Dynamic Actions in SAP HR

Overview
Dynamic actions are really useful in SAP and allow you to automate certain activities between different infotypes.
For example, when one infotype is created, another unrelated infotype can be automatically created at the same
time and values can be pre-populated from another infotype.
An example of this is that when a maternity absence is created in infotype 2001 the SMP master record in infotype
0088 can also be created without the user having to manually create the infotype 0088 record separately.
Access to the set-up of Dynamic actions is via the IMG in a number of different application areas search for the
text Dynamic Actions. In addition you can modify the table T588Z using the transaction code SM30 for table
maintenance.
Each separate process of the dynamic action is held on a separate line number and has an operation specified for
that line e.g. check conditions, maintain an infotype, set the value of field(s) within an infotype etc.

General Tips and Tricks

Always place a comment at the start of the dynamic action to identify it. A comment should have no value in the
Indicator column and should start with an * in the Variable Function part. This makes it far easier to find a specific
dynamic action in the table. This tip will make sense once you have configured many dynamic actions for the same
infotype. It can be quite difficult to spot a particular dynamic action amongst the many similar ones. This also gives
you an idea of what it is supposed to do when you come back to modify it in 6 months time.
If you want to edit the whole of the dynamic action table use table T588Z in table maintenance. Use this when
you start the configuration for the dynamic action and you need to view other examples of dynamic actions against
other infotypes.
If you wish to edit a dynamic action for a specific infotype, you can use the view V_T588Z. Once you click on the
maintain button, you are asked to enter the infotype you wish to use. This then restricts the number of entries to
that infotype only.
You may need to find an example of a similar dynamic action and would like to search through the whole table. On
certain versions of SAP, the find and find next buttons are greyed out. A simple work around is to click on the
print icon and this then takes you to an overview screen of the dynamic actions table. You will now be able to make
use of the find and find next buttons. Once you have found the relevant piece that you wish to copy, just make a
note of it or copy it onto the clipboard and click on the green back arrow to be taken back to the maintain table
screen.
If you wish to select a piece of text in SAP, it is often not possible if you are not in a particular field or table view.
Use the Ctrl + Y buttons to highlight a piece of text which you can then copy onto the clip board.
When you first start configuring your dynamic action you may find that it doesnt work 100% - this is quite
common. If the dynamic action is not being called at all, then simply comment out your plausibility checks. Once
you have the dynamic action correctly bringing up the infotype screen, then you can take off the comments and
turn the plausibility checks back on one at a time. You will then get a better idea as to where it is failing.
In addition if your dynamic action is to work during an action, then dont put on the TCODE = PA40 plausibility
check until you are happy that it is working to your satisfaction otherwise you could be creating a lot of new
starters. Just have the dynamic action set to transaction code PA30 and once you have it working, change the
transaction code to PA40. This will save you a lot of time.
It is important to provide gaps in the numbering between different dynamic actions. A gap of 10 lines is the
minimum you should have between dynamic actions. Remember this is not MS Excel where you can just easily
insert a row. All of the rows in a dynamic action table are numbered and it is a real pain to insert rows. It is good
practice to leave bigger gaps if you can. Use even or odd numbers for your lines of configuration. Even better use
every 3rd line. This allows you to insert the odd line or 2 without having to laboriously copy and move all the lines of
the dynamic action, which can be a bit of a pain.
If you are wanting the dynamic action to look at multiple values for the same field on a plausibility check, make use
of the /X at the end of each line for all of the values.
You may wish the dynamic action to take place in the background and not be visible to the user. It is good practice

to only put the /D in at the very end once you have thoroughly tested your dynamic action and are happy that it
works 100%.
Remember that if you find that your dynamic action is not meeting your requirements, you can always get your
dynamic action to call a user programme which will be far more flexible than the functionality offered by standard
dynamic actions.
If you are writing away values for infotype 0000 Actions then you need to use P0000-xxxx. This is unlikely to
happen often as infotype 0000 is always saved first and will in most cases be used to set off other dynamic actions.
If you are wanting to check a certain action type or action reason, then use the field PSPAR-MASSN (action type)
and PSPAR-MASSG (action reason).

Dynamic Action and Its Configuration

Dynamic Actions are performed automatically by the system, depending on certain conditions. If
maintaining one infotype has an effect on another infotype, the system automatically displays the
second infotype for processing. Dynamic actions can run in the background i.e. the user does not see
the run on the screen. A change in one field of an infotype might require that certain other infotype be
updated at the same time. The details can be specified as a dynamic event. It is automatically
triggered by the system.
Ex:1)The Personal Data(0002) infotype is newly created, and the Number of children field is filled.
Once the record is saved, the system automatically displays the Family/Related Person (0021)
infotype and the Child subtype (2) for processing to enter the details about the spouse and the
children.
Ex:2)An employee is hired, and the probationary period is entered in infotype Contract
Elements(0016). Once this information is saved, the system automatically displays a record from the
Monitoring of Dates (0019) infotype and the subtype Expiry of probation (1) for processing.
IGM Path for configuring the Dynamic Action: IMG - Personnel management - Personnel
administration - Customize procedures - Dynamic actions.
Table: T588Z.