure, including creating new fields and labels. You will be making the changes to reflect ACE’s new requirements.

Note
The solution steps assume that you have uploaded the data models provided in the Course Files. If you use a different environment, the steps will vary depending on what elements/fields were enabled. Consider how you can configure the foundation object. Why are some objects configured in XML and the Admin Center? How are these foundation objects enabled in the first place?

Steps

  1. Change the label of Standard Hours field in Location Object to Standard Weekly Hours.

    1. Navigate to Import/Export Corporate Data Model.

      Export the Corporate data model.  Save the file in the folder containing the DTD files from the Course Files.

    2. Open the Corporate Data Model using an XML Editor. 

    3. (Optional) If you are using an XML editor that validates versus a DTD, verify that line 4 is "corporate-datamodel.dtd">

    4. Go to <hris-element id="location">  

    5. Go to <hris-field id="standardHours"

    6. Replace the label with Standard Weekly Hours.

      (Optional) If you are using an XML editor that validates versus a DTD, run validation and verify the changes validate properly.

    7. Save the data model.

    8. Go to Import/Export Corporate Data Model to upload the data model.

    9. Go to Manage Organization, Pay and Job Structures → Create New → Location to see if the label has changed.

  2. Create two custom picklists for your MDF Foundation Objects. Fill in the information in the tables Scope Picklist and Region Picklist.

    Scope Picklist

    FieldsValue
    CodeSCOPE 
    parentPicklistNo Selection 
    Display OrderNo Selection
    NameScope
    StatusActive
    Effective Start Date01/01/1990
    Picklist Values
    External Codeglobal
    parentPickListValueNo
    Selection LabelGlobal 
    StatusActive
    External Codelocal
    parentPickListValueNo
    Selection LabelLocal
    StatusActive 

    Region Picklist

    FieldValue
    CodeRegion 
    parentPicklistNo Selection 
    Display OrderNo Selection
    NameRegion
    StatusActive
    Effective Start Date01/01/1990
    Picklist Values
    External CodeAMER
    parentPickListValueNo Selection
    Selection LabelAmericas 
    StatusActive
    External CodeEMEA
    parentPickListValueNo Selection
    LabelEurope, Middle East and Africa
    StatusActive 
    External CodeAPAC
    parentPickListValueNo Selection
    LabelAsia and Pacific
    StatusActive

    1. Navigate to Picklist Center.

    2. Choose Create a Picklist (+). 

    3. Fill in the information provided in the tables Scope Picklist and Region Picklist. Ensure that you change your Effective Start Dates to the ones shown.

  3. Create additional Custom Picklist for your MDF Foundation Objects. Use the information in the table, Aggregate Function Picklist, to create your picklist. The solution describes creating the picklist via import, but you can also use Picklist Center.

    Aggregate Function Picklist

    FieldValue
    CodeAGGREG
    Legacy Picklist IDAGGREG
    NameAggregate Function
    Display OrderALPHA
    StatusA
    Effective Start Date01/01/1990
    Picklist Values
    External CodeDefault Label 
    MKTMarketing
    SALSales
    SCMSCM
    ENGEngineering
    INDIndustries 
    CORPCorporate
    ACCAccounting 
    PFPublic Finances 
    PROCProcesses 
    APPApplications 
    PSProfessional Services
    TSTraining Services
    SUPSupport

    1. Go to Import and Export Data →  Download Template. 

    2. In Select Generic Object, choose Picklist. Do not change any of the default settings.

    3. Select Download. A zip file is downloaded, containing import properties text file, import_sequence csv, Picklist csv and Picklist-Values csv files. Extract the files to your local drive. Review the files:

      • The import properties describe the different import settings
      • The import sequence describes the import order

    4. Open the Picklist csv file. Transfer the data from the Aggregate Function Picklist table to the Picklist.csv file. Make sure only to include the Picklist information. Save to a local drive.

    5. Open the Picklist-Values csv file. Transfer the data from the table to the Picklist-Values file. Do not forget to include the Picklist Code (ID). Default Label and Label in US English are the same. Ignore other translations. Save to local drive.

    6. Go to Import and Export Data →  Import Data.

    7. In Select Generic Object, choose Picklist. Choose the Picklist.csv file from the local drive. Choose Unicode (UTF-8) as File encoding. If necessary, choose the format that matches your locale. Leave the rest of the import options to the default setting.

    8. Select Validate. Go toScheduled Job Manager to check the status. Continue with import when the validation is successful.

    9. In Select Generic Object, choose Picklist-Values. Choose the Picklist-Values.csv file from the local drive. Choose Unicode (UTF-8) as File encoding. If necessary, select the format that matches your locale. Other settings can be left as default.

    10. Select Validate. Go to Scheduled Job Manager to check the status. Continue with import when validation is successful.

      Note
      You can also use the Picklist Center to manually create picklists. 

  4. Update the Job Classification MDF Foundation Object.

    1. Navigate to Configure Object Definition. 

    2. Choose Search → Object Definition → Job Classification.

    3. Choose Take Action → Make Correction.

    4. Update the Job Classification Object Definition based on the requirements highlighted in gold in the figure, Job Classification.

    5. Choose Save to save the object.

      Only make the requested changes, highlighted in gold. The other fields in the object definition should be left alone.

  5. Update the Legal Entity MDF Foundation Object. 

    1. Go to Configure Object Definition.

    2. Choose Search → Object Definition → Legal Entity.

    3. Choose Take Action → Make Correction.

    4. Update the Legal Entity Object Definition based on the requirements highlighted in gold in the figure, Legal Entity Data.

    5. Choose Save to save the object.

      Only make the requested changes, highlighted in gold. The other fields in the object definition should be left alone. 

  6. Update the Business Unit MDF Foundation Object.

    1. Go to Configure Object Definition.

    2. Choose Search → Object Definition → Business Unit. 

    3. Choose Take Action → Make Correction.

    4. Update the Business Unit Object Definition based on the requirements highlighted in gold in the figure, Business Unit Data.

    5. Choose Save to save the object.

      Note
      Only make the requested changes, highlighted in gold. The other fields in the object definition should be left alone.

  7. Update the Division MDF Foundation Objects. 

    1. Go to Configure Object Definition. 

    2. Choose Search → Object Definition → Division. 

    3. Choose Take Action → Make Correction. 

    4. Update the Division Object Definition based on the requirements highlighted in gold in the figure, Division Data.

    5. Choose Save to save the object.

      Note
      Only make the requested changes, highlighted in gold. The other fields in the object definition should be left alone. 

  8. Update the label of Pay Calendar Foundation Object to Payroll Calendar

    1. Go to Configure Object Definition. 

    2. Choose Search → Object Definition → Pay Calendar.

    3. Choose Take Action → Make Correction.

    4. Change Label from Pay Calendar to Payroll Calendar.

    5. Select Save. 

  9. Check your work by viewing Job Classification, Company, Business Unit, and Division records.

    1. Navigate to Manage Data.

    2. Select Create New → Job Classification, Company, Business Unit, Division to verify that the Foundation Objects meet the customer requirements in the figures, Job Classification data, Legal Entity Data, Business Unit Data, and Division Data.

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