Creating an Attribute

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to create an attribute

Attributes

Attributes are fields that are required for planning. They are similar to InfoObjects in SAP Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO).

Attributes in SAP IBP are descriptive pieces of information associated with master data. These provide an enhanced level of detail about the master data, thereby offering an additional dimension to comprehend and analyze it. For instance, while looking at 'Product' as a dimension, attributes could include related details such as product category, color, and size, leading to a finer level of data analysis. This allows for improved data classification, sorting, and filtering, contributing to deeper business insights.

The use of attributes transforms the landscape of data analysis in business. Rather than simply analyzing broad figures or categories, companies using attributes can delve deeper into specifics. This opens up a multitude of opportunities for data analysis. Sales can be analyzed on a product basis and by unearthing sales trends among specific product attributes such as color or size. Similarly, these attributes can be applied to other dimensions like Customers, allowing for insights into their behavior based on attributes such as geographic location or purchasing power.

Further, attributes lend flexibility to the process of data analysis. Businesses can customize their analysis according to the attributes most relevant to their goals. Different attributes can be factored in per the requirements, providing customized and flexible data analysis.

Despite their many benefits, managing and organizing these attributes appropriately is important. Ensuring data consistency and integrity, regular updates, efficient assignment, and usage of attributes play a key role in maximizing their potential.

In conclusion, attributes in SAP IBP bring enhanced granularity and detail to business planning and analysis. They allow for a more nuanced understanding of data, leading to informed decision-making. Painstaking attention to their management can ensure businesses extract maximum value from these attributes, reaping the benefits of customizable and detailed data analysis. It is safe to say in the intricate world of business planning, attributes in SAP IBP act as valuable tools for expanding the horizon of possibility and understanding.

Attributes in SAP IBP have the following properties:

  • Attribute ID

  • Name

  • Description

  • Data Type (which includes NAVCHAR, DECIMAL, INTEGER, or TIMESTAMP )

  • Length (which is in decimal digits depending on the data type)

Attributes typically describe the characteristics of master data objects and most attributes are defined as NAVCHAR data types. They can also be numeric data types. Attributes with DECIMAL data type can be activated as key figures and have special functionality, which makes it easier to load data values. All attributes are assigned to master data types so that they can be used in a planning area.

How to Create an Attribute

Create an Attribute

In this exercise, you create an attribute that is required for one or more subsequent exercises in the course.

Business Example

You are a member of the project team managing the implementation of the SAP Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain solution. You created a blueprint based on your company requirements to map the business processes to a planning model. This blueprint outlines the key business functions and the required scope and identifies the attributes, master data types, key figures, calculations, and data integration that need to be modeled in the system. The business model development is ready, so you want to start the realization phase. You want to set up the business model object in the SAP Integrated Business Planning system.

When the data values for the exercise include ##, replace ## with the group number that the instructor has provided to you.

Steps

  1. Use the Attribute app to create the attributes required for your custom demand model. Use the following data:

    Add Attribute Screen

    Attribute IDData TypeNameLengthDecimal Digits
    T##PRDIDNVARCHARProduct ID ##20N/A
    T##PRDDESCRNVARCHARProduct Description ##60N/A
    T##PRDFAMILYNVARCHARProduct Family ##20N/A
    T##CUSTIDNVARCHARCustomer ID ##20N/A
    T##CUSTDESCRNVARCHARCustomer Desc ##60N/A
    T##CUSTREGIONNVARCHARCustomer Region ##20N/A
    T##UNITPRICEDECIMALUnit Price ##186

    1. On the SAP Fiori launchpad home page, choose the Attributes tile in the Model Configuration group.

      Result

      The Attributes screen appears.

    2. On the Attributes screen, choose New → New Attribute.

      Result

      The New Attribute screen appears.

    3. Enter the values shown in the table for the T##PRDID attribute with the name Product ID #.

      There is no need to select Uppercase Values Only.

    4. Choose Save and then choose New to save your attribute data and clear the New Attribute screen.

      You can also use Save and New to quickly pass from one attribute to another, but use Save for the last one on the list.

    5. Repeat steps c and d for the remaining values in the table.

      Note

      The Length and Decimal Digits values appear automatically when the DECIMAL Data Type is selected.

    6. Return to the SAP Fiori launchpad home page.

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