Overview on Feature (HCM)

By Suneetha Mattaparthi, Accenture

Purpose of Features:  

Features serve to determine certain values based on HR structures. These return values or results can be individual values, structures, or tables. Using features enables you to do the mapping of decision trees without requiring any programming.  

The SAP standard supports you with its numerous features that determine suggested values and control system flows.  

Two special function modules are used frequently in HR:

HR_FEATURE_BACKFIELD (Reading a feature with field return).

HR_FEATURE_BACKTABLE (Reading a feature with table return).  

Maintaining features: You maintain features with transaction PE03. The three most important elements of feature are:  

1)       Attribute

2)       Structure

3)       Decision tree.  

ATTRIBUTE: The attribute (see figure 1) shows the person responsible for the entire feature and for maintenance of the structure.            

Using this feature element, you can regulate whether this person may be the only person responsible for maintenance of the feature and the structure.                        

A program of type S (subroutine pool) is created from the specification in the decision tree when the feature is activated. The feature is also assigned to countries and components.  

Figure 1: The attribute of the feature.  

STRUCTURE:    A structure for setting up a decision tree must be assigned to every feature.

The specification of the fields of the structure can be queried in the decision nodes. Structures are defined in the ABAP dictionary. The marked fields can then be used in the decision tree.

The Company Code, Personnel Area, Personnel Sub Area, Employee Group is selected in Figure 2.

You can also enter a field name in BACK VALUE FIELD NAME to enable more user friendly maintenance in the decision tree.

FIGURE2: Structure of Feature.

When the field specified here has a check table or refers to a domain with fixed value, these values are present in tree maintenance as entry helps and text display. The passing type determines if the return occurs as field (1) or a table (2).  

Accordingly, when a program calls the feature, ensure that the transfer type is compatible and that the fields required for the decision are populated.

Click here to continue...