In the menu option "Automat.

posting" you enter the default settings for inventory management and invoice
verification transactions for automatic postings to G/L accounts.

You can then check your default settings with a simulation function.

What are automatic postings?

G/L accounts are posted automatically for inventory management and invoice verification transactions which are
relevant to Financial Accounting and Cost Accounting.

Example:
Posting lines are created on the following accounts for a goods issue to a cost center:

 balance sheet account

 consumption account

How does the system determine the G/L accounts?

When entering the goods movement, the user does not have to enter a G/L account, since the SAP System
automatically finds the accounts to be posted to based on the following data:

 Chart of accounts for the company code

If the user enters a company code or a plant when entering a transaction, the ERP system determines the
chart of accounts which is valid for the company code.
You must define the automatic account determination individually for each chart of accounts.

 Valuation grouping code for the valuation area

If the automatic account determination within a chart of accounts is to run differently for certain company
codes or plants (valuation areas), assign different valuation grouping codes to these valuation areas.
You must define the automatic account determination individually for every valuation grouping code within
a chart of accounts. It applies to all valuation areas which are assigned to this valuation grouping code.
If the user enters a company code or a plant when entering a transaction, the system determines the
valuation area and the valuation grouping code.

 Transaction key

Posting transactions are predefined for those inventory management and invoice verification transactions
relevant to accounting. Posting records, which are generalized in the value string, are assigned to each
relevant movement type in inventory management and each transaction in invoice verification. These
contain keys for the relevant posting transaction (for example, inventory posting and consumption posting)
instead of actual G/L account numbers.
You do not have to define these transaction keys, they are determined automatically from the transaction
(invoice verification) or the movement type (inventory management). All you have to do is assign the
relevant G/L account to each posting transaction.
For a list of the transactions in Materials Management and their functions, refer to 'Additional Information'.

 Account grouping (for offsetting entry and price differences only)

Since the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting" is used for different transactions (for
example, goods issue, scrapping, physical inventory), which are assigned to different accounts (for
example, consumption account, scrapping, expense/income from inventory differences), it is necessary to
divide the posting transaction according to a further key: account grouping code.
An account grouping is assigned to each movement type in inventory management which uses the
posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting".
Under the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting", you must assign G/L accounts for
every account grouping, that is, assign G/L accounts.
 If you wish to post price differences to different price difference accounts in the case of goods receipts for
purchase orders, goods receipts for orders, or other movements, you can define different account
grouping codes for the transaction key.
Using the account grouping, you can also have different accounts for consignment liabilities and pipeline
liabilities.

 Valuation class for the material or (for split valuation) the valuation type

The valuation class allows you to define automatic account determination that is dependent on the
material. for example: you post a goods receipt of a raw material to a different stock account than if the
goods receipt were for trading goods, even though the user enters the same transaction for both
materials.
You can achieve this by assigning different valuation classes to the materials and by assigning different
G/L accounts to the posting transaction for every valuation class.
If you do not want to differentiate according to valuation classes you do not have to maintain a valuation
class for a transaction.

Prerequisites

Before you maintain the automatic postings, you have to obtain the following information:

1. Valuation level (plant or company code)

Determine whether the materials are valuated at plant level or company code level
In valuation at plant level, the valuation area is the plant.
In valuation at company code level, the valuation area is the company code.
Define valuation level
2. Chart of accounts and valuation grouping code
Determine whether the valuation grouping code is active.
Activate valuation grouping code
If it is not active, determine the chart of accounts, which (via the company code) is assigned to each
valuation area.
If it is active, determine the chart of accounts and the valuation grouping code for each valuation area.
Group valuation areas
You have to define a separate account determination for every chart of accounts and every valuation
grouping code.
3. Valuation classes per material type
If you want to differentiate automatic account determination for particular transactions according to
valuation classes, determine the possible valuation classes per material type.
Define valuation classes
4. Account grouping for the offsetting entry for stock posting
In the step 'Account grouping for momvt types', determine the movement types for which an account
grouping is defined for the transaction keys GGB (offsetting entry for stock posting) and PRD (price
differences).
Define account grouping for movement types

Default settings

G/L account assignments for the charts of accounts GKR and IKR and the valuation grouping code 0001 are SAP
standard.

Activities

1. Create account keys for each chart of accounts and each valuation grouping code for the individual
posting transactions. To do this, proceed as follows:
a) Call up the function "Automatic posting".
The system first checks whether the valuation areas are correctly maintained. If, for example, a
plant is not assigned to a company code, a pop-up window and an error message appear.
Press enter (next entry) to continue the check.
Press F12 (Cancel) to end the check.
The configuration menu Automatic posting appears.
b) Select Goto -> Account assignment.
 A list of the posting transactions in Materials Management appears. For more information on
each transaction, refer to 'Additional Information'
Automatic account determination indicates whether automatic account determination is defined
for a transaction.
c) Select a posting transaction.
A window appears, in which you can enter the chart of accounts.
You can set the following data for each transaction:

o Rules for account assignment

To configure the factors on which the account assignments are dependent, choose Goto ->
Rules:
- Debit/credit indicator
- General grouping (= account grouping)
- valuation grouping
- valuation class

o Posting key for the posting lines

You usually do not have to change the posting key. If you want to use new posting keys, you
have to define these in Customizing for Financial Accounting.

o Account assignments

You must now assign G/L accounts for each transaction code (apart from KBS). You can assign
these accounts manually or copy them from another chart of accounts via Edit -> Copy.
If you want to distinguish a posting transaction (for example, inventory posting) according to
valuation classes, you must make an account assignment for every valuation class.
Using the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting", you have to make an
account assignment for every account grouping.
If the transaction PRD (price differences) is also dependent on the account grouping, you have to
create three account assignments:
- an account assignment without account grouping
- an account assignment with account grouping PRF
- an account assignment with account grouping PRA
d) Save your settings.
Proceed
2. Then check your settings with the simulation function.
With the simulation function, you can simulate the following transactions:

o inventory management transactions

o invoice verification transactions

When you enter a material or valuation class, the SAP system determines the G/L accounts which are
assigned to the corresponding posting transactions. Depending on the configuration, the SAP system also
checks whether the G/L accounts exist.
From the simulation, you can compare the field selection for the movement type with that of each of the
accounts and correct it if necessary.
If you would like to print the simulation, select Simulation -> Report.
To carry out the simulation, proceed as follows:
a) Choose Settings to check the simulation defaults for:
- the application area (Inventory Management and Invoice Verification)
- the input mode (material or valuation class)
- the account check
Instructions
b) Select Goto -> Simulation.
The screen for entering simulation data appears.
c) Enter a plant or a company code in the entry screen depending on the valuation level.
d) When you simulate inventory management transactions, goods movements are simulated. The
SAP system proposes the first movement type for simulation. If several movements are possible
with this movement type, you can select a line.
 When you simulate Invoice Verification transactions, the system displays a list of possible
transaction types on the initial screen. Choose a line.
e) Then select Goto -> Account assignments.
You receive a list of posting lines which can be created by the selected transaction. For each
posting line, the G/L account from the debit posting as well as the G/L account for the credit
posting are displayed.
f) From this screen, select Goto -> Movement+ to receive the posting lines for the next movement
type or transaction type.
If you work with valuation classes, select Goto -> Valuation class+ to receive the simulation for
the next valuation class. This function is not possible when you simulate with material numbers.
To compare the field selection for the movement type with that of the G/L accounts determined
and correct it if necessary, choose Goto -> Screen layout
Proceed

Note

The simulation function does not replace the sample posting!

Additional Information

The following is a list of the transactions with examples of how they are used:

 Expenditure/income from consignment material consumption (AKO)

This transaction is used in Inventory Management for withdrawals from consignment stock or transfers
from consignment stock to a company's own stock, if the material is subject to standard price control, and
the consignment price is different from the standard price.

 Order settlement (AUF)

This transaction is used in the settlement of production orders.

 Expenditure/income from stock transfer (AUM)

This transaction is used in Inventory Management for transfer postings from material to material, plant to
plant, or (for materials with split valuation) valuation category to valuation category if the price in the
receiving point differs from that of the issuing point. The expenditure or income is posted in the place
specified in the 'receiving' or 'issuing' field.

 Change involving stocks (BSV)

In Inventory Management, changes involving stocks are posted upon goods receipts for subcontract
orders.

 Inventory posting (BSX)

This transaction is used for all postings to stock accounts.

These postings are carried out:

o in Inventory Management for goods receipts into and for goods issues from a company's own
stock.

o in Invoice Verification, if there are price differences for materials with moving average price
control when the invoice is received and there is sufficient stock coverage.

As the account assignment for this transaction depends on the valuation class, you can manage materials
with different valuation classes in separate stock accounts.

 Minor differences - Materials Management (DIF)

 This transaction is used in Invoice Verification if you define a tolerance for minor differences and the
balance of an invoice does not exceed the tolerance.

 Purchase account (EIN), purchase offsetting account (EKG), freight purchase account (FRE)

These transactions are only used when purchase account management is active in the company code.

 Freight clearing (FR1), provision for freight charges (FR2), customs clearing (FR3), provisions for
customs charges (FR4)

These transactions are used to post delivery costs for goods receipts for purchase orders and for invoice receipts.
The transaction used depends on the condition types defined in the purchase order.

 External service (FRL)

This transaction is used for goods receipts and invoice receipts for subcontract purchase orders.

 External service delivery costs (FRN)

This transaction is used for delivery costs for subcontract orders.

 Offsetting entry for inventory posting (GBB)

The offsetting entry for inventory posting is used in Inventory Management. The account assignments
depend on the account grouping that is assigned to each movement type. In the standard configuration,
the account groupings below have already been defined:

o AUF: for goods receipts for production orders with account assignment

o BSA: for initial entries of stock balance

o INV: for expenditure/income from inventory differences

o VAX: for goods issues for sales orders without account assignment object

o VAY: for goods issues for sales orders with account assignment object

o VBO: for consumptions from stock of material provided to vendor

o VBR: for internal goods issues (e.g. for cost center)

o VNG: for scrapping/destruction

o VQP: for withdrawal of samples

o ZOB: for goods receipts without purchase orders

o ZOF: for goods receipts without production orders

You can also define your own account groupings. For example, if you want to post goods issues for cost
centers (movement type 201) and goods issues for orders (mvt type 261) to separate consumption
accounts, you can assign account grouping ZZZ to movement type 201 and account grouping YYY to
movement type 261.

 Purchase order with account assignment (KBS)

 You cannot assign any accounts to this transaction key. It means that the account assignment is adopted
from the purchase order. It is used to determine the posting key for the goods receipt.

 Differences due to exchange rate rounding in Materials Management (KDR)

A difference due to exchange rate rounding can occur in an invoice with a different currency. If a balance
is rounded when the posting lines are converted into local currency, the system automatically creates a
posting line for the differences due to exchange rate rounding.

 Exchange rate differences for open items (KDF)

Exchange rate differences for open items occur when an invoice for a purchase order is posted with a different
exchange rate from that which was used to post the goods receipt and the material cannot be credited or debited
because it is subject to standard price contol or there is insufficient stock coverage.

(You can only configure the accounts for transaction KDF directly in Customizing for Financial Accounting.
Proceed)

 Consignment liabilities (KON)

Consignment liabilities result from withdrawals from consignment stock or transfers from consignment
stock to a company's own stock.

 Price differences (PRD) Price differences result for materials with standard price control for all
movements and invoices that are valuated at a different price from the standard price.

Examples:

o Goods recipts for purchase orders, if the purchase order price is different from the standard price,

o Goods issues for which an external amount is entered,

o Invoices, if the invoice price is different from the purchase order price.

Price differences can also result for invoices for materials with moving average price control, if the invoice
price differs from the purchase order price and there is insufficient stock coverage for the quantity
invoiced.
Depending on how the posting rules for the transaction key PRD are configured, you can work with or
without an account grouping. If you work with an account grouping, the following account groupings are
used in the standard system:

o None for goods receipts and invoice receipts for purchase orders

o PRF for goods receipts for production orders

o PRA for goods issues and other movements

 Provisions for delivery costs (RUE)

Provisions are formed for delivery costs if a condition type for provisions has been entered in the
purchase order. When the invoice is received, you have to manually clear them.

 Expenditure/income from revaluation (UMB)

This transaction key is used in both Inventory Management and Invoice Verification if the standard price of a
material has been changed and a movement or an invoice is posted for the previous period (at the previous price).

 GR/IR clearing (WRX)

Postings to the GR/IR clearing account result from goods receipts and invoice receipts for purchase
orders. For more information on the GR/IR clearing account, refer to the MM guide - Material Valuation.