Creating and Transferring Simulation Versions

SAP PS differentiates between the following versions in its applications and reports:

• Simulation versions

• Project versions

• CO plan versions

There are different application scenarios for simulation versions. Differences from your original planning often arise in a project. Differences mean that a new plan for parts of your project, or the entire project, is often necessary. When planning complex projects, for example in project-oriented make-to-order production, it is often necessary to simulate and save changes to a project without actually affecting the operative project.

At the beginning of a project, you can use simulation versions to simulate projects before you actually transfer them to an operative project. Simulation versions are particularly useful during the quotation phase and for comparing different what-if scenarios. It is possible to plan several simulation versions. You can then decide which version is the most suitable.

Even when a project is running, you can copy operative projects to simulation versions, analyze and work with the simulation versions, and then transfer them back to the operative project. Simulation versions are edited using the Project Planning Board or the Project Builder.

When an operative project is copied to a simulation version (or vice versa), a log file is created. This contains the objects that were transferred and any error messages that were issued in the process. The system can conduct a test run when the transfer occurs, to see if it is possible to transfer a project or simulation version.

As with project versions, simulation versions can be analyzed and compared with each other in the information system. However, cost element reports do not support simulation versions. In the structure info system it is not possible to change simulation versions (unlike operative projects).

Customizing for simulation versions comprises two steps as follows:

1. Input templates for simulation versions describe only how version keys for simulations should be set up. You must work with permissible version keys from the beginning because they cannot be created later without deleting existing simulations.
2. The simulation profile determines whether texts should also be copied (in addition to the structure information) from simulations to operative projects (and vice versa). If you work without a simulation profile, all texts are copied. The simulation profile is contained as the default value for the project definition in the project profile.