Starting with SCM Release 4.1, you can offer DP over the Web using integrated Internet Transaction Servers (ITS). This functionality allows your customers or sales representatives to give planning input directly over the Internet rather than having to use a PC loaded with SAPGUI that is connected to the company's network.

Earlier versions of SAP APO still have the option of using an external ITS. During my own implementation of the integrated approach, I had to do a great deal of experimentation, so I'd like to share with you the fruits of my time and effort and present my recommended method for configuring DP service over the Web. My methods include tasks normally performed by the Basis team — for instance, activating the service. All settings and images contained in this article are taken from SCM Release 4.1, with integrated ITS.

Prerequisites

Let's begin with the system prerequisites. On the server side, the SCM system must have a minimum of SAP Basis level 9. Figure 1 shows a simple check of the SCM version and PI-Basis level via menu path System>Status. Another technical requirement is that the system kernel needs to be on a minimum of 40. Figure 2 shows the system kernel level check. On the client side (i.e., the final PC from which the access to the DP is made) make sure that it has Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher as the browser.

Figure 1

Check the PI_Basis level of your system

Figure 2

Check the kernel Patch Level of your system

Settings and Configurations

Configure the system by changing settings according to the following steps:

Step 1. Activate corresponding services. A few services are called upon when the Internet user calls for the published Web items and objects for collaborative planning in the Internet Communication Framework (ICF). The ICF is a component of the SAP architecture that provides Internet communication. Use transaction SICF. The relevant services are CLPSDP for Collaborative Supply and Demand Planning, CLPPROMCAL for Collaborative Promotion Planning, and CLPGLOBAL, a common service for Collaborative Planning. These services come with SCM Release 4.1 and greater and are stored under menu path DEFAULT_HOST>SAP> BC>GUI>SAP>ITS.

Initially, the service name appears to be gray, indicating its inactive state. Activate it using the context menu option Activate Service. Use transaction code SICF to activate the services. In the following Maintain service screen (Figure 3), open the hierarchy of Virt. Hosts/Services by clicking on the expand all icon to expand the subtree. Scroll down to the services CLPSDP, CLPPROMCAL, and CLPGLOBAL, use the context menu on each, and choose Activate Service (Figure 4).

Figure 3

Activation of Internet-based service

Figure 4

Activation of Internet service CLPGLOBAL, which is relevant to Collaborative Planning

These services direct and facilitate the call from the Internet browser for specific HTML templates, which are specific to Web applications such as DP.

Step 2. Publish the Web templates and MIME objects. To publish the Web templates and the service activations, use transaction code SE80. Select Internet Service from the drop-down menu of the Repository Browser. Select Internet Service, and enter the name of the service as CLPGLOBAL. Double click on the service's name, CLPFUNCTIONS, in the tree below (Figure 5). On the right side at the top, you will find the service name followed by its status (e.g., Saved/part-published, Saved/published).

Figure 5

Publish the Web application objects

You can double-click this status text tosee detailed information on the date and time the service was last published to the (possibly various) ITS sites, which would include any standalone ITS 6.20 installations.

Note that the publishing site for SAP Integrated ITS is INTERNAL. To publish the service on the internal server, follow menu path Utilities>Settings in transaction SE80. Go to the Internet Transaction Server tab, then to the sub-tab Publish, and select either On All Defined Sites or On Selected Site: INTERNAL (Figure 6). After selecting the INTERNAL option in the pop-up screen, leave the popup and right-click on the service name (Figure 5) in the tree on the left side. Select Publish>Complete Service from the context menu.

Figure 6

Publish the Web application objects to the INTERNAL server

Customization for User-Specific Web Features

Now I'll explain various options for customizing DP features and options over the Web. To begin, you assign a specific planning book to the user, which eliminates the need to select from planning books in the drop-down menu. To assign a specific planning book to a user, follow menu path in the standard SAP menu for SCM-APO (Release 4.1): Demand Planning>Environment> Current Settings>Assign User to Planning Book.

Key in the specific planning book and a specific data view (Figure 7). This results in automatic selection of these values, eliminating the need to choose them manually and individually for a planning book and a data view from the drop-down list before proceeding to the DP screen.

Figure 7

Enter details of users and assigned Plng Book and Data View

Now I'll show you how to customize various features for a specific user of DP over the Web. You must key in specific parameters in the user's data with specific values. Use menu path System>User Profile>Own data and then choose sub-tab Parameters. Figure 8 shows where and how to maintain these parameters and their values.

Figure 8

Maintain user parameters and their values for customized DP features over the Web

A few of the most useful features are detailed below. Click here to download a more extensive, tabular list. 

Default Mode

Use this mode to allow the user to get the DP screen as a default, which can be changed by the user later.

• Parameter:
  /SAPAPO/CLP_WEB_MODE'
• Parameter Value:
  display (D), change (C), or blank.

Normally, Collaborative Supply and Demand Planning starts in display mode, and the user cannot switch to change mode. If the value is blank or this user parameter is not set, the planning view starts in display mode, but the user can switch to change mode.

Drill-Down

Drill-down affords the user of the DP screen the ability to access different levels in the planning book through the Internet browser. The user must set the default parameter settings in the user profile in order for them to take effect.

Maintain the header information of the corresponding planning book in APO Interactive Supply Information. Go to the Interactive Demand Planning or use transaction /SAPAPO/SDP94. Click on the header icon  for the header and then use the header information settings icon to choose the characteristics you wish to make available to the user in the drill-down in the planning book. Set the Changeable indicator. Here, you also have the option to select whether the actual characteristic value or the description should be displayed in drill-down mode.

Download Options

The user may download planning results in specific file formats, (i.e., MS Excel or CSV).

• Parameter: /SAPAPO/CLP_WEBDOWN'
• Parameter Value: XLS (for MS Excel) CSV (for other software)

Graphic Display

The user gets displays in graphic format, along with the tabular display of the demand planning data view (Figure 9).

Figure 9

Setting the graphic parameter to X enables the graphic option in the planning book

• Parameter ID: /sapapo/clp_webgraph
• Parameter value: X

You must also make the following setting in the Internet Explorer. From the menu of the browser, follow menu path Tools> Internet Options>Advanced>Microsoft VM>enable JIT Compiler.

If the parameter value is left blank, the graphic option will not be available in the planning book.

Column Width

This parameter allows you to customize the column width in the display.

• Parameter: /SAPAPO/CLP_ROW_WI'
• Parameter Value: S, M, L, XL, or blank

If you encounter display problems, adjust the width for the fixed columns (Key figure, Characteristic value, Unit of Measurement). For example, if you use the long characteristic names, L or XL should be used so that the fixed column part will be wider. If you want to display more columns for the figures in the screen, S or M should be used. If this parameter is not set (or the value is blank), the default setting (between M and L) will be used by the system.

Please refer to the latest version of SAP note 597532 for more details on the settings.

Testing Through the Browser

To test the collaborative demand planning or the demand planning through the Internet browser, double-click on the menu option Collaborative Demand Planning. The Internet browser on the PC opens and a pop-up entry screen asks for the user details (Figure 10). Entering those and clicking OK brings up the DP selection screen. The testing helps you to identify any issues that are likely to be posed when the end user tries to access it — for example, the IP address of the APO server and the port through which this service would be made available are part of the address. If the proxy setting is not maintained, the browser sends an error message noting that the page cannot be accessed. Therefore, I strongly recommend that this testing be done at least after the initial configuration and settings mentioned above are completed.

Figure 10

Enter user details to check the browser on your PC

Limitations

Though Web-based DP offers huge savings in deployment efforts and accessibility from anywhere and at any time, as compared to DP using the SAPGUI, it does have a few limitations. Refer to the latest version of SAP note 564186 for complete details on the limitations.

Shreekant W. Shiralkar

Shreekant W. Shiralkar is a senior management professional with experience on leading and managing business functions as well as technology consulting. He has authored best selling books and published many white papers on technology. He also holds patents for innovations. Presently he is global head of the SAP Analytics Centre of Excellence at Tata Consultancy.

You may contact the author at s-shiralkar@yahoo.com.

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