OK SAP World this time I thought I would discuss a simple but often overlooked transaction for generating source lists in mass (ME05). This transaction can be used to mass create source lists by Material Number and/or Plant.

As I have mentioned in the past my goal is that any knowledgeable SAP person can successfully use the following information, however this is not a step by step instruction manual and does require a good understanding of SAP and specifically purchase order source lists. As always I highly recommend testing any mass create/update transaction in development &/or quality environments before running in production.

Transaction ME05 has a “Test Run” feature that I recommend you use in production the first time you execute the transaction no matter how many times you practice in other environments.

Other useful Source List Transaction Codes:

• Maintain source list  –  ME01
• Display source list  –  ME03
• Display changes to source list –  ME04
• Analyze source list  –  ME06
• Reorganize source list  –  ME07
• Display source list for material-  ME0M

Warning: ME05 can be a useful tool but it is not one I have used very often. I have mostly used it in DEV / QAS environments to quickly setup data to use for early “testing”.   It has some quirks so I highly recommend running it in DEV or QAS first and doing “test run” in PRD.  Also I would not recommend running the transaction wide open for a plant without any materials selected.

The reason I suggest that you always populate the material field is because if you run the transaction for a plant without any materials and then select only a few records from the generated list to process the transaction will only create new Source Lists for those records but it will still delete all source lists for the plant. This isn’t a factor if you plan to process every record on the generated list or if you select “Do Not Change” existing records.

Overview – Generate Source List – ME05

+ Transaction ME05 – Generate Source List

• Material – Enter Material number, list of materials or range
• Plant – Enter Plant
• Generate – Select what to include.
• Valid From / To – Verify dates are what you expect
• Existing Records – Select what you want done to existing records.
• Test Run – If first time in PRD ensure this is selected. Otherwise deselect “Test Run”.

Again, I would not recommend running this transaction wide open for a plant without any materials, see warning for more details. And always do a “Test Run” before posting the changes.

In this example we have a list of Materials and have not used the MRP Indicator or Planned Delivery Time Fields.

+ Generate Source List (Simulation) – Test Run

With the “Test Run” field selection SAP will generate a list of records showing what will be done with each record. In Test run you do NOT have an option to save / post the records.

 

+ Generate Source List

With “Test Run” deselected you will now be able to save the records.

If everything looks good hit save.

 

 

End of Blog – www.portsap.com

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The author, Ray Hornbrook, has over 16 years of SAP functional and technical experience.  Ray started his career in SAP as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a SAP implementation in 1998 and is now a Senior SAP Consultant.  Since Ray has worked both sides of SAP, business end user and IT professional, he is able to communicate effectively with both IT and Business team members. Having a background as an SAP business end user has helped Ray greatly in his consulting career to better communicate with the business members of the team.  As well as helping bridge gaps in communication between the IT and Business team members.

To find out more about the Ray Hornbrook please check out his LinkedIn profile by clicking HERE.

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