Unit 1 NAVIGATION

Logon Process
Before you log on the first time, your system administrator will give you an initial password.
During the logon process, you should create a new password, one that you alone will know. Use
your own password whenever you log on. These procedures may differ somewhat at your
company. For more information, contact your system administrator.

The SAP logon icon now appears in both the task bar (together with the SAP Release number)
and the system tray (that is, the bottom right-hand comer of your desktop). When you select the
7aD key after you have entered data in a field, the cursor moves to the beginning ofthe next field.
However, if you enter the maximum number of characters possible in a field, you do not have to
select tab. If there are system-wide messages, the System Messages dialog box appears. After
you have read the messages, choose Continue (or Enter) to close the dialog box.
Layout, Navigation, and Personalization
Menus allow you to find a specific transaction when you do not know the transaction code. The
menu is organized according to the task you are performing in the SAP system. The menus are
drop-down menus; this means that when you choose a menu item, further options are displayed.
Sometimes not all of the available menus fit on one line in the menu bar. In this case, they wrap
to the next line. The dropdown principle stays the same.
Favorites list and role'based user menu
In SAP Easy Access, you can create a Favorites list containing the following:
 Transactions
 Files
 Web addresses
 Links to other applications, etc.

Role.based user menus are collections ofactivities used in business scenarios. Users access the
transactions, reports, or Web-based applications through user menus. Users can also change
certain aspects ofassigned roles, for example, they can create their own favorites list. When a
user is assigned a role, they are assigned not only the menu, but also the authorizations they
require to access the inforrnation. In this way, the system ensures that the business data are
always saved. The authorization profiles are generated in accordance with the activities
contained in the role. In this way, the authorizations of every user in the SAP system are
restricted to only these activities.
Sessions
Too many open sessions can result in slower system performance. For this reason, your system
administrator may limit the number of sessions you can create to fewer than six. You can move
between sessions without losing any data, as long as you remain logged on to the SAP system.
Changing between different sessions is similar to having someone on the other line when you are
telephoning. You can continue the conversation at any time.

To move between sessions, click any part ofthe window that contains the session you want to use
(or use Alt + Tab). The window you choose becomes the active window by moving in front of all
the other windows on Your screen. Ifyou have several sessions open, you can minimize the
sessions you are not ,sing. When you need to use one of these sessions later, you can restore it by
selecting the appropriate symbol in the status bar.
After you are done using a session, it is a good idea to end it' Every session uses system
resources. This influences the time the SAP system requires to answer your commands. Before
you end a session, save any data you want to keep.
Status Bar
The status bar provides general information on the SAP system and the transaction or task on
which you are working. At the left of the status bar, system messages are displayed. The right-
hand side ofthe status bar contains three fields. one with information on the server, two with
information on the status
  At the far left ofthe status bar:
- Identifies eror messages
- Identifies other system messages
 To hide (or display) the status fields, choose the icon to the leff (or righQ. . To display
the following system infonnation, choose in the first status field:
- System
- Client
- User
- Program
- Transaction
- Response time
The second status field displays the server to which you are connected. The third status field
specifies your data entry mode. By choosing this field, you can toggle between the Insert (INS)
and Overwrite (OVR) modes.
Help Features
The SAP system provides comprehensive online help. You can display the help from any screen
in the system. You can always request help using the Help menu or using the relevant icon. The
Help menu contains the following options:
Application help
Displays comprehensive help for the current application. Selecting this menu option in the initial
screen displays help on getting started with mySAP ERP.
SAP Library
All online documentation can be found here.
Glossary
Allows a search for definitions of terms
Release notes
Displays notes that describe functional changes that occur between mySAP ERP releases.
SAP Service MarketPlace
Enables access to the SAP Service Marketplace
Create a support message
You can create a problem message directly ftom the SAP system.
Settings
Allows you to select settings for help.
Unit 2 GENERAL LEDGER ACCOUNTING
Company Code
A company code is an independent accounting entity (the smallest organizational element for
which a complete self-contained set of accounts can be drawn up)' Example: a company within a
corporate group. A company code has a unique, four-character key, which can be alphanumeric.
The general ledger is kept at the company code level and is used to create the legally required
balance sheets and profit-andJoss statements for the company code. A company code is specified
on every financially based transaction of mySAp ERP. This is done either manually or by
deriving the company code from other data elements.
IDES lnternational
IDES operates worldwide and has subsidiaries in North America, Europe and Asia. Each affiliate
(company code) is a legal entity that is required by law to provide financial records according to
country-specific regulations.

IDES Company Codes

The affiliates of IDES are set up as company codes in the SAP ERP system and are uniquely
identified by four-character codes. Each company code has a local currency. The local cunency
of IDES AG is EIJR. Amounts posted in foreign currencies are automatically converted to the
local currency.
Business Area
The business segrnents, or branches, in which a gloup operates can be set up in the SAP system
as business areas. Business areas provide an additional evaluation level ior segment reporting,
for example. Use ofbusiness areas is optional.
IDES Business Areas
Business areas are generally company-code independent. You can post to them from any
company code. The Business area field shows up as an additional account assignment when
posting to an accormt as long as the field is tumed on in configuration. The field can be made a
required entry during posting.
Controlling Area
The Controlling Area is the most important organizational element in the Controlling
application. The latter is used for intemal Accourting. A controlling area identifies a self-
contained organizational structure for which costs and revenues can be managed and allocated. It
represents a separate unit of cost accounting.

More than one company code can be assigned to one or more controlling areas. This enables a
cross-company code costing between the assigned company codes. However, assig ng more than
one company code to the same controlling area is possible onty if all the assigned company
codes use the same operating chart of accounts and fiscal calendar year.
IDES Controlling Areas
The IDES group uses five controlling areas:
 1000 for Germany, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain
 2200 for France
 2000 for the USA and Canada
 5000 for Japan
 6000 for Mexico