LIS (Logistic Information Systems) for Purchasing:

Information Systems are tools for analyzing and gathering specific data in different areas
like purchasing, inventory etc.

Concept of Info Structure:

The info tables will start with S, followed by 3 digit integer. Example for standard info
structures are S012, S013, S031, S032, S033 etc. The same can be used for ZReports
also. Apart from standard info structures, user can define user defined info structures too.
The user defined info structures should start with S followed by a three digit number. From
S000 to S500 are reserved for standard.

In case of user defined info structures, once the info structure is created with
required updating, it will be updated along with standard tables during every relevant
transaction. The same info tables can be used for other reporting purposes like
zReports etc.
Analysis of Standard Info Structures:
Transaction: MCDG (Path: SAP Easy Access Information Systems Logistics
Purchasing Tools Flexible analysis Evaluations MCDG (Execute)

Enter the standard evaluation structure and evaluation method.

System will propose the standard characteristics.

Execute.
Output:

Apart from standard info structure, we can define user defined info structure based
on business requirement. For example, we can define an LIS table to update full
purchasing cycle from PO to Invoice.

Creation of user defined Info Structure:

Step1: Create Field Catalog Characteristic catalog.
 A field catalog defines a group of relevant fields from the application. You can thus use
a mixture of fields from any document hierarchies.

Here, you can define the key fields required in the table.

Transaction Code: MC18

Enter name for field catalog.

Select Application from F4 List.

Application 02 for purchasing.

Press ENTER.

Click on Characteristics:
Now, select the required field and click on Copy, or double click on the field.
The selected Items will be visible with tick mark:
The fields can be selected from multiple tables.

Once all the fields required are selected, click on Copy+Close

Now, click on Copy

Save the characteristics field catalog.

Step 2: Create Key Figures.

Key figures are values with particular relevance to business. These will be output of
the report / analysis.

Eg: Invoiced amount, net order value, number of deliveries

Transaction Code: MC18

Enter the field catalog name, description and select the application.
Press ENTER.

Click on Key Figures

Select the required fields as explained in the previous step and click on Copy+close

Save the key figures.

Step 3: Create Info Structure

 The area in which data is collected in the Logistics Information System.

An information structure defines a group of fields and is used for collecting and
reducing data from an operative application such as sales or purchasing. It forms the basis
for analyses and evaluation and includes:

A period unit, giving the structure a time reference

Characteristics, information with reference to which other information is cumulated

(In short, it is the selection screen Selection Parameters)

Key figures, information that is accumulated with reference to characteristics (This is

the output fields)

Transaction Code: MC21

Enter info structure name A four digit key between S501 and S999 (up to S500, is
reserved for standard)

Info Structure description.

Application Press F4 and select the Application. 02 stand for purchasing. The
Applications available are listed below:
 Select the info-structure type. The following are the examples:

Standard type ( )

Rebate Processing (B)

Type Transfer to SAP BW (T)

Please Note that the info structure type cant be changed once its created.

Planning Possible Indicator: Indicator that determines if an information structure is

relevant in flexible planning. If an information structure is created with this indicator, it
can be supplied with planning data (standard).

It is not possible to change the planning characteristic after creating the information
structure.

Enter the details and press ENTER.

 Click on characteristics. Here, you can select the fields to be displayed in the
selection screen of the report.
Double click on the characteristics field catalog created in the first step.

Double click on the fields to be selected to the selection screen. The fields can be selected
from any field catalog.

You can select maximum of 9 field characteristics.

Once required fields are selected, click on Copy + Close

Now, click on Copy

This is a continuation for the document: How to Create an LIS info structure Purchasing
Part 1
Now, Select the Key figures (Output fields)

Double click on the key figures created in the first step:

 Double click on the fields to be selected to the selection screen.

You can select the fields from any key figures.

Click on Copy + Close.Click on Copy

Generate the info structure:

Now, click on Generate as shown below:

 System will ask the package name. Enter the package name and click on save
button

If its a test system and you dont want to transport, you can save it as local object.

Table Generate Log will be displayed:

 If there is no error, the table will be generated.

Go back to the previous screen and save .

You may check the table created (here, S973) in SE16.

 Check the number of entries:

Step 4:Create updating:

By defining the update process, you define the flow of statistical data from the
application to the information system. Means you can define when the data to be updated in
the info table created in the previous step.

The definition of the update rules depends on the information structure and update
group.

Update rules consist, for example, of the source field, the event which triggers the update,
requirements and formulas.

Once you have defined the update rules, the corresponding update programs are
automatically generated.

Transaction Code: MC24

Enter the info structure created in the previous step.

Select the update group: (standard update group: PURCH Purchase Order header
Update Group)
 Press ENTER.

Now, you can define the update rules:

Click on the Rules for Key Fig

Select the required fields from F4 list manually or click on Suggest Rules
 Click on next key figure as shown below:

Repeat the same process for all key figures and click on Copy:
Now define the update rules for characteristics for each key figure:

Select the first key figure and click on Rules for characteristics
Repeat the Rules for the characteristics for each key figure.

Click on Generate as shown below:

Generation Log will be displayed:

Go back and click on Activate Updating

Place the cursor on the info structure created and go to details:

Maintain the update rules as shown below:

Note:
 In the update rules, you could find the following options:
1. Period split:

Here, you can define the period for which the report / info table to be analyzed. If you
select day, you can analyze based on date, if you select week, you can analyze based on
week and so on. The corresponding period only will be updated in the table.

2. Updating:

Here, you can define the time / sequence when the info table to be updated. The
following options are available.

No Updating: The info table wont be updated.

Synchronous Updating (V1 update): The info table will be updated simultaneously
along with standard tables after every relevant transaction. In this case, the
document update will be terminated in case there is any error in the info table
update, as in case of standard tables.

Asynchronous Updating (2) (V2 update) : Here, the info table is updated after actual
document update, that is the document update and the statistics update take place in
different tasks. In case any error occurs in info table update, it doesnt have any
effect on actual document update. However, It doesnt require any scheduled job for
update.

Asynchronous Updating (3) (V3 update) : Here, the document update and info table
update are carried out separately. The difference between V2 update and V3 update
is that in V3, the update can be carried out at a later time. In short, it is a collective
update with a separate (scheduled) job.

Here, I choose the period as Month in order to analyze the report on monthly basis and
the update as Synchronous Update in order to update the table simultaneously along with
standard tables.

Save the update:

Now, the configuration part is over:

Testing:
Complete a purchasing cycle and check whether the table is updated
correctly: (Create PO GR Invoice) and check the table in SE16

To Analyze the report:

Transaction Code:: MCSJ (Path: Easy Access SAP Menu Information Systems
Logistics Purchasing Tools MCSJ_User Defined Analysis
( for purchase MCSJ, for Sales MCSI )

Select the info structure.

Enter the selection parameters and execute:

Click on Switch drill down for further analysis.

You may select any other analysis criteria for analysis.

You may change the output layout as below:

Go to MCSJ and select the info structure: and click on User Settings
Click on Key figures for setting the output layout.

Note: 1. You may follow the same logic for creation of info structure for other areas like
inventory, LIV, sales etc.
2. For more details about LIS transporting, refer the documentation in the path: SPRO-
Logistics General > Logistics Information System (LIS) > Logistics Data Warehouse
Technical information about the transport of LIS objects
Also, refer the notes: 37845 Technical Information: Transporting Info
Structures and 50237 Techn. info.: transport of update, field catalog
3. For further FAQ, please refer the following notes:
552152 FAQ: General questions for LIS
552503 FAQ: Questions for updating and reporting in LIS
Note: Currently, the info table will be updated from the date the info table is
created. If you want the info table to be updated with previous data, you may
follow the procedure explained in the doc: Update History Data to user defined LIS
(Purchasing)

Reference: SAP Library Logistics Information System (LO-LIS)