19 Oct, 2011
I though this quick tip might help you.
We upgraded one of our instances from AFS version 3.0b to 6.0 some time back. We had few issues with migrating categories. But after migrating, we never had a need to create a new category in 6.0 environment. But when we had to we faced few issues.
To configure a category you have to first create a “Characteristic”. Then in SPRO, you have to create a category structure and then create a coverage strategy and assign the coverage strategy to the category structure. Configuration node can be found following the path SPRO -> Logistics – General – >AFS Categories.
We followed the process but the results did not work as we intended. With the help of AFS support team, we found Relevance and Conversion buttons were missing on the CT04 screen and as a result configuration could not be completed properly. So they recommended the SAP NOTE 1041015 and it solved the issue for us. It put the buttons on the CT04 screen and enabled us to complete the configuration.
Caution: Please read through SAP documentation before implementing notes. If required seek the SAP support. These steps might not work, or even might do harm in your case.
5 Feb, 2009
SAP AFS 6.0 is not the latest version to talk about. But most of the organizations are looking at AFS 6.0 due to many reasons. The process of migrating from earlier versions (like 3.0 and 5.0) of AFS to this version is simplified with the use of simplified upgrade process. Unless if you have a real requirement to change the processes of your business and reporting, migration will help you to change your version without much trouble. This makes much more business sense since there is no much of a cost involved. It also will help businesses to change their SAP versions within a limited period of time without major cutovers and transition downtimes.
As I have discussed earlier in this blog major benefit from an operational point of view is the addition of Quality Management module in AFS 6.0. While this is a macro level benefit AFS 6.0 comes with one very significant change in category structures (if you are migrating from 3.0 environment to the6.0 environment). Configuring categories is simplified in this version. But the operational use will not change. This change will throw you some complications when you try upgrading the system. Standard categories in particular will not be transported (or you will have to make additional efforts in doing so) as you would like them to do. So I advise all of you to read the related notes before you attempt a migration from 3.0 to 6.0.
Another problem we encountered is on screen sequences. You might find some standard screens like AFS Valuation and costing 1 and 2 missing when you try creating materials after you complete your upgrade. This is because some of the settings related to screen sequence are not getting transported properly. You can check the screen sequence configs for understand this. Again SAP has a note addressing this question. It will populate the values to required tables in order to make the additional screens to appear. This error might occur even in fresh 6.0 installations with our experience.
Please always remember these problems can be sorted by SAP with their subsequent upgrades. So by the time you read these advise you might not need them
I think this information will save you at least few days which will otherwise be wasted in searching and figuring out the problems and answers. If you faced any other issues please let me know. Please leave your comments by clicking the comments link below.
