All About Actions in Transactions: SAP CRMIntroduction Within
SAP CRM, Actions refer to thePost ProcessingFramework(PPF) Basic
Components Actions can automaticallytriggeroutput, follow-up
activities or workflows Action processing can be used by different
applications such astransaction processing(CRMD_ORDER), billing
(BILLING), case management (CRM_CASE), etc. in SAP CRM Actions
replaceOutputDetermination of the SAPERP System Actions can be
determined for the whole transaction (Transaction Type) at header
level and also for an individual item (Item Category)
This figure givesroadmapfor Action configuration in SAP CRM
With actions, predefined processes can be implemented in SAP CRM
transaction processing.
SPROPathtodefinethe Action, Action Profile and Conditions
Action Profile definition in SPRO
For a particular 'Action', 'Schedule Condition' can be defined.
This schedule condition is checked before making this action
available for execution. At execution time, these processes get
scheduled based on user defined conditions which define particular
situation in the transaction processing. An Action is a planned
activity, or task and schedule condition is the situation under
which this action is to be executed. For a scheduled action
different processing type are possible: Processing type defines how
an action executes. From this processing type, SAPWorkFlow, BAdI
Method Call, SmartForm or Alert can be triggered. It is possible to
specify Processing Time within an Action Definition (t-code SPPFC
or SPPFCADM), which specifies where in the transaction processing
execution this action is to be executed. Action can be partner
function dependent. Partner function can be assigned in the Action
Definition. Actions are linked to SAP CRM transaction with Action
Profile. An Action Profile can have multiple Action Definitions
with it. Based on configuration and implementation for the Action
Definitions and respective conditions (Schedule Condition and Start
Condition), these actions execute for the corresponding SAP CRM
transaction. For a transactionthat supportsactions, action log can
be analyzed in GUI using transaction CRMD_ORDER, or within Web UI
if access is provided to the corresponding assignment block.
Actions detail for a transaction in CRMD_ORDER
Actions detail for a transaction in CRMD_ORDER
You can display a list of actions scheduled and executed for the
transaction with following information for individual action as in
Fig. 3 and 4: Status (action scheduled, action processed)
Description (purpose of action) Processing Type Creator, creation
date Example: A month before a contract expires, the responsible
sales employee receives an activity with the category 'e-mail' in
his inbox to remind him to write to the customer and find out
whether they wish to renew their contract.Conditions Two conditions
are checked before an action executes: Schedule Condition: An
action is scheduled for execution only if schedule condition
defined for this action is satisfied. Also schedule condition can
be evaluated within the implementation of SAP standard BAdI
EVAL_SCHEDCOND_PPF. Start Condition: For the scheduled actions,
start condition is checked before it is executed. Thus scheduled
action is executed once the start condition is satisfied. These
conditions for an action are defined while configuring it in t-code
SPPFCADM. Conditions can be time dependent using dates and date
rules. Conditions can be implemented with expressions on the
container attributes from abusiness objector a class and constants.
Conditions can be checked for proper syntax and tested. There are
two modes for defining conditions: Mouse-oriented PC mode
Directtext entrymode (traditional)Create Parameter Condition:
SetParameter Condition:
Changing Parameter Condition values:
Personal Settings for Condition Editor:
Processing TimeProcessing Timesdefines when an action for which
start condition has been satisfied will be executed in the
transaction processing. Thus, once the start condition for a
scheduled action is satisfied, it can execute according to the
Processing Time maintained. Following are the possible options for
Processing Time: Processing Using Selection Report: In thecase,
action will execute after the execution of the selection report.
This processing type is particularly useful for actions that are
used for deadline monitoring such as monitoring the SLA. Immediate
Processing: The action is started as soon as the start condition is
fulfilled. Processing WhenSavingDocument: The action is started
when the transaction is saved. Thus, even though the start
condition for action is met, execution of action will trigger
during transaction save only.Setting Processing Time in Action
Definition:
Processing TypesIn the Action Definition, processing type is
specified. Processing types specifies how the action is processed
at the Processing Time. There are different Processing Types
available: Smart Forms WorkFlow MethodsMethods are BAdI
implementations of the SAP standard BAdI EXEC_METHODCALL_PPF. There
are many standard implementations provided by SAP that are used in
the standard transactions, for e.g.: COPY_DOCUMENT (to create a
follow-up document) COMPLETE-DOCUMENT (set status completed within
document) CREDIT_MEMO (create credit memo item) 1O_EVENT_CREATE
(create a workflow event)
Transaction SPPFCADMThis transaction is for PPF customizing:
It can be used to define the Action Profile and Action
Definitions. Also, it is possible to configure the Actions defined
in the Action Profile. Actions defined within an Action Profile are
available for configuring so that Conditions can be maintained
using the SAP provided wizards and screens.
Other useful transaction codes: CRMC_ACTION_CONF - Action
Configuration CRMC_ACTION_DEF - Action Definition
CRMC_ACTION_WIZARD- Action for Definition via WizardAction
MonitorTheprogramRSPPFPROCESS, responsible for action monitor
originates from the Post ProcessingFramework(PPF) and can be used
to check the processing of the actions. Thus, action monitor can be
used to monitor and trigger the processing of actions for several
transactions.
Transaction code for Action Monitor is CRMC_ACTION_JOB.
With action monitor, it is possible to list the actions which
have processing time set toProcessing using selection reportand
initiate the processing of these actions. Thus, it is particularly
useful for actions that are used for deadlinemonitoringsuch as
SLA.
It could also be used to process actions with the processing
timeWhen Saving. In case, time-dependent conditions were fulfilled
after a certain time without any changes to the transactions the
program could be executed so that actions are also started in these
cases. Thus, fortestpurposes or for repeating actions, this report
can also be used to select and process actions with the processing
time 'Immediate' or 'When Document is Saved'.
Action Monitor executionAction ProfilesActions are configured
for CRM transaction using Action profile. Actions are created in
action profile which can be assigned to different CRM transactions.
Within an action profile, multiple actions can be defined with sort
order and status (Active or Inactive). Active actions can be
scheduled and scheduled actions are executed following the sort
order as maintained in the customizing. For individual action in
the Action Profile, Action Definition and Action Configuration can
be maintained.
During the transaction processing, all the allowed actions are
identified using the Action Profile. For this, actions not marked
as inactive in the action profile are considered for execution.
Sort order maintained in Action Profile for individual action used
to identify the sequence of execution of the actions. Further
processing of these actions is done based upon the Action
Definition and Action Configuration of individual action
identified.
It is possible to assign an action profile directly to a
transaction type or item category. Also condition technique, i.e.
Action Profile Determination can be defined same as pricing.
In SPRO goto "Define Action Profiles and Actions"1. Select an
action profile2. Click View
You will see properties of an action profile
1. Select Action Definition2. Click View