All About Actions in Transactions: SAP CRM

Introduction

Within SAP CRM, Actions refer to the Post Processing Framework (PPF) Basic
Components
Actions can automatically trigger output, follow-up activities or workflows

Action processing can be used by different applications such as transaction processing

(CRMD_ORDER), billing (BILLING), case management (CRM_CASE), etc. in SAP
CRM

Actions replace Output Determination of the SAP ERP System

Actions can be determined for the whole transaction (Transaction Type) at header level
and also for an individual item (Item Category)

This figure gives roadmap for Action configuration in SAP CRM

With actions, predefined processes can be implemented in SAP CRM transaction

processing.

SPRO Path to define the Action, Action Profile and Conditions

Action Profile definition in SPRO

For a particular Action, Schedule Condition can be defined.

o This schedule condition is checked before making this action available for
execution.

At execution time, these processes get scheduled based on user defined conditions which
define particular situation in the transaction processing.

An Action is a planned activity, or task and schedule condition is the situation under
which this action is to be executed.

For a scheduled action different processing type are possible:

o

Processing type defines how an action executes.

From this processing type, SAP WorkFlow, BAdI Method Call, SmartForm or
Alert can be triggered.

It is possible to specify Processing Time within an Action Definition (t-code SPPFC or

SPPFCADM), which specifies where in the transaction processing execution this action
is to be executed.

Action can be partner function dependent.

Partner function can be assigned in the Action Definition.

Actions are linked to SAP CRM transaction with Action Profile.

An Action Profile can have multiple Action Definitions with it.

Based on configuration and implementation for the Action Definitions and respective
conditions (Schedule Condition and Start Condition), these actions execute for the
corresponding SAP CRM transaction.

For a transaction that supports actions, action log can be analyzed in GUI using
transaction CRMD_ORDER, or within Web UI if access is provided to the corresponding
assignment block.

Actions detail for a transaction in CRMD_ORDER

Actions detail for a transaction in CRMD_ORDER

You can display a list of actions scheduled and executed for the transaction with
following information for individual action as in Fig. 3 and 4:
o Status (action scheduled, action processed)
o

Description (purpose of action)

Processing Type

Creator, creation date

Example: A month before a contract expires, the responsible sales employee receives an
activity with the category e-mail in his inbox to remind him to write to the customer and
find out whether they wish to renew their contract.

Conditions

Two conditions are checked before an action executes:

o Schedule Condition: An action is scheduled for execution only if schedule
condition defined for this action is satisfied. Also schedule condition can be
evaluated within the implementation of SAP standard BAdI
EVAL_SCHEDCOND_PPF.
o

Start Condition: For the scheduled actions, start condition is checked before it is
executed. Thus scheduled action is executed once the start condition is satisfied.

These conditions for an action are defined while configuring it in t-code SPPFCADM.

Conditions can be time dependent using dates and date rules.

Conditions can be implemented with expressions on the container attributes from a

business object or a class and constants.

Conditions can be checked for proper syntax and tested.

There are two modes for defining conditions:

o

Mouse-oriented PC mode

Direct text entry mode (traditional)

Create Parameter Condition:

Set Parameter Condition:

Changing Parameter Condition values:

Personal Settings for Condition Editor:

Processing Time
Processing Times defines when an action for which start condition has been satisfied will be
executed in the transaction processing. Thus, once the start condition for a scheduled action is
satisfied, it can execute according to the Processing Time maintained. Following are the possible
options for Processing Time:

Processing Using Selection Report:

o In the case, action will execute after the execution of the selection report. This
processing type is particularly useful for actions that are used for deadline
monitoring such as monitoring the SLA.

Immediate Processing:
o

The action is started as soon as the start condition is fulfilled.

Processing When Saving Document:

The action is started when the transaction is saved. Thus, even though the start
condition for action is met, execution of action will trigger during transaction save
only.

Setting Processing Time in Action Definition:

Processing Types
In the Action Definition, processing type is specified. Processing types specifies how the action
is processed at the Processing Time. There are different Processing Types available:

Smart Forms
WorkFlow

Methods

Methods are BAdI implementations of the SAP standard BAdI EXEC_METHODCALL_PPF.

There are many standard implementations provided by SAP that are used in the standard
transactions, for e.g.:

COPY_DOCUMENT (to create a follow-up document)

COMPLETE-DOCUMENT (set status completed within document)

CREDIT_MEMO (create credit memo item)

1O_EVENT_CREATE (create a workflow event)

Transaction SPPFCADM
This transaction is for PPF customizing:

It can be used to define the Action Profile and Action Definitions. Also, it is possible to configure
the Actions defined in the Action Profile. Actions defined within an Action Profile are available
for configuring so that Conditions can be maintained using the SAP provided wizards and
screens.
Other useful transaction codes:

CRMC_ACTION_CONF Action Configuration

CRMC_ACTION_DEF Action Definition

CRMC_ACTION_WIZARD Action for Definition via Wizard

Action Monitor
The program RSPPFPROCESS, responsible for action monitor originates from the Post
Processing Framework (PPF) and can be used to check the processing of the actions. Thus,
action monitor can be used to monitor and trigger the processing of actions for several
transactions.
Transaction code for Action Monitor is CRMC_ACTION_JOB.

With action monitor, it is possible to list the actions which have processing time set to
Processing using selection report and initiate the processing of these actions. Thus, it is
particularly useful for actions that are used for deadline monitoring such as SLA.
It could also be used to process actions with the processing time When Saving. In case, timedependent conditions were fulfilled after a certain time without any changes to the transactions
the program could be executed so that actions are also started in these cases. Thus, for test
purposes or for repeating actions, this report can also be used to select and process actions with
the processing time Immediate or When Document is Saved.

Action Monitor execution

Action Profiles
Actions are configured for CRM transaction using Action profile. Actions are created in action
profile which can be assigned to different CRM transactions. Within an action profile, multiple
actions can be defined with sort order and status (Active or Inactive). Active actions can be
scheduled and scheduled actions are executed following the sort order as maintained in the
customizing. For individual action in the Action Profile, Action Definition and Action
Configuration can be maintained.
During the transaction processing, all the allowed actions are identified using the Action Profile.
For this, actions not marked as inactive in the action profile are considered for execution. Sort
order maintained in Action Profile for individual action used to identify the sequence of
execution of the actions. Further processing of these actions is done based upon the Action
Definition and Action Configuration of individual action identified.
It is possible to assign an action profile directly to a transaction type or item category. Also
condition technique, i.e. Action Profile Determination can be defined same as pricing.
In SPRO goto Define Action Profiles and Actions
1. Select an action profile
2. Click View

You will see properties of an action profile

1. Select Action Definition

2. Click View

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