Locking in Demand Planning

Locking in Demand Planning

Use

When a user changes data in the system, the system must then lock this data. This prevents other users from changing the same data simultaneously and causing data inconsistencies. This means that you can only change data in demand planning (DP) that is not currently locked. If, for example, interactive planning is to select data that has already been locked, then this data is automatically shown in display mode.

Features

You use the selection to choose a specific quantity of characteristic value combinations that you want to use in planning from the whole pool of characteristic value combinations of a planning object. If you specify one or more values for a certain characteristic, the system searches the large number of of possible values for a unique assignment. Subsequently, the system locks the data corresponding to the determined values depending on the selected locking method. (However, this does not apply to mass processing.)

For example, product A is only available in location 0001. If, in this case, you specify product A in a selection, the system automatically enhances the selection by adding 'location 0001' and locks the data for product A in location 0001. However, a different user can simultaneously create product A in location 0002 and enter data for this. If, subsequently, you make a new selection with product A, the system locks all data for product A in locations 0001 and 0002.

If multiple users want to work with data of the same characteristics simultaneously, then this is only possible if the each user's selection is differentiated by at least one characteristic value.

For example, user A is working with the data of the selection product = PROD1 and location = LOC1 in interactive planning. User B is simultaneously carrying out planning with the data of the selection product = PROD2 and location = LOC2. Meanwhile, user C begins planning with the data of the selection product = PROD1 and location = LOC2.

Demand planning has a number of different locking methods. The difference between these locking methods lies in the accuracy with which the system evaluates your selection.

Demand planning uses the liveCache lock by default, since it is the most precise lock. If you are working with a planning area from an older release for which an different locking method is set up, change this setting by setting the liveCache Lock indicator.

You can choose from the following locking methods:

Aggregated Lock

Using this locking method, the system can only create an entry in the lock table for one unique single value per characteristic. All other types of selection for a characteristic cause the system to lock all values of the characteristic. These include the following selections:

● Intervals (entries with <, >, £, ³ are also intervals), for example, products 1 to 100.

● Multiple single values, for example, location = DERBY, PHILADELPHIA and SINGAPORE.

● Exclusive selections (single values and intervals), for example, customer ¹ SMITH.

Detailed Lock

This lock is less restrictive than the aggregated lock. In this case, the system can create an entry in the lock table for multiple single values per characteristic. The detailed lock does not evaluate intervals or exclusive selections.

You can use the detailed lock together with the key figure specific lock. For more information, see Key Figure Specific Locking.

liveCache Lock

The liveCache lock is the most precise locking method. Using this locking method, the system can create an entry in the lock table for multiple single values or one interval per characteristic. The liveCache lock does not take exclusive selections into account.

In addition, the system evaluates a wildcard character (*) and any number of wild cards (+) in single values. Always use the wildcard character at the end of the characteristic value, for example, ABC*.

You can use the liveCache lock together with the key figure specific lock. For more information, see Key Figure Specific Locking.

Activities

Select Lock

You select the lock that you want to use in planning area maintenance on the Locking tab page. The liveCache Lock indicator is set by default there. When the liveCache Lock and Detailed Lock indicators are not set, the aggregated lock is active.

Displaying Lock Entries

You can display lock entries in interactive planning. To do so, choose Goto ® Lock Entries.

If you are working with the aggregated or detailed lock, you can also display the lock situation for all system objects. To do so, on the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Tools® Administration ® Monitor® Lock Entries.

Example

The following examples with different selections clarify the modes of action of the different locking methods. In the examples, two users, user X and user Y, want to work with certain characteristic values of characteristic A. User X is already working with data for characteristic A.

Example 1

Characteristic	Existing selection (user X)	Desired Selection (user Y)
A	= 01	No value

In this example, all three locking methods have the same effect: user Y cannot work with this selection. User X is already working with value 01 of characteristic A, which means that user Y cannot lock all the values of characteristic A.

Example 2

Characteristic	Existing selection (user X)	Desired Selection (user Y)
A	= 01	= 02

In this example, all three locking methods have the same effect: user Y can work with this selection since he or she has selected a value for characteristic A that is different to the one selected by user X.

Example 3

Characteristic	Existing selection (user X)	Desired Selection (user Y)
A	= 01	= 02 AND 03 AND 04

Aggregated lock: user Y cannot work with this selection since multiple single values have been specified for characteristic A. The system now attempts to lock all values for characteristic A. This is not possible since user X is already working with the data of characteristic value 01.

Detailed lock and liveCache lock: user Y can work with this selection since these locking methods take multiple single values into account and the specified characteristic values do not include value 01 that was locked by user X.

Example 4

Characteristic	Existing selection (user X)	Desired Selection (user Y)
A	= 01	From 02 to 04

Aggregated and detailed lock: user Y cannot work with this selection since an interval has been specified for characteristic A. The system now attempts to lock all values for characteristic A.This is not possible since user X is already working with the data of characteristic value 01.

liveCache lock: user Y can work with this selection since the liveCache lock takes the interval into account and the interval does not include value 01 that was locked by user X.

Key Figure Specific Locking

Use

The effect of this function is that the system only locks the key figures of a planning area that are being processed in data views. The key figure specific lock can be used as an enhancement of the detailed lock or of the liveCache lock.

Prerequisites

● You are working with demand planning (DP) planning areas.

● You have set the Detailed Lock or liveCache Lock indicator on the Locking tab page in planning area maintenance.

Features

If you have activated the key figure specific lock for a planning area, two users can work with the same selection. A prerequisite for this is that both users are working in different data views that do not contain shared key figures.

When you use the key figure specific lock, you can also set the Do not lock read-only key figures indicator so that the system does not lock read-only key figures. This enables multiple users to select the same read-only key figures of a planning area. A prerequisite for this is that the respective data views do not contain any key figures that have already been locked.

In general you can change the Read-Only/Change attribute of a key figure by using a macro. However, this is not possible if you want to change a read-only key figure of a planning area for which there is no active key figure specific lock and in which the read-only key figures are not locked.

Activities

To activate the key figure specific lock for a planning area, in planning area maintenance, you set the key figure specific lock indicator on the Locking tab page. In addition to this indicator, you can also set the Do not lock read-only key figures indicator here.

Key Figure Specific Locking

Use

The effect of this function is that the system only locks the key figures of a planning area that are being processed in data views. The key figure specific lock can be used as an enhancement of the detailed lock or of the liveCache lock.

Prerequisites

● You are working with demand planning (DP) planning areas.

● You have set the Detailed Lock or liveCache Lock indicator on the Locking tab page in planning area maintenance.

Features

If you have activated the key figure specific lock for a planning area, two users can work with the same selection. A prerequisite for this is that both users are working in different data views that do not contain shared key figures.

When you use the key figure specific lock, you can also set the Do not lock read-only key figures indicator so that the system does not lock read-only key figures. This enables multiple users to select the same read-only key figures of a planning area. A prerequisite for this is that the respective data views do not contain any key figures that have already been locked.

In general you can change the Read-Only/Change attribute of a key figure by using a macro. However, this is not possible if you want to change a read-only key figure of a planning area for which there is no active key figure specific lock and in which the read-only key figures are not locked.

Activities

To activate the key figure specific lock for a planning area, in planning area maintenance, you set the key figure specific lock indicator on the Locking tab page. In addition to this indicator, you can also set the Do not lock read-only key figures indicator here.

Key Figure Specific Locking

Use

The effect of this function is that the system only locks the key figures of a planning area that are being processed in data views. The key figure specific lock can be used as an enhancement of the detailed lock or of the liveCache lock.

Prerequisites

● You are working with demand planning (DP) planning areas.

● You have set the Detailed Lock or liveCache Lock indicator on the Locking tab page in planning area maintenance.

Features

If you have activated the key figure specific lock for a planning area, two users can work with the same selection. A prerequisite for this is that both users are working in different data views that do not contain shared key figures.

When you use the key figure specific lock, you can also set the Do not lock read-only key figures indicator so that the system does not lock read-only key figures. This enables multiple users to select the same read-only key figures of a planning area. A prerequisite for this is that the respective data views do not contain any key figures that have already been locked.

In general you can change the Read-Only/Change attribute of a key figure by using a macro. However, this is not possible if you want to change a read-only key figure of a planning area for which there is no active key figure specific lock and in which the read-only key figures are not locked.

Activities

To activate the key figure specific lock for a planning area, in planning area maintenance, you set the key figure specific lock indicator on the Locking tab page. In addition to this indicator, you can also set the Do not lock read-only key figures indicator here.