Dynamic Actions can be used in SAP to trigger automatic processing either in the foreground or in the background in SAP. This functionality can be quite powerful, resulting in better data integrity as you use these to create controls and parameters for data entry by your power users. The functionality as delivered in the IMG, however, does appear to be limited. How can you make these dyanmic actions more accessible to manage things like hundreds of different tax authorities? How can you use the dynamic action to update fields versus simply creating new data? This presentation will show you how to maximize the use of dynamic actions in your SAP HR Functionality using ABAP code and creativity.

1. Dynamic Actions on Steroids
Session 301
Donna Wendling
Sherryanne Meyer

2. Today’s Agenda
• Who Is Air Products?
• Today’s Objectives -- Learning Points
• Brief Overview – What is a Dynamic Action?
• The “Basics” - Components of a Dynamic Action
• Various Scenarios
1. Date Specifications
2. Tax Area POWER!!!!!
MORE
3. Family/Related Persons
• How To “Kick it up a Notch”
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3. Who is Air Products
Fast Facts
• Global gases, chemicals, equipment and services provider
• Serving technology, energy, healthcare and industrial
markets
• Fortune 500 company
• Chemical industry safety leader
• Operations in more than 30 countries
• ~20,000 employees worldwide
• Known for our innovative culture and operational
excellence
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4. HOMECARE
Who is Air Products
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
NITROGEN
SPECIALTY
GASES
POLYMERS
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5. SAP HR Countries UK
Ireland
Belgium
Canada Netherlands
Germany
United France
States Spain, Italy, Portugal Japan
Korea
Israel China
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Singapore
Malaysia
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6. SAP-HR and Air Products
• 2001 Org Management, HR Admin, Compensation, Benefits,
Time Entry, US Payroll, Structural Security, ESS, MDT
• 2002 Appraisals, C&SP, TEM, Workflow, BW
• 2002 HR / ERP Integration
• 2003 HR Phase 3 – Southern Europe
• 2004 HR Phase 4 – Asia
• 2004 Recognized SAP Certified Competency Center
• 2005 MSS-Phase 1
• 2006 ECC 5.0, Learning Solution, Israel
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7. Today’s Objectives: Learning Points
• What is a Dynamic Action and what can it do for you
• Automate business processes –
• Saves time by performing routine tasks
• Insure data integrity
• Empower Global Power Users to successfully manage data
• Create new and improved Dynamic Actions
• Maximize the power of a Dynamic Actions
* None of the employees or data represented on the
following slides is real.
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8. Brief Overview –
What is a Dynamic Action?
As defined by SAP
• Dynamic actions trigger automatic processing
when specific infotype records are maintained.
• The advantage of dynamic actions is that the
system saves you time by performing routine tasks
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9. Brief Overview –
Personnel Action vs Dynamic Action
• Personnel Actions are a series of Infotypes that are
added, changed, completely or partially deleted or
delimited for the reason specified (i.e. Hiring,
Leave, Termination, etc.)
• Dynamic actions are automated and can use
decision logic to enhance a Personnel Action for
maintenance of a specific Infotype
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10. IType: Infotype Field n: Start
The Basics -
that triggers the action when Variable Function Part:
dynamic action maintaining a Specifies the processing
Components of a Dynamic Action
specific field details when the dynamic
action is triggered
Sty: Focus No:
on a specific Sequence
subtype number
S: Step Indicator
FC: Maintenance Operation P – Check conditions
02 – Change I – Maintain Infotype Record
04 – Create W – Default values for a new record
06 – Create and change V – Reference to another step
08 – Delete F – Call a FORM routine
10 – Change and Delete (subroutine in ABAP);
12 – Create and Delete M – Send Mail
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11. The Basics –
Variable Function Part
• Values of an old data record are in structure PSAVE.
• Operations on Infotypes can be run in the background by
entering /D at the end of the line.
• Logical OR links must be indicated by /X.
• When calling a routine you can use internal (module pool)
and external routines
• When calling an external routine, enter name of program in
parentheses after the form name
• It is not possible to transfer parameters to the routine
• For transferring values from the routine you can use fields in the
RP50D structure
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12. The Basics –
RP50D Structure – Return Values
12

13. Scenario 1
Date Specifications -
Populating Key Dates Dynamically
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14. Scenario 1 – Date Specifications
Create Key Dates
• Hire Action (Z1)
• Dynamic action will create Infotype 0041 (Date
Specifications) in background and populate various
dates for that employee
Original Hire Date (Z1)
Employment Date (Z4)
Date in Grade (X6)
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15. Create IT0041 and populate dates
Personnel Action Z1
Create Date Types
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16. End Result
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17. Scenario 1 – Date Specifications
Challenge: Update Key Dates
• Anytime Pay Scale Group changes on Infotype 0008
(Basic Pay) – Automatically update the Date in
Grade (X6) on Infotype 0041 (Date Specifications)
• BUT……How do I find the Date in Grade (X6) on
Infotype 0041 and update it using a Dynamic Action
????????
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18. Answering The Challenge 1. Check Previous Pay
Scale Group Not equal to
New Pay Scale Group
3. Copy IT 41 in 2. Call procedure to
Background locate X6 Date Type and
set RP50D-FIELD1
4. Check Value of
RP50D-Field1.
Update X6 date
on IT 41
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19. Walk Through: Update Existing Date Type
Example:
In the Org
Reassignment
Action,
Pay Scale
Group is
updated on
Infotype 0008
(Basic Pay)
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20. Procedure to Update Existing Date Type
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21. Walk Through: Update Date Type cont’d
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22. Scenario 2
Default Tax Area
Based on Work Location
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23. Scenario 2 –
Default U.S. Work Tax Area
• Hire (Z1), Rehire (Z2) or Org Reassignment (U2)
Actions
• Dynamic Action will Create Infotype 208 (Work Tax
Area) and default Tax Area based on employees
Personnel Subarea (work location)
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24. Scenario 2 – Default Tax Area
Based on IT0001-Org Reassignment
PSA=157
Work Tax
=KY0J
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25. End Result
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26. Scenario 2 – Default Tax Area
The Challenge –Too many Tax Areas!
• There are so many work Tax Areas to default –
we’re running out of room on dynamic action table
for Infotype 0001 – maximum 999 lines
• So how can I manage all the Tax Areas necessary
without maxing out the Dynamic actions table
entries for 0001??????
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27. The Challenge –Too many Tax Areas!
1. Check Action is Hire
(Z1), Rehire (Z2) or Org
Reassignment (U2) and
Country is US
2. Call Procedure to
lookup Work Tax Area
3. Insert Infotype based on PSA on IT
0208 0001. Set value of
RRP50D-FIELD1
4. Write RP50D-
Field1 to Work Tax
area and set
percent to 100
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28. Walk Thru – New Dynamic Action
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29. Procedure for new dynamic action…
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30. Walk Thru – New Dynamic Action cont’d
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31. Scenario 3
From IT0002-Personal Data
Create IT0021-Family Member
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32. Scenario 3 – Personal Data
Create IT0021 Family Related Persons
• Hire (Z1) action
• Dynamic Action will Create Infotype 0021
(Family/Related Person) Subtype 2 (Child) for
every dependent
• Evaluate # of dependents (ANZKD) when Infotype
0002 (Personal Data) is created
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33. Create IT0021 Family Related Persons
If # Deps
= 1,
Insert
IT0021
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34. Create IT0021 Family Related Persons
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35. End Result
35

36. Scenario 3 – Personal Data
The Challenge – Adding Dependents
• Dynamic action for entries into # of dependents
works great on the initial Hire action ….
• BUT……How can create the correct number of
Infotype 0021 (Family/Related Person) anytime
Infotype 0002 is changed or created and # of
dependents (ANZKD) is increased.
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37. Answering the Challenge 1. Check
previous # is
less than new #
of Dependents
2. Call Procedure
to get previously
3. Check value saved # of
of RP50D- Dependents and
Field1. Insert calculate the
correct number difference. Set
of IT0021, Sty 2 RP50D-FIELD1
records.
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38. Determining previous entry
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39. Walk Through – New dynamic action
39

40. Procedure for new dynamic action
PCL4 cluster
stores the
changes made to
infotype
documents.
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41. Procedure for new dynamic action
41

42. 42

43. Family/Related
Persons Infotype
dynamically appears
first time.
Enter first dependent
information
Save
43

44. Family/Related
Persons Infotype
dynamically appears
second time.
Enter second
dependent
information
Save
44

45. Or you could………..
45

46. Much Simpler code……
46

47. Return on Investment
• Data Integrity
• Controls placed in system to ensure accuracy
(i.e., of tax authority)
• Efficiency
• Time saved in entering infotypes repeatedly
• Enables downstream processes
• Compensation Planning process more efficient
with Date in Grade
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48. Key Learnings
• Nothing is foolproof - 80/20 Rule
• Dynamically some business processes can be enabled
• Dynamically some data entry can be automated
• Basic Dynamic Actions can provide value added
benefits
• Automating business processes – saves time by
performing routine tasks
• Insuring data integrity
• Empowering Global Power Users to successfully manage
data
• Dynamic Actions enhanced with some simple ABAP
code make the impossible possible
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49. Thank you for participating!
Please remember to complete and
return your session evaluation
form following this session.
Donna Wendling
Sherry Meyer
Session Code 301