SAP Tips And Tricks: Never Too Late For Basic Navigation

By Kristina Gordon, DuPont

While working on my most recent project, I decided to begin with an SAP basic-navigation training course. Even though the site at which I was working had implemented SAP several years earlier, I was amazed at the class attendance and feedback. Clearly, the most critical element of using SAP, basic system navigation, had been missed. It’s likely that the tips that were so helpful in my classes will be beneficial to you. The following screen shots will take you through some of the basic system setup and navigation. 

Terminating a transaction:

There are times when you begin to run a transaction and need to stop it before the run is complete:

Step 1: Select the first tray button from the Menu bar.

Step 2: Select ‘Stop Transaction’ from the drop-down selection.

Increasing, decreasing SAP-screen font size:

This is a little known but very helpful tip:

Step 1: Click on the customize local layout button:

Step 2: Select ‘Options’ from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select the ‘I18N’ tab.

Step 4: Check the box ‘Activate Multibytes Functions.’

Step 5: Close the session and re-launch SAP.

Step 6: Click on the customize local layout button.

Step 7: Select ‘Font (I18N)’ from the drop down selection.

Step 8: A new window will open and you can adjust your font, font style, and size.

Step 9: Once you have completed your selection, click OK and exit the application. The new font changes will occur and will be applied once you re-launch SAP.

Customize your user profile:

To get to your user profile, enter through System> User profile> Own data on the tool bar or use transaction SU3. Setting your profile can help you execute transactions quickly, with many filed selections automatically populated for you.

SAP uses Parameter IDs to accomplish this. Below is a common list of parameter IDs that you can enter, along with the value. For example: Parameter ID—WERK, Value—1234 (this is your plant code)

After this value is entered, SAP will automatically populate every transaction that calls for the plant value.

You can locate a field parameter ID by simply clicking in any field, in any transaction, and then click on the F1 button. Select the technical information icon (looks like a hammer and wrench).  A table will pop up, with one of the fields displaying the parameter ID (not all fields have a PID).

Display transactions in menu:

To display the actual SAP code:

Step 1: Click ‘Extras’ from the Menu bar.

Step 2: Select Settings from the drop-down.

Step 3: Check the display technical names.

Step 4: Click the check mark.

Finding a user name:

Users are set up in SAP with a user name. On change logs and detailed information, the user name is shown, however the actual name of the person is not. To locate the name, simply go to transaction SU01D and enter the user name, click the eye glasses, and the name of the person will display. EP

Want to see these tips in action and/or learn more about basic SAP navigation? Click here and Kristina Gordon will show you how to make SAP fit your needs. Watch this space each month for a new training video from Kristina.

Kristina Gordon is SAP PM Leader, DuPont Protective Solutions Business., and SAP WMP Champion, Spruance Site, Richmond, VA. If you have SAP questions, send them to editors@efficientplantmag.com and we’ll forward them to Kristina.