Classification System

Classification
Purpose
The classification system allows you to use characteristics to describe all types of objects and to
group similar objects in classes to classify objects, in other words, so that you can find them
more easily later.
You then use the classes to help you to find objects more easily, using the characteristics
defined in them as search criteria. This ensures that you can find objects with similar or
identical characteristics as quickly as possible.

Integration
The classification system allows you to classify all types of object. First, you must define certain
settings in Customizing for the classification system.
SAP has predefined a number of object types (for example, materials, and equipment). The
settings for these object types have already been defined in Customizing, so you can start to
set up your classification system for these object types without defining further settings.
Before you can use classification functions, you need to set up your classification system.
The there are three steps to setting up a classification system:
1. Defining the Properties of Objects
You use characteristics to describe the properties of objects. You create characteristics
centrally in the SAP R/3 System.
2. Creating Classes
You need classes to classify objects. These classes must be set up. During set up you
must assign characteristics to the classes.
3. Assigning Objects
Once you have created the classes you require for classification, you can assign objects
to these classes. You use the characteristics of the class to describe the objects you
classify.

Characteristics
Purpose
In R/3 classification, characteristics describe the properties of objects. The values of a
characteristic specify these properties.
Characteristic COLOR has the values 'red', 'green', and 'blue'. When you classify an
object, you use this characteristic to specify the color of the object.
You create characteristics centrally, and then assign them to classes. When you assign a
characteristic to a class, you can adapt (overwrite) the characteristic.
When you assign objects to a class, you assign values to the characteristics.
You can use characteristics in other R/3 applications, as well as classification. Characteristics
serve different purposes in different applications.

Integration
Characteristics are used in the following application areas:
QM Quality Management:
o To transfer inspection values to batch classification. (The characteristics in classification
are referred to as "general characteristics" in mySAP PLM quality management.)
o To produce quality certificates.

Creating, Changing, and Displaying Characteristics

This transaction can be used to create characteristics of the following formats:
1. NUM format
2. CHAR format
Other formats are also available but we will use only the two mentioned above.

Procedure
1. Access transaction by:
SAP Menu

SAP Menu Logistics Quality Management Quality Planning

Basic Data Class Characteristics Characteristics Management.

Transaction Code

CT04

Case I: Create Characteristic of NUM (Numeric) format

2. From the classification menu, choose Characteristics.

Double click on this

transactions code.

Double click on the Transaction Code CT04 and the screen shown below will appear.

3. Enter your data on the initial screen:

In the Characteristic field, enter a name for your new characteristic. Use the Naming
Conventions for characteristic names.
Enter a change number if you want to create the characteristic using engineering
change management.
To do this, choose processing type Create characteristic.
You can also copy the data of an existing characteristic. Use the pushbutton Create
by copying. Enter the name of a characteristic you want to copy.
Confirm your entries.

For Create mode,

click on this icon

On the initial screen, enter the following data:

On the screen Edit Catalog: Initial Screen enter information in the fields as specified in the
table below:
Initial screen: Maintain the above fields with the help of the following table.
(Note: On above table, in column R/O/C; R = Required, O = Optional, C = Conditional)
Field Name
Description
R/O/C
Characteristic
Name that uniquely identifies a characteristic.
R
Name
Valid-From Date Specifies the start date for the validity period of an object (such
R
as material, BOM, or routing

Entering Basic Data

You enter the main characteristics data on the Basic data tab page.

On the Basic data tab page enter the most important control data for the characteristic.
Field Name
Description
R/O/C
Characteristic
description
Status of a
characteristic
Data Type

Number of
Characters
Number of
Decimal Places
Unit of
Measure

Language-dependent description of characteristic.

The characteristic status gives information on the processing status of the

characteristic and determines whether it can be used elsewhere in the
system.
The data type categorizes a characteristic and shows the format for entering
characteristic values.

Numeric format (NUM): for numeric characteristic values.

Total number of characters that you can enter when you assign a value to
this characteristic. This figure includes the number of decimal places.
This figure does not include plus or minus signs or decimal points.
Number of decimal places which can be entered when you assign a value to
this characteristic.
The number of decimal places must be less than the number of characters.
Unit in which a numeric characteristic value is entered. When you assign a
value to the characteristic, you can enter a different unit if it can be
converted to the unit entered in characteristics maintenance.

Value Assignment
In the formatting data for value assignment, you define whether a characteristic is single-value,
multiple-value, or restrictable.

Field Name
Single value

Description
Indicator that determines whether only one value can be assigned
to this characteristic.

R/O/C
R

Interval values
allowed

This indicator defines whether you can enter an interval as a value

for a numeric characteristic.

Negative
Values allowed
Entry Required

Defines whether negative values can be assigned to characteristic.

Defines whether values must be assigned to the characteristic.

Maintaining Values
You can define a list of allowed values for a characteristic. You can then select one of these
values when you classify an object.
Choose the tab page Values.
Enter values in the entry fields. Enter each value in a separate field.
The values must match the format that you defined on the Basic Data screen. You can
enter up to the number of characters that you defined in the format.
If your characteristic is an alphanumeric characteristic, enter a language-dependent
value description. You can enter up to 30 characters.
You cannot enter a language-dependent description for numeric values.

Field Name
Default
values

Additional
values

Sorting
values

Description
You can define one allowed value as a default value. This value then appears
as a default in characteristic value assignment functions. You can either accept
the value or select another value.
To define a default value, select column D.
If required, you can use the allowed values you define as possible entries, but
still allow other values for your characteristic. This means that you can assign
values that are not in the allowed values in characteristic value assignment
functions. Select Additional values.
Choose the pushbutton Sort values in ascending order or Sort values in
descending order to sort the values.

4. Save the data.

Save

To change a characteristic:
1. Enter your data on the initial screen:
In the Characteristic field, enter a name for your characteristic.
To change a characteristic select the pushbutton Change in characteristics.

For Change mode,

click on this icon

2.

You change the main characteristics data on the Basic data tab page.

You cannot change the value assignment indicator once you have set it. It applies wherever the
characteristic is used.
Single-value
You can enter exactly one value for the characteristic.
Multiple values
You can enter more than one value for the characteristic.
Restrictable
This indicator is only relevant to variant configuration.
When you configure an object, the allowed values of restrictable characteristics can be
restricted dynamically. This means that you can only assign a value from the restricted
allowed values to your configurable object.

3. Save the data.

Save

To display a characteristic:
1. Enter your data on the initial screen:
In the Characteristic field, enter a name for your characteristic.
To display the characteristic choose the pushbutton Display.

Press here to display

to Characteristic

2. You Display the main characteristics data on the Basic data tab page.

3. You Display the characteristics values on the values tab page.

Back

Case II: Create Characteristic of CHAR (Characteristic) format

1. Enter your data on the initial screen:
In the Characteristic field, enter a name for your new characteristic. Use the Naming
Conventions for characteristic names.
Enter a change number if you want to create the characteristic using engineering
change management.
To do this, choose processing type Create characteristic.
You can also copy the data of an existing characteristic. Use the pushbutton Create
by copying. Enter the name of a characteristic you want to copy.
Confirm your entries.

For Create mode,

click on this icon

On the initial screen, enter the following data:

On the screen Edit Catalog: Initial Screen enter information in the fields as specified in the
table below:
Initial screen: Maintain the above fields with the help of the following table.
(Note: On above table, in column R/O/C; R = Required, O = Optional, C = Conditional)
Field Name
Description
R/O/C
Characteristic
Name that uniquely identifies a characteristic.
R

Name
Valid-From Date

Specifies the start date for the validity period of an object (such
as material, BOM, or routing

Entering Basic Data

You enter the main characteristics data on the Basic data tab page.

On the Basic data tab page enter the most important control data for the characteristic.
Field Name
Description
R/O/C
Characteristic Language-dependent description of characteristic.
R
description
Status of a
The characteristic status gives information on the processing status
R
characteristic of the characteristic and determines whether it can be used
elsewhere in the system.
Data Type
The data type categorizes a characteristic and shows the format for
R
entering characteristic values.
Character format (CHAR): for characteristic values that
consist of a character string.
Number of
Total number of characters that you can enter when you assign a
R
Characters
value to this characteristic.
If a characteristic has data type "character" (CHAR), you can

maintain a language-dependent description for values. This

description can be up to 30 characters long, regardless of the
number you enter here.

Value Assignment
In the formatting data for value assignment, you define whether a characteristic is single-value,
multiple-value, or restrictable.

Field Name
Single value

Description
Indicator that determines whether only one value can be assigned
to this characteristic.

Entry Required

Defines whether values must be assigned to the characteristic.

R/O/C
R

Maintaining Values
You can define a list of allowed values for a characteristic. You can then select one of these
values when you classify an object. Choose the tab page Values.
If your characteristic is an alphanumeric characteristic, enter a language-dependent
value description. You can enter up to 30 characters.
You cannot enter a language-dependent description for numeric values.

Click on other
Value Check

Field Name
Characteristic
Value

Description

Default
values

You can define one allowed value as a default value. This value then appears
as a default in characteristic value assignment functions. You can either
accept the value or select another value. Select column D.
If required, you can use the allowed values you define as possible entries,
but still allow other values for your characteristic. This means that you can
assign values that are not in the allowed values in characteristic value
assignment functions. Select Additional values.

Additional
values

Value of a characteristic.
If the characteristic has character format (CHAR), this field contains a single
character string.

R/O/C
R

O
O

Sorting
values

Choose the pushbutton Sort values in ascending order or Sort values in

descending order to sort the values.
For characteristics with CHAR format, you can enter descriptions of
individual values in several languages. This is not possible with
characteristics with other formats.

2. Save the Data.

Save

To change a characteristic:
1. Enter your data on the initial screen:
In the Characteristic field, enter a name for your characteristic.
To change a characteristic select the pushbutton Change in characteristics.

For Change mode,

click on this icon

2. You change the main characteristics data on the Basic data tab page.

You cannot change the value assignment indicator once you have set it. It applies wherever the
characteristic is used.
Single-value
You can enter exactly one value for the characteristic.
Multiple values
You can enter more than one value for the characteristic.
Restrictable
This indicator is only relevant to variant configuration.
When you configure an object, the allowed values of restrictable characteristics can be
restricted dynamically. This means that you can only assign a value from the restricted
allowed values to your configurable object.

3. Save the Data.

Save

To change a characteristic:
1. Enter your data on the initial screen:
In the Characteristic field, enter a name for your characteristic.
To display the characteristic choose the pushbutton Display.

Press here to display

to Characteristic

2. You Display the main characteristics data on the Basic data tab page.

3. You Display the characteristics values on the values tab page.

Back

Classes
A class is used to hold the characteristics that describe an object such as material.

Purpose
Classes allow you to group objects together according to criteria that you define.
You create classes for certain object types for example, material, workplace, equipment.
You use the class type to determine which object types can be classified in a class.
You can assign characteristics to your class. These describe the objects that you classify
in your class. When you assign a characteristic to a class, you can adapt (overwrite) the
characteristic.

Creating, Changing, and Displaying Classes

Procedure
1. From the classification menu, choose Master Data then Classes.
SAP Menu

SAP Menu Logistics Quality Management Quality Planning

Basic Data Class Characteristics Class Management.

Transaction Code

CL02

Double click on this

transactions code.

Double click on the Transaction Code CL02 and following screen appears

To create a class:
2. Enter a class name and class type.
These can also be classes that were processed with different applications.

Field Name
Class number

Description
Name used to uniquely identify a class within a class type.

R/O/C
R

Class Type

Uniquely identifies the class type.

You maintain class types in Customizing for Classification.
Batch class type 023 at plant level
Batch class type 023 at client level
Variant class type 300 at client level

3. Choose processing type Create class.

The tab page Basic data appears.

Create icon

4. Start processing on the Basic data tab:

Enter a description of your class and check the status. You can only assign objects to a
class if the class is released.

Field Name
Class Description
Class status

Valid-From Date
Valid-to date
Check for Same

Description
Language-dependent description of a class.
This key determines:
whether a class can be maintained
whether objects can be allocated to a class
whether the class can be used for selecting objects
Date as of which objects can be allocated to a class.
Objects can be assigned to the class until this date.
If you select this indicator, you see a warning message if you try

R/O/C
R
R

R
R
R

Classification
with Warning

to assign different objects with the same classification to the

same class.

Entering Characteristics
On the Characteristics tab, you can enter the characteristics you want to use for classifying
objects in your class. These characteristics already exist in your system.
5. Choose the tab page Characteristics.
Enter the characteristics you want to use in your class.

Assign Characteristics

Characteristic Status

You can only use characteristics with Released status in classes.

You cannot use characteristics with In preparation status in classes. However, you can
change the status of a characteristic to Released by choosing Environment @ Change
characteristic.
You cannot use a characteristic in new classes once the characteristic has Locked status.
However, if you have used a characteristic in a class, and then set Locked status for the

characteristic, this does not affect the characteristic in the class. You cannot change the
status from a class.

Characteristics Sequence
The order in which you enter characteristics is also the order in which the characteristics appear
for value assignment when you classify or find objects.
You can define the sequence of characteristics yourself:
1. To move a characteristic, select the characteristic that you want to move.
2. Place the cursor where you want the characteristic moved to.
3. Choose Move. The characteristic is inserted before the cursor.
6. You can save your class once you have entered this data.

Save

Processing on the other tabs in class maintenance is optional:

Keywords
You can assign keywords to your class, to help you to find the class more easily using a
match code.
Characteristics
You can assign characteristics to your class. These describe the objects that you classify
in your class.
Texts
You can enter texts for your class.

Documents
You can link documents to your class.
Standard
You can create a class to match a specific standard (for example, DIN, ISO, or ANSI).
Additional Data
You can specify that your class can be used as a BOM item for a configurable material.

To change a class:
1. Enter a class name and class type.

2. Choose processing type Change class.

The tab page Basic data appears.

Change Class

3. Change on the Basic data tab:

Change a description of your class and the status.

4. Choose the tab page Characteristics.

Change the characteristics you want to use in your class.

Change Characteristics

5. After you have maintained all your data, save it.

Save

1. Enter a class name and class type.

2. Choose processing type Display class.

Display class

3. Choose the tab page Characteristics. Display the characteristics.

Back

Create Batch - MSC1N

Change Batch - MSC2N

Display Batch - MSC3N