A good friend of mine shattered some preconceived notions I’ve been holding in my head for years about SAP Workflow, and I’m really glad he did. Some of the things I assumed about SAP Workflow included:

• You can’t do it without implementing a lot of HR configuration
• You have to do everything in the SAP Inbox
• It would take months to get a workflow up and running
• The workflow always becomes lost in “limbo”

While all of these things may be true in some instances, it doesn’t have to be the case. This article is going to prove it. Now, if you need to set up a multiple step process involving several groups with delegates if someone is on vacation and complicated logic depending on the values set in the document, this process won’t be enough for you. The goal is to expand your toolbox for simple tasks.

Why use SAP Workflow when I can use a user exit or an enhancement spot? That’s an excellent question, and in many situations, user exits are the best approach. The biggest difference between workflow and the more standard user exit/enhancement spot approach is how and when it executes. Let’s look at two Service Management examples.

Example 1. You need the system to verify data that was entered into the document every time you save. The service order needs to have an accounting indicator set based upon custom logic. It does not have to be complicated, but to make sure the downstream processes work, you need a correct value entered. A user exit is perfect for this approach because you want to force users to enter a correct value before they can save the document.

Example 2. You need to kick off an email to customer service representatives as soon as a particular status is set so they can generate a quotation to the customer. For this purpose, SAP Workflow is a much better option. You don’t need the code to execute every time you save the service order. You only want it to happen when the particular status is set. You could write code to do a quick check of the status to see if it should execute, or write a background program to check every service order every five minutes, but why write that logic when it already exists in the SAP system and doesn’t cost you anything?

Example Workflow

The example I walk you through illustrates how to send an email as soon as the service order is assigned a status of TECO (technically complete). This functionality exists in nearly every SAP module. Often you just need to find the correct business object to complete this process. Figure 1 lists a very small sampling of the available business objects. Once you determine the appropriate object, you can follow the step-by-step instructions to activate your own workflow.

Figure 1

A sample of available business objects in standard ERP

Step 1. Initial Customizing for Workflow

Transaction code SWU3 is the standard transaction for automatic workflow customizing. This is a single transaction that allows you to set up the configuration needed to start using SAP workflow. This is a one-time setup for each system. This configuration step must be done in every system needing workflow. This transaction sets up all the remote function calls (RFCs) and background jobs to manage tasks. In a system that has not used any workflow, the SWU3 transaction initially looks like the screen shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The initial screen for automatic workflow customizing

You need to go through each line item in Figure 1 that shows a red X and click the perform automatic workflow customizing icon . Clicking this icon activates each function you need using the default settings. The default configuration suffices for the majority of simple workflows. Note that the icons to the left of each task change from a red X to a green check mark. When your customizing is complete, the list looks like the screen in Figure 3. Note that not every line needs to have a green check mark. Certain lines on the screen would require additional configuration; however, those steps are not required for the type of workflow I demonstrate.

Figure 3

The Automatic Workflow Customizing screen after customizing is complete

Step 2. Extend the Business Object

Execute transaction code SWO1. In the screen that appears, enter the BO (BUS2088) in the Object/Interface Type field. Click the Subtype button (Figure 4). In the pop-up screen, enter the appropriate information to create your objects and press the green check mark.

Figure 4

Create a new object type

Your BO is now created. The next step is to implement your object. From the main screen after you execute transaction code SWO1, follow menu path Object Type > Change release status to > Implemented. You now need to release your object. From the same screen after you execute transaction code SWO1 (the Business Object Builder Initial Screen), follow menu path Object type > Change release status to > Released.

Next, you need to delegate the new object. This means you link the Z_BUS2088 to replace the original BO (BUS2088) in my example. Remain in the screen that appears after you execute transaction code SWO1 (the Business Object Builder Initial Screen) and select the new BO that you created (e.g., Z_BUS2088) from the list of options in the Object/Interface Type field. Follow menu path Settings > Delegate to execute this function (Figure 5).

Figure 5

Delegate the BO type

In the next screen, enter names in the Object type and the Delegation type fields (Figure 6). This step gives power to the new object to allow it to execute instead of the BUS2088, without changing the SAP standard version.

Figure 6

Delegate object type details

You now have created the framework you need to extend the service order object. The extension enables you to add additional functionality to the existing BO.

Step 3. Create the Methods and Events

This step provides you with the power of workflow. This action requires the use of methods and events. Think of an event as the trigger, in this case the change in the status of the service order. Methods are code that is executed when someone pulls the trigger.

Now, you could use the existing event teccompleted, as you can see in Figure 7, but for demonstration purposes, I walk you through creating a custom event. First, you create an event in BO Z_BUS2088 for the status change.

Figure 7

Create a new event

Using transaction code SWO1, enter Z_BUS2088 in the Object/Interface Type field in the Business Object builder initial screen (refer back to Figure 4), if it isn’t already populated. Click the Change button. In the next screen select the event line and click the create icon . In the pop-up dialog box enter the event name and click the enter icon as shown in Figure 7.

This action adds a new event to the bottom of the list as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8

An event added

To activate the new event, remain in the Change Object screen (Figure 7) and follow menu path Edit > Change Release Status > Object Type Component > To implemented. Then follow menu path Edit > Change Release Status > Object Type Component > To released.

Your next step is to create a method, which is where the code resides. Keep in mind that you still need some development to perform the task. Depending on authorization, this may require assistance from an ABAP developer. This time, select the Method line, as shown on Figure 9 and click the create icon .

Figure 9

Create a method without reference

You can either choose to create a method with a function module or as an ABAP method or routine within the program. Figure 10 appears after you click the create icon. If you click the Yes button, you can enter an existing function module to be used as a template. If you click the No button, you can create the method manually. In this example, I create the method manually.

Figure 10

The Create method pop-up window

The next step is to implement the method you just created. Scroll down the screen until you find ZWF_BUS_2088.TRIGGER_EMAIL_FROM_PARTNER. Follow menu path Edit > Change Release Status > Object Type > To implemented (the system warns you through error messages if you forget this step) as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11

Implement the new method

Implementing the method allows you to put code into the method. To do this, place the cursor on the method ZWF_BUS2088.TRIGGER_EMAIL_FROM_PARTNER and click the Program button shown in Figure 12. The first time you click the Program button for this method you need to generate the template. When the pop-up screen appears, click the Yes button.

Figure 12

Add code to the method

Generating the template for the method sets up the initial code to work within the method. Generating the template also displays the ABAP editor (Figure 13). Enter your code after line 15. Be sure to end your code with the END_METHOD statement, shown currently in line 16.

Figure 13

Enter the code within the method

To help you test that it is working, I encourage you to add the code shown in Figure 14 after line 15 (Figure 13).

Figure 14

Sample code

You should now be able to release your method by following menu Edit > Change Release Status > Object Type Component > To released. Releasing the method adds a check mark at the end of the name of the method to show that it is released (Figure 15).

Figure 15

The released method

Step 4. Set Up the Workflow Trigger

In this step, you link the business object type event to the actual status. Execute transaction code BSVZ. In the screen that appears, load in the custom business object for the object (Figure 16). Choose the appropriate schema, which in this case is the status profile because I am using the system status as my trigger. In the Event column, select the previously created event from the drop-down menu.

Figure 16

Add the workflow trigger

If you view the drop-down menu in the StatusOT (S…) column, you see many options. I chose ORI (maintenance order) for my example, but the list may give you some interesting ideas of things to use as a trigger for your workflow.

Set the restriction. Select the new line that you created in Figure 16, and double-click Status restrictions in the left window (Figure 17). You now can view the specific statuses to use to trigger the method. I use TECO for my example.

Figure 17

Set the status restriction for the trigger

If you wanted this to trigger off a user status instead, you configure the User status column instead of the Sys. status column.

Step 5. Create a Workflow Task

Because this is a simple workflow, you don’t need a whole workflow template. You just need the single task. Your event is the change in status that triggers the workflow task. That in turn triggers the method to make the change.

To create your task, execute transaction code PFTC_INS. In the screen that appears, select TS Standard task and click the create icon (Figure 18).

Figure 18

Create a task type

The basic data for the workflow is prepopulated. Figure 19 shows some of the fields that can be used to determine the work item text. You have many options to choose from to create any description that provides a unique text string to identify a particular workflow at a glance. Double-click or highlight your selection and press the green checkmark.

Figure 19

A sample of available variables to use in the text

The work item text can be determined by clicking the insert variables icon  shown in Figure 20 and selecting the appropriate objects. This puts the text into the workflow task that is created for the event. This text allows you to see at a glance which orders have been executed within the workflow list. In Figure 20, the Number (WI_OBJECT_ID.NUMBER)  and the Order type (Z_BUS2088) are shown.

Figure 20

Create a task fully populated

Next, you enter the triggering event by clicking the Triggering events tab (Figure 21).

Figure 21

The Triggering events tab

You need to bind the event to the object. This transfers the values from the workflow object to the BOR Object Type. Enter in the Object Category of BO BOR Object Type, an object type equal to the new object created, Z_BUS2088. The Event is the new event created, STATUS_CHANGE_TECO. Press Enter to finalize your choices. After you press Enter, the event creator icon appears in the first column. Click this icon to bind the line.

If you wanted different binding rules, you can maintain these by clicking the call binding editor icon . Typically you need to do this only if you add special or custom parameters to the business object that you transfer from the ABAP method into an object container for the next workflow task. That’s beyond the scope of this article, but it is one more area for you to be aware of when you begin using this functionality.

Once you see the status active icon , the new event has been bound to the object. Click the save icon .

When the workflow binding is saved, the workflow trigger is active.

Step 6. Test the Workflow

Your last step is to verify that your workflow method works. First, trigger the method manually. Execute transaction code SW01. In the screen that appears, select the object type from the list of options in the Object/Interface Type field (Figure 22). Select the Object type radio button in the Category section and click the Test button.

Figure 22

Test the workflow

In the next screen, click the Instance button (Figure 23). In this case the order number becomes the instance.

Figure 23

Create an instance

In the next screen, manually execute your method by selecting your order number from the list of options in the Order field and clicking the enter icon (Figure 24).

Figure 24

Enter an instance for testing

In the next screen, find the method created named Trigger_Email_From_Partner and click the Execute icon to the right of the method name (Figure 25).

Figure 25

Execute the method manually

If everything is working, you should see a pop-up window resulting from the sample code inserted. Finally, run a real test. Go to a service order and technically complete it. Execute transaction code IW32. In the screen that appears, enter the service order number and press Enter. Click the checkered flag icon to technically complete the service order (Figure 26).

Figure 26

Make your order technically complete

A pop-up screen appears with a message that the workflow works (Figure 27).

Figure 27

The workflow pop-up screen

You have created your first workflow. To finish the job, you would return back to step 3, and add the actual code for what you want to accomplish. The typical method would be to create a function or a method and then call it within the method.

Mike Piehl

Mike Piehl is a functional expert in SAP service management and variant configuration. He has worked to combine the technical and functional aspects of SAP systems to provide the best possible solutions. Mike began working in SAP in 1995 and has been helping small and medium-sized businesses implement and streamline their service processes.

You may contact the author at mpiehl@javellinsolutions.com .

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