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FSM Cloud Connector component released on 27th August 30th November 2021

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Download here:

SUPPORT PACKAGES FOR ADD-ON 200 SAP ECC

SUPPORT PACKAGES FOR ADD-ON 200 FOR SAP S4

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FSM Cloud Connector release PACG 200/S4PACG 200 SP2 SP3 aligns with SAP FSM release 21082111

Table of Contents
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After installing the service pack please install SAP NOTE 3114998 Before running SETUP logs are not displayed

Post-installation steps

  • Run Install SAP NOTE 3125347 - Object not recognized during idoc processing ending with /PACG/ECM_SETUPIn transaction ECMX object type

  • Run /PACG/ECM_CLSASSIG - E4C Outgoing Messages Configuration change setting for message SETUP

  • Make sure that the new idoc class and transformation is set for /PACG/ECM_EQUI and set IDOC creation class to in transaction /PACG/ECM_CL_S_IDOC_O_EQUI2CLSASSIG -FSM Connector's Outgoing Messages Configuration:

  • In transaction /PACG/ECM_ACTIVE check if all the settings related to setting up the references between activities' attachments meet your requirements

  • If you intended to use new feature “multiple activities linked to single service order operation” please check the documentation

New features

Additional way of determining if a material is batch-managed - this new feature has a significant impact on the determination of batchable/non-batchable materials but specially the latter. Default determination was the following: check general material data, check plant material data, and check valuation of material. Even if material was set as non-batchable but valuation was found, it was sent as batchable. A new configuration option was introduced. If enabled, the valuation is not checked and only material’s settings are considered.

Learn more: https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/31953999/PACG+ECM+ICONF+-+Item+Configuration#Check-MBEW

Until now, when posting expenses using cost center, the cost center was determined based on either work center of the person (technician) or simply the fixed value stored in the customizing was used. A new option was introduced - it will also be possible to use cost center determined based on the activity type.

Learn more: https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/31953879/PACG+ECM+VEXPNS+Expenses+Customizing#CO-Expense-type-settings%5BhardBreak%5D

Category

Feature description

Service order/Activities

  • Default FSM Connector linkage type between the operation and activity is one to one – one operation, one activity. However, under certain business-related circumstances it can be more suitable to link several activities with a single operation in the service order. From now on, such feature will be available based on the new configuration option. This also covers planning and rearranging reserved materials among activities linked to single operation

Learn more: https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/37136054/PACG+ECM+SCTD+Service+Call+types+definition+Overview+and+Detail#Use-ReqAssig

The COR_CLOUD_AssgPlan UDF is crucial for proper functioning of activities and assignments. Because it is “just a UDF”, it was treated like other UDFs which means it had to be assigned to a company (or companies) and sent to SAP FSM (for instance manually, using sending report). With this release, we automated sending of this particular UDF to FSM so users don’t need to care about it anymore. It is a relatively small enhancement but thanks to it, situation where it was forgotten resulting in problems with activities’ automatic release from SAP can be easily avoided

Activities

Activities' addresses handling

In the FSM planning board it is now possible, with the preview mode enabled, to use a new modal UI. One of the functionalities it offers is the possibility of changing the addresses in the activities including an option of defining completely new address. The newest Connector delivers corresponding functionality which lets supporting of these changes in the backend SAP system.

Learn more: Custom Activity Address

New properties added to activity object

Activity object was extended with two fields: LATESTSTARTDATE and LATESTSTARTTIME. Because there are no SAP standard equivalents fields can be filled by a BAdI and content can be seen in /PACG/ECM_ACTI_VC03 transactions

Operation’s deletion in service order

After deletion of an operation in a service order in the backend SAP system, corresponding activity is closed and certain follow up action can be configured.
If you want to learn more, check /PACG/ECM_ACTIVE – General Properties of E4C Activity, fields RemvdOpAct, Removed operation text and WF Step for removed operation.

Changes in operations' texts handling

Configuration option ‘Operation text' was removed in /PACG/ECM_SCTD and new option was introduced instead ‘Orders' header long text to acti remarks’. This option controls propagation of service order’s header text to activities
If you want to learn more, check /PACG/ECM_SCTD – Service Call types definition

Reopen after TECO

This is functionality implemented once for sales activities and now can be used with FSM activities. If TECO is set in service order all related activities are being closed. If this option is enabled and TECO is reverted closed activities will be reopened for further processing

Learn more: /PACG/ECM_SCSTD - Status of Service Call, field ReopenAfterTECO.

Activity feedback codes

Activity Feedback

The activity feedback codes functionality has been extended. Users are able to use FSM object activity codes and activity composed codes for SAP catalogs. In order to use this functionality tables /PACG/ECM_SERCC - Service error composed codes and /PACG/ECM_SERCCT - Service error composed codes - Texts need to be filled with data. It can be done by using a new report /PACG/ECM_LOADSERCC - Load Service Error Codes (ACC) . Please note that if you used activity codes in the past, you need to delete all activity codes before using activity codes with activity composed codes.

Attachments

Activities' attachments to Equipment

New BAdI definition that lets users link attachment added to activities with equipment determined based on some custom logic. By default, if relevant option is enabled, activities' attachments are linked with equipment linked with current activity

Learn more: https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/3713605437135497/PACG+ECM+SCTDACTIVE+ServiceGeneral+CallProperties+typesof+definition+Overview+and+Detail#Release-Activity

  • It is possible to set user status in the service order based on Origin value set in FSM service call. This was working fine when using unnumbered users’ status. However, this was a limitation for customers who often use numbered status (defining certain dependencies between them). With this release this functionality got extended and from now on, FSM Connector can deal properly with both statuses' types

Learn more: /PACG/ECM_SAS – Serv. Assignment Status Customizing

  • The update of an activity is sent to FSM when it is recognized in the backend system that the objects has changed. Till now, the determination of the change was done based on certain standard properties. With this release, we introduced a new BADi which lets users add own logic to this determination process

Reserved materials

‘Book component’ option in service order settings of FSM Cloud Connector causes addition of new reservation for material in case of so-called ‘unplanned consumption’. The new reservation was also created if there was already one for a given material. Due to customers’ request, this has changed. Now, in case of unplanned consumption, FSM Connector first checks if there is already a reservation for a material and creates it there is none.E4C+Activity#Link-FSM-Attachments-from-Activity-to-Equipment and https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/1466761219/BAdI+definitions#I_GET_EQUI_FOR_REFERENCE

Activities' attachments to Functional location

Analogically to the logic applied to equipment, if instead of equipment functional location is used additional references will be created if relevant customizing is enabled

  • FSM Cloud Connector will be sending the list of supported objects to SAP FSM - relying on it, the FSM will be able to suppress sending of objects to the Connector which cannot be interpreted correctly

Learn more: Send the list of FSM objects supported by FSM Cloud Connector

  • In order to lower the load of the outbound queues and speed up the entire communication process, we introduced additional options giving more flexibility in setting up system queues

    • Split traffic between inbound and outbound queues. Until now, only outbound queue was used for handling traffic in both directions (despite its name). Now it will be possible to use the inbound queue for inbound traffic and the outbound queue for outbound.

    • In addition to the point above, it will also be possible to enable additional queue only for handling confirmations

    • Last but not least, it will be possible to define own queues using a newly created BADi and split the traffic among in a way that best fits the requirements

Learn more: https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/31952515/PACG+ECM+CPROP+-+General+Properties+of+FSM+Cloud+Connector#Queue-management

The default number of messages that can be processed within a single LUW was increased and in addition can be controlled with a configuration option

Learn more: https://proaxia-prod-doc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PFCC/pages/3713623537135497/PACG+ECM+SCTDMACTIVE+MovementsGeneral+forProperties+serviceof+order+type+Overview+and+Detail#Book-component

Materials

Expenses

Performance

E4C+Activity#Link-SAP-Attachments-of-Functional-location-to-Activity

Contact Person

Contact person integration with FSM

New Connector SP3 brings full integration between Contact Persons and FSM. Contact persons created in FSM will now be created in SAP backend system and Connector can support both standard solution: ‘Customer’ related contact person and ‘Business Partner’ related contact person.

Contracts

Contracts deletion

Missing bit of contracts' integration is brought by SP3. Now when contract is deleted in transaction VA42 the deletion request will also be sent to FSM

Equipment

Tools configuration

The configuration transaction /PACG/ECM_EQ1 - Equipment Settings was extended with options dedicated to tools only

Logs

Error logs viewer

By default Connector uses standard SAP logging solution which is BALLOG but the transaction SLG1 used for browsing and viewing logs has its limitations. This is why with the new service pack alternative, custom solution is introduced.

If you want to learn more, check /PACG/ECM_LOG_VIEWER - FSM Error Log Viewer

Info

Connector’s own logging mechanism should be considered as a beta release and we would appreciate your feedback and comments

Mileages

Do not create cost documents for mileages without distance

If no distance is entered for a mileage on the mobile app (e.g. because this field is purposely hidden), a direct activity allocation document cannot be created in SAP. By default, further processing would be stopped and CATS/confirmation couldn't be created either. Now posting of CO documents can be skipped. If a new option is enabled, mileages with missing distance do not run into an error. No cost document is posted but if CATS or confirmations are activated for mileages, such documents are created.

Learn more: /PACG/ECM_MLGG – Mileage – General Settings, field CO Posting.

Payment terms and methods

Object filtering

In older releases the FSM Connector was sending to FSM all existing payment terms and all payment methods. This was causing loads of unnecessary data being transferred. There are new configuration transactions added which let users build filters on payment term and methods and send them selectively.
If you want to learn more check /PACG/ECM_APTRM - Allowed payment terms and /PACG/ECM_APMTH - Allowed Payment Methods

Purchase orders

FSM Crowd and Purchase Orders

Purchase orders created in FSM are now integrated with backend SAP system. Purchase orders created by FSM (CROWD or mobile apps) can now be sent to the Connector and corresponding objects will be created there. The integration includes also automation based on related activities. Depending on the activity’s status purchase order can be either released or confirmed or even deleted and even purchase requisition can be created and converted into purchase order.

If you want to learn more, check Integration of the Crowd with purchase orders

PS integration

The second approach to PS integration with SAP FSM - WBS elements can be used as FSM service calls and activities

The first approach to integration of FSM with SAP Project Systems was introduced in the previous FSM Cloud Connector versions. In that approach, network orders and network activities can be used as FSM service calls and activities.

The new service pack introduces the second approach to PS integration - WBS elements can be used as FSM service calls or activities (depending on the WBS project type).

The integration currently supports:

  • Creation (in SAP ECC/S4), update and deletion of FSM service calls and activities, based on WBS elements

  • Advanced customizing of dates/equipment/subject/address for FSM service calls and activities created based on WBS elements

  • Support for GOS/BDS/DMS attachments:

    • attachments can be added to WBS elements in SAP ECC/S4 and transferred as FSM service call/activity attachments

    • attachments added to WBS-based service calls and activities in FSM are stored on WBS element level

  • Time effort/mileage/expense/material processing adjusted to WBS element integration. Documents created with reference to WBS elements.

  • Selected reserved material scenarios support

  • Prefilled checklist generation support

Get better insight into the integration’s scope: WBS element integration

Info

Please note that this integration approach is in its beta version. It contains most of the major features but is not considered fully production-ready. We release it to collect further feedback and will be happy to adjust it to your needs as part of a joint integration project.

Reserved materials

New properties added to reserved material object

Reserved material (RESERVEDMATERIAL) object was extended with new fields ARRIVAL and TRACKPART. Because there are no SAP standard equivalents fields can be filled by a BAdI.

Consider ‘Reservation Relevance’ standard option when creating reservations

New Connector delivers enhanced logic of sending Reserved Materials relying on SAP standard option ‘Reservation Relevance’. In the transaction /PACG/ECM_SCTD configuration ‘Do not send R RMat’ was extended with new selection option ‘Avoid sending of 'R' RMats with Res./Purc. req set as Never’ so if this option is selected and ‘Reservation Relevance’ is set to NEVER then reserved material will not be sent to FSM

Skills

Enable 'Dummy booking' for inbound SKILL objects

'Dummy booking' for inbound messages means that a confirmation will be sent to SAP FSM to unblock an object, but no additional processing (e.g. saving this object in SAP ECC/S4) will take place. Now this functionality is available also for inbound Skill objects.

Learn more: /PACG/ECM_CLSASSIGIN - FSM Connector's Incoming Messages Configuration

Time efforts

Time effort update from FSM

In theory it is not possible to update synced time efforts in FSM. However in practice it is still can be doable with business rules. Before SP3 such inbound time efforts were simply considered as incorrect and left in the error state. This in turn resulted in parent object being blocked as well. With SP3 this logic in Connector was enhanced and in case of an update of the time effort objects content is compared to what was received before and if this hasn’t changed confirmation is sent to FSM. However if there was a change then error is raised and Idoc ends uprocessed

If you want to learn more, check Time efforts updated in SAP FSM

Administration & Configuration

Connector uninstallation

Connector’s Setup program creates number of entries in the system tables, Idoc related entries, events definitions, ballog config just to name a few. In this release Connector brings /PACG/ECM_UNINSTALL. This tool simply reverse changes introduced by the Setup.

Change of logical system without transport

New transaction /PACG/ECM_COMPL - Logical system for company was added - this lets define logical system for company without creation of transport which means it can be changed in each system independently

‘No workflow’ config option was obsoleted

If this option was disabled (unchecked) in /PACG/ECM_CPROP, if an error occurred when sending documents from backend to FSM a special ‘Error workflow’ was being triggered. By default this option was set to true disabling the workflow on error. In addition disabling the option could led to performance issues therefore eventually it was decided that it should be removed.

Extension of the Queue Email Alert generation program

An Email Alert can be sent to responsible persons when FSM queues stop working/are not active. The program retrieves existing queues and checks if their names/statuses match the selection criteria. Queue statuses taken into consideration used to be hardcoded. Now, the user can add any additional queue status to the list. The most common statuses can be selected using checkbox parameters.

Learn more: /PACG/ECM_QSTATUS - Email queue issues

Setting default values

In transactions /PACG/ECM_SAASG, /PACG/ECM_PLAS, /PACG/ECM_PAAS and /PACG/ECM_EKAS where it is necessary to select default entries program does not allow setting more defaults than one for related entries