Define an Extended Catalog Item

This document explains how you define an extended catalog item (ECI).

An ECI is a predefined template item used in customer order entry during the buy-to-order process.

Outcome

A template item is created. There are two kinds of ECIs:

ECI with item category 11 (extended catalog item)
ECI with item category 12 (non-coded extended catalog item).

When using an ECI with item category 11 during customer order entry, a new item with a new item number is created automatically based on item master data from the template item. It will function like a ordinary item throughout the entire order process (customer order, purchase order, goods receipt, picking list and so on).

When using an ECI with item category 12, a temporary item is created during customer order entry. No item number is created in order to avoid the creation of a large number of records in the item master file.

The item master file MITMAS is updated.

Before you start

A numbering rule must be defined in (MWS050).
The general settings for buy-to-order must be defined as described in Define Settings for the Buy-to-Order Process.

Follow these steps

Define Basic Settings for Extended Catalog Items

Start 'Item Type. Open' (CRS040/B). Specify the desired item type identity (maximum three characters). Select New to go to the E panel.
On the E panel, specify a description and a name and select either item category 11 or item category 12. This is required for ECI.
Select a template item. This is only required for item category 11.

Before entering a template item in this field, it must be created in 'Item. Open' (MMS001)—for more information, see Define an Extended Catalog Item. It is not necessary to specify information about the template item at this stage. Instead, continue entering the item type until you are finished. After creating a template item, return to the item type to enter the new template item.
Select status 05=Template item in the Status field, and select a numbering rule. Only required for item category 11.
Specify the information in the remaining fields of the E panel and the F panel. These fields are optional. Click Exit to finish.
Start 'Item. Connect Warehouse' (MMS002/B). Select an item, and select Open to go to the E panel.
On the E panel, select 2=Purchasing in the 'Acquisition code' field. Click Exit to Finish.

Define Inventory Accounting Method and Preliminary Pricing Rule

Start 'Item. Connect Facility' (MMS003/B). Select the item, and select Open to go to the E panel.
On the E panel in the 'Inventory accounting method' field select 2=Average cost or 4=Actual cost. Press Enter to go to the F panel.

Note: If line type 1: Inventory accounting method=4
If line type 2: Inventory accounting method=2 or 4.
On the F panel, select a costing model, and select the default values for the preliminary price code on the customer order line for line type 1 and line type 2.
Select the 'Calculate price for line type 1' and 'Calculate price for line type 2' check boxes if you want the sales price on customer order lines of line types 1 and 2 to be calculated dynamically during customer order entry. Press Enter to finish.

If you have selected the check boxes, you must specify information in 'Settings - Sales Price Calculation' (OIS330/E). See 'Define Settings for the Buy-to-Order Process' in the See also section.

Define an Extended Catalog Item

Start 'Item. Open' (MMS001/B). Select an item type, and select New to go to the E panel.

You can select the item type you have predefined for either item category 11 or item category 12 in 'Item Type. Open' (CRS040).
On the E panel, specify a name and a description.
Select status 05=Template item, if the item category is 11.

When an ECI with item category 11 is processed through the customer order flow, a new item number is created and stored in the item file, and item status is set to 80.

The status in (MMS001/E) is connected to the item type in 'Item Type. Open' (CRS040). See also step 4 of Define Basic Settings for Extended Catalog Items.
Select 2=Purchased in the 'Make/buy code' field. This is required for ECI.
Specify the unit of the item in the 'Basic U/M' field.

For item category 11 this unit of measure can be changed during customer order entry, but for item category 12 it cannot be changed.
Specify the information in the remaining fields on the E panel. These fields are optional for ECI. Press Enter to go to the F panel.
On the F panel, specify the desired information. Press Enter to go to the G panel.

For item category 12, the information given here on weight and volume cannot be changed during customer order entry.
Specify the information on the remaining panels. Press Enter to finish.

To make the ECI work during customer order entry, it must be connected to a warehouse in 'Item. Connect Warehouse' (MMS002). For more information on how to create items, refer to the supply chain execution process documentation.

Parameters to set


Program ID/Panel	Field	The field indicates …
(CRS040/E)	Item category	… the item category that best represents the characteristics of each item. The valid alternatives for ECI are: 11 = Extended catalog item 12 = Non-coded extended catalog item. The alternatives are used for controlling and informational purposes. ECIs and non-coded ECIs are only to be used in combination with line types 1 and 2 during customer order entry. When using an ECI template item in customer order entry, a new item is created based on item master data from the template item.
(CRS040/E)	Template item	… the template item used to automatically create a new item. This item contains the same settings as the template.
(CRS040/E)	Numbering rule	… a numbering rule that defines what item and alias numbers consist of.
(MMS002/E)	Acquisition code	… how acquisition is to be performed in the case of requirements (immediate or planned) for each item/warehouse. The valid alternative for ECI is 2=purchasing. Since the acquisition code can be overridden, both purchasing and manufacturing can exist simultaneously.
(MMS003/E)	Inventory accounting method	… the inventory accounting method that defines how the cost of an item is determined per item/facility. The valid alternatives for ECI are: 2 = Average cost 4 = Actual cost. Alternative 2 is primarily used when cost cannot be specified in advance, as is the case with purchased items. It can be used for all other kinds of items, however. Alternative 4 is primarily used when you want inventory value to equal actual cost for the item, so no variances are created for the item. The actual cost is calculated per lot number. The method can be used for any kind of item. Note that one of the lot control methods 2 – 5 must be selected for the item in (MMS001/E). The cost is calculated per lot number.
(MMS003/F)	Costing model - sales price	… the identity of a costing model for sales prices. Costing models can be connected to different price lists and are used to calculate both basic prices and order-dependent prices. Costing models are defined in 'Sales Costing Model. Open' (OIS022).
(MMS003/F)	Preliminary price for line type 1 and line type 2	… the default value for the preliminary price code on the customer order line for line type 1 and line type 2. The preliminary price code on a customer order line determines whether the sales price on a customer order line is preliminary. Customer order lines with preliminary price marking will not be invoiced until the marking has been removed. The valid alternatives are: 0 = The sales price is not preliminary. 1 = The sales price is preliminary. The preliminary price marking will automatically be set to 0 (final price) if the sales price calculation is performed from: 'Planned Purchase Order. Open' (PPS170) 'Planned Purchase Order. Open Line' (PPS201) 'Purchase Order. Confirm' (PPS250) 'Supplier Invoice. Record' (APS100) 'CO Delivery. Recalculate Preliminary Price' (OIS156). 2 = The sales price is preliminary. The preliminary price marking will automatically be set to 0 (final price) if sales price calculation is performed from: 'Supplier Invoice. Record' (APS100). 'CO Delivery. Recalculate Preliminary Price' (OIS156). 3 = The sales price is preliminary. The only way to remove the preliminary price marking is to change the order line.
(MMS003/F)	Calculate price for line type 1 and line type 2	… whether the sales price on a customer order line with line type 1 is calculated dynamically during customer order entry.