How to create a Search Help with an Exit

Every SAP user knows the user-friendly search help that offers a list of possible values for a given
zone after pressing F4.
Thanks to this option, it is possible to choose easily an entry without any need for controlling its
relevance, since it is automatically supported by the search help functionality.
If you have luck, you would find a standard search help with adequate filters that fulfill your
requirement. But, it is not so obvious to find the right search help!
For instance, the standard search help MAT1 contains several tabs with different filters to refine the
search for material numbers. Even though, it is not possible to fulfill complex conditions like Display
only materials whose valuation class correspond to a given cost element group
In such cases, you need to create your own search help and implement the specific conditions on your
own, using search help exits.
In this blog, I will explain how to create a search help that fulfills the condition mentioned above:
Display only materials whose valuation class correspond to a given cost element group
For those who are not familiar with the concept of valuation classes in MM:

Go to transaction MM03 and choose a material number then select the Accounting 1 view

Enter the plant in next popup then confirm.

The valuation class could be found under Current valuation.

The valuation class permits in combination with other factors- to determine the G/L account
on which the stock values have to be posted.

G/L accounts are assigned to valuation classes via transaction OBYC.

The FI G/L accounts correspond to primary cost elements in CO. Those are categorized into
cost element groups that could be visualized using transaction KAH3.

We have now in mind the relationship between valuations classes in MM and cost element groups in
CO. Lets create the search help that realizes our requirement.

First step: Create the search help via SE11

In SE11, choose Search Help and enter its name, then click on Create.

In the next popup, choose the option Elementary search help since we will create a single tab in the
search help.

Enter a description then fill in the search help parameters:

Importing parameters are passed at runtime to the search help. In our example, it concerns
information related to a cost element group, i.e. Group name, company code and controlling area.

Exporting parameters correspond to the fields displayed in the hit list. These are the material
number and description.

Further parameters could be added such material type and language. These are filters
displayed in the dialog box that enable further restriction of the hit list.

A default value could be assigned to each parameter by filling the column Default value. For
example, if you want to display only materials with a specific type, you need just to add it as a default
value.
Fill in the columns LPOS and SPOS with parameters positions in the hit list and the dialog box
respectively.
Keep the dialog type display values immediately to display the hit list without going through a dialog
box.
The result looks as follows:

It remains only to add the search help exit.

It is a function module with special parameters.

In SE37, create the function module Z_PS_F4_EXIT_MATNR.
It is necessary to add the following parameters. Otherwise the search help could not be activated.

Changing parameters

Table parameters:

Go now back to the search help and activate it

Second step: Implementation of the search help exit.

The search help implementation is structured as follows:
1.

Get importing parameters

2.

Get dialog box parameters

3.

Select material numbers corresponding to a given cost element group

4.

Constitute the result list of the search help

Get importing parametersFor this purpose, use parameter SHLP as follows:

Get dialog box parameters

For this purpose, use parameter SHLP-SELOPT as follows:

Select material numbers corresponding to the selected cost element group

This functionality is splitted into several function modules for reusability.

Create a function module that builds a range of cost elements belonging to a given

o
group.

Create a structure..

and table type for the range

Go to SE37 and create the function module Z_PS_GET_KSTAR_FROM_GROUP with the following
parameters:

Add the following code:

Create a function module that returns materials with valuation classes that correspond
to a given cost element group.

Create the following structure which will contain the parameters needed for valuation class
selection.

Create function module Z_PS_GET_RESSOURCE_BY_GRPNAME with following parameters.

Implement now the function module:

Call the previously created MF Z_PS_GET_KSTAR_FROM_GROUP to get the range of cost

elements belonging to the group in parameter.

Use the following tables to find out the relevant material numbers:

T030: Get valuation classes corresponding to the previously determined cost elements

o
range
o

MBEW: get materials that have one of the selected valuation classes

The final code looks as follows:

Go back to search help exit Z_PS_F4_EXIT_MATNR and add a call to the function module
Z_PS_GET_RESSOURCE_BY_GRPNAME :

Constitute result list

Select descriptions of materials found in last step. The dialog box parameters have to be taken

into account in the selection.

Append the result to search help hit list

To recapitulate, here is the complete code of search help exit Z_PS_F4_EXIT_MATNR

Third step: Test the search help

Create a table with the following zones:

Select zone MATNR and click on button Srch Help.

Enter the search help name

Mapping between search help parameters and table zones is done automatically. Just confirm the
generated proposal.

Generate a maintenance dialog for the table to be able to maintain it via SM30.
Go now to SM30 and add a new entry in the table. Enter group name, company code and controlling
area.
Use the search help of zone Material to get relevant values. When you execute it, only material
numbers corresponding to the group name value are listed.

Change the group name and notice the effect in search help result

You can also display the dialog box to enable more filtering options