Topic overview

This article describes how inventory postings are mapped in the system and how the corresponding application is structured. You come to know the relationship an inventory posting can have with other applications and business entities and how it is integrated into the ERP processes. How the various posting parameters (in particular, the posting key) affect the inventory posting is explained along with the system checks.

For information on the role played by the posting keys and how they are created, refer to the Posting keys article.

Instructions for handling inventory postings, for instance how to create or edit inventory postings, can be found in the Procedures: Inventory postings article.

Definitions of terms

Warehouse inventory management
Warehouse inventory management is an ongoing recording of the current warehouse inventory. The inventory management server updates these values after every inventory posting with a quantity transaction. Warehouse inventory
management is done at the lowest structural level of the warehouse and item or identifier. If the item has several parallel inventory units, then quantities are maintained for each unit. Inventory quantities can have different properties, such as subdivision into different quality statuses.

Inventory valuation
Inventory valuation is an ongoing calculation of the corresponding value for item inventory available in the warehouse. The value is expressed in monetary units in the corresponding internal currencies. All inventory postings that cause changes to the quantity or value of inventoried items are documented in various valuation processes. In the course of generating the inventory postings, the inventory and its valuation is updated on the basis of the floating average price method. The full sequence of dated inventory valuations, such as FIFO (first in/first out) or LIFO (last in/first out), can only be determined after the posting period has been closed.

Posting error log
The posting error log records incorrect inventory postings. Incorrect inventory postings can occur during automatic posting generation. An incorrect posting remains in the posting error log until it has been corrected and manually posted. Before period-end closing, the posting error log must be empty.

Posting key
The posting key describes the posting process. Among other things, the posting key contains information about the type of action to be carried out, such as receipt, transfer, issue, revaluation, or correction. The posting key also shows whether the posting is a primary or secondary operation.

Inventory management server
The inventory management server is responsible for ongoing recording of the current warehouse inventory quantities and for maintaining the moving average prices in the warehouses assigned to it. In warehouses subdivided into storage locations, the inventory management server has additional tasks, such as reserving storage locations and inventory, and reconciling inventory count differences. When an inventory management server is launched, a batch job is generated. If a warehouse is subdivided into storage locations, then the data relevant for storage location control is loaded into a  cache, to minimize access time.

Inventory postings
Inventory posting is carried out in order to document all quantity and value transactions within inventory management. In the process of inventory posting, inventory is updated and inventorys evaluated according to the posting key used.

Application description

All processes that result in quantity or value changes of inventoried items are documented in the form of inventory postings. Inventory postings are generated automatically as a result of upstream processes, but can also be created manually in the Inventory postings application.

Inventory postings are processed asynchronously by the inventory management server responsible for the warehouse. During the course of the processing, the inventory management server updates the inventories and inventory values according to the posting key used. A warehouse can only be assigned to one inventory management server at a time. If an inventory management server is not running, inventory postings for the assigned warehouses will also not be processed. For more detailed information on the inventory management server, refer to the Inventory management server article.

Each inventory posting has the following numbers:

• Posting number – the posting number is generated based on the number range stored for the posting key used
• Identification – the identification is a unique number in the database. It is assigned by the system when the inventory posting is generated.
• Processing number – the processing number is assigned by the inventory management server during processing and is unique following assignment. If the processing number is zero (0), this means that the inventory posting has not yet been processed by the inventory management server and, thus, has not been included in the inventory or inventory value.

In the case of a transfer posting or a revaluation, two inventory postings are made (one inventory posting for the issue and one inventory posting for the receipt), and these receive the same posting number. However, the identification is always unique. If the posted quantity is positive, the issues posting receives the lower identification. If the posted quantity is negative, the receipts posting receives the lower identification. This ensures that the withdrawal logic is called before the put-away logic and, in the case of a transfer posting, that the FIFO date can be transferred successfully to the destination inventory.

You cannot assign the posting numbers manually. You can look in the Inventory posting query application subsequently to view the posting number and processing number that was assigned to an inventory posting.

The Inventory postings application consists of the following views, which are described in the following sections:

The Inventory postings application has two views which are descibed under

• Inventory posting view
• Posting error log view

Inventory posting view

The Inventory postings view is where you create inventory postings. An inventory posting generated in this application is referred to as a Manual inventory posting in other applications, for example in the Origin field. The view consists of an identification pane and a work pane.

Identification pane

The identification pane contains the basic data that apply generally to the inventory posting. The field contents are described in detail below.

Item – you can specify the inventoried item for which the inventory posting will be created in this field. Inventoried items are items with inventory management data and, thus, are not billing items or services.
If you want to post a loading unit, then leave the Item field blank. If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, you must enter both an item and a loading unit. For all other postings, enter either an item or a loading unit.

Posting key – in this field, you specify a posting key. The posting key used determines the posting process and also
whether or not the inventory quantities and inventory values will be updated on posting. The posting key also stipulates which additional mandatory information you have to specify when creating the inventory posting. Mandatory information may include identification of the cost center and the cost unit. You can specify a posting key defining the following processes:

• Receipt – this posting process produces inventory receipts. If the posted quantity is negative, an inventory issue is posted.
• Issue – this posting process produces inventory issues. If the posted quantity is negative, an inventory receipt is posted.
• Receipt transfer posting – this posting process produces inventory movements. The follow-up posting, which is produced by the Issue transfer posting posting process, is generated automatically. Warehouse-internal transfer postings are always valuation-neutral, i.e., they have no effect on the inventory valuation. If the inventory valuation takes place at the item level and not at the item warehouse level, then transfer postings are generally valuation-neutral. If, however, the item inventory changes inventory owners, the inventory posting can trigger a change in the moving average price at the receipt warehouse. Transfer postings within a site are not taken into consideration for the inventory turnover statistics.
• Receipt revaluation – with this posting process, the inventory is transferred from the source item to the  destination item (in the Item field). If the item and the source item remain the same, it is possible to change the inventory owner in the course of the revaluation. A simultaneous change of the item and the inventory owner is not permitted. The follow-up posting, which is produced by the Receipt revaluation process, is generated  automatically. Revaluations can only be performed using manual inventory postings.
• Correction – you can use a Correction process posting key to change both the quantity and value of an item inventory. Please read the chapter Checks for the Correction posting process for details on how the  Correction process affects the inventory posting.

Warehouse – in this field, you specify the warehouse for which the inventory posting is being created. You can
specify only warehouses that are assigned to the site selected in the selection field in the workflow bar.
If the posting key describes a receipt (or a receipt transfer posting or receipt revaluation), you specify the warehouse that receives the inventory here. If, on the other hand, the posting key describes an issue (or an issue transfer posting or issue  revaluation), you specify the warehouse where the inventory is currently put away.
If the warehouse is subdivided into storage locations, the inventory management server responsible for the warehouse must be running because storage location reservations will be made in the course of the inventory posting. On the other hand, an inventory posting at a simple warehouse can be made even if the inventory management server is stopped.
A transfer posting across two warehouses will only be possible if both warehouses are assigned to the same inventory management server.
If you post a stored loading unit and leave the field empty, the warehouse specified in the loading unit is entered as the default value when checking and saving.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input. When checking and saving, the warehouse in which the loading unit is currently stored is entered.
You enter the warehouses available for selection beforehand in the Warehouses application.

Warehouse zone – If the warehouse is subdivided into storage locations, you specify the warehouse zone for which the
inventory posting is being created in this field. Please note the following:

• If a Receipt, Receipt transfer posting, or Receipt revaluation process posting key is used and you do not specify a warehouse zone, then the inventory posting is made to the warehouse zone for the receipt of goods.
• If an Issue, Issue transfer posting, or Issue revaluation process posting key is used and you do not specify a warehouse zone, then the inventory posting is made from the warehouse zone for the issue of goods.
• If a Correction process posting key is used and you do not specify a warehouse zone, then inventory posting is made to the warehouse zone for inventory count differences.

The inventory posting will be expanded automatically to include the warehouse zone only if the posting key allows for the quantity transaction.
If you post a stored loading unit and leave the field empty, the warehouse zone specified in the loading unit is entered as the default value when checking and saving.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input. When checking and saving, the warehouse zone in which the loading unit is currently stored is entered.
You enter the storage zones available for selection beforehand in the Warehouses application.
Postings to the inventory count difference zone will not be made if an inventory count at the same warehouse is being closed at the same time.

Posting date – in this field, you specify the posting date. The current date is shown as a default. You can accept this
date or enter a different date.
The posting date is used to assign the inventory posting to a posting period. In order to create the inventory posting, an open posting period must exist for the specified posting date. All inventory postings that belong to the same posting period are used when calculating the inventory values divided into periods. The moving average price, on the other hand, is calculated on an ongoing basis.
In calculating the moving average price, inventory postings are included according to their creation date and not their posting date. In the case of a back-dated inventory posting, the posting date falls before the creation date. The back-dated inventory posting would thus had to have changed the moving average price at a point in time before it was created. Because a roll-up of the moving average price does not take place, back-dated inventory postings may cause the moving average price to lose some accuracy in situations where there are already inventory postings with a later date for the given item.
Back-dated inventory postings are specially marked in the Item account view of the Inventory value query application: The date information is red and has a tool tip.
The posting date is also used as a sort criterion for the display in the Inventory posting query application.

Destination inventory owner – in this field, you specify the destination inventory owner. This information specifies the inventory owner to whom the item inventory will belong after the inventory posting is processed. The currently selected site’s company is shown as a default.
Inventory owners can either be companies within your own corporation or external companies (e.g., external customers) that are not part of your corporation.
If the participating target and source inventory owners come from within your own corporation, it is possible to use inter-company billing. As part of the billing, customer invoices and matching supplier invoices or credit notes are generated automatically. Inventory posting-based billing generates collective vouchers. You can specify which combinations of companies the batch job is to include for internal inventory posting-based billing in the Customizing application.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input. When checking and saving, the current inventory owner of the loading unit is adopted.

Source inventory owner – in this field, you can specify the source inventory owner, if it differs from the destination inventory owner. This information specifies the inventory owner to whom the item inventory belonged before the inventory posting is processed.
In the case of correction postings, internal billing does not take place. For this reason, the destination and source inventory owners must always be the same for correction postings.
If you leave this field empty, the destination inventory owner will be entered on posting or when the inventory posting is posted and validated.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input. When checking and saving, the current inventory owner of the loading unit is adopted.

Loading unit – in this field, you can enter the loading unit for which the inventory posting is being created. The status of the loading unit must correspond to the posting key used. For example, a loading unit with the Put away status cannot be posted again as a reeipt with a posting key of the Receipt type and thus put away again. If you want to post an item, then leave the Loading unit field blank.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, you must specify both an item and a loading unit.
If you have selected the special process Reserved issue without voucher, you must not specify a loading unit.
For all other postings, you must specify either an item or a loading unit. 

Special process – in this field, you can specify a special process. Special processes are processes in which a voucher is updated or a voucherless demand is covered. Supplementary information, such as the specification of the related order, is entered in the work pane.

• None – this process does not result in a voucher update. The specification of a voucher or voucher line item is for information purposes only. However, if a voucher or voucher line item is specified, it must at least exist. For a receipt, an availability record and demand coverage data are generated when the inventory posting is generated. A reservation will be generated only in the case that the inventory posting has not yet been processed and is being used by another process as a demand coverage element. These are then canceled once the inventory change or inventory posting has been processed. For an issue posting, an availability record, demand origin data, and a reservation are generated. A  reservation against the inventory is attempted first. If the available inventory is insufficient, any existing reservation for this inventory will be canceled. For issue postings, a reservation is always generated.
• Customer return of goods – the purchase order line item involved must be specified in the work pane. The process produces an issue posting.  When the inventory posting is made, a reservation (demand origin element) and an availability record are generated. The availability records and reservations of the affected purchase order are updated. In addition, the reservations of the demand origin elements that may have been reserved against the purchase order are updated.
• Production receipt – the receipt must be assigned to a production order. The production receipt produces a receipt posting. Availability records and demand origin data are created. The reservation and the availability data of the affected voucher are updated or completed, accordingly. The inventory posting receives a reservation.
• Production issue – the issue must be assigned to a production order line item. The production issue produces an issue posting. Availability records and demand coverage data are created. The reservation and the availability data of the affected voucher are updated or completed, accordingly. The inventory posting receives a reservation.
• Co-product receipt – the receipt must be assigned to a production order line item. The co-product receipt produces a receipt posting. Availability records and demand origin data are created. The reservation and the availability data of the affected voucher are updated or completed, accordingly. The inventory posting receives a reservation.
• Material provided to vendor – the issue must be assigned to a production order line item. The material provided to vendor produces an issue posting. Availability records and demand coverage data are created. The reservation and the availability data of the affected voucher are updated or completed, accordingly. The inventory posting receives a reservation.
• Reserved issue without voucher – a voucherless demand must be specified. The specification of a voucher or voucher line item is for information purposes only. However, if a voucher or a voucher line item is specified, it must at least exist. A reserved issue without voucher produces an issue posting. The voucherless demand is covered by the inventory posting in this case.
• Loading unit correction – this process updates the loading unit at the same time as the inventory count is updated. Only the posting keys from the Receipt, Issue and Correction processes that result in a quantity transaction are permitted. You must specify both an item and the loading unit to be corrected. The loading unit must have the status Put away.

Posting reason – you can specify a posting reason for the inventory posting. The entered text is displayed in the Inventory posting query application.

Work pane

Once you have specified the fields in the identification pane and pressed the [Save] button, the work pane will open. You specify additional information for the inventory posting in the work pane.

Depending on the settings for the item, warehouse, and posting key used, a selection from the following fields is displayed:

Quantity – in this field, you specify the quantity of the item to be posted in the base unit of the item.
Depending on the posting key used, you can specify a positive, negative, or zero quantity. Items that are managed by serial numbers as well as loading units can only be put away and withdrawn individually.
The amount of items you can add to a storage location with storage unit is limited by the maximum storage unit count entered for the storage location type. Only full storage units are permitted to be added or deducted at bulk storage locations.
If an entry is made in the Customizing application specifying that negative inventories are not permitted, an error message will be output if the inventory posting would result in a negative inventory quantity at the warehouse level. However, a negative inventory quantity is possible for a storage location or a warehouse zone.
A storage location with a negative inventory is regarded as partially filled and not empty. Storage locations with negative inventories are therefore not taken into consideration in the empty location put-away strategy. Such storage locations appear in yellow in the Inventory value query application

Parallel quantity 1 – iIf the item is managed by a parallel inventory unit, you specify the quantity to be posted in the first parallel inventory unit. Depending on the posting key used, you can specify a positive, negative, or zero quantity.
If the item is not managed by a parallel inventory unit, the field is hidden.

Parallel quantity 2 – if the item is managed by two parallel inventory units, you specify the quantity to be posted in the second parallel inventory unit. Depending on the posting key used, you can specify a positive, negative, or zero quantity.
If the item is not managed by a second parallel inventory unit, the field is hidden.

Parallel quantity 3 – if the item is managed by three parallel inventory units, you specify the quantity to be posted in the third parallel inventory unit. Depending on the posting key used, you can specify a positive, negative, or zero quantity.
If the item is not managed by a third parallel inventory unit, the field is hidden.

Storage location – if you have specified a warehouse zone that is subdivided into storage locations in the Warehouse zone field, you must additionally specify the storage location in this field.
The identification of the storage location results from the warehouse organization of the warehouse zone:

• High-rack storage area – the warehouse zone is subdivided into rows, levels, and locations
• Bulk storage – the warehouse zone is subdivided into rows and locations
• Locations only – the warehouse zone is subdivided into locations only

If the selected warehouse organization is Simple warehouse, it is not possible to specify storage locations.
In order to uniquely identify the storage location, you enter the structure elements used in the warehouse organization separated by hyphens.
If the storage location can hold more than one quantity unit of the storage unit used then, depending on the storage location type, you can also specify a storage slot:

• For storage locations of the category Storage location with storage unit, you must specify the slot. The setting in the storage location type for automatic slot determination is not taken into account.
• For storage locations of the category Bulk storage location with storage unit, you may not specify a slot.
• For storage locations of the category Picking location without storage unit and Fixed location without storage unit, you do not need to specify the slot, as the slot that is defined in the storage location for the item is automatically used. Alternatively, you can enter this slot manually. You may not enter a slot other than the one specified.

The storage slot is separated from the other structure elements by a slash mark.
If the storage location can hold more than nine storage units, you specify the storage slot with two digits. For fixed
locations and picking locations without storage units, the storage slot can consist of up to three alphanumeric figures.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input and the storage location in which the loading unit is stored is entered. Any existing slot information is also taken into account.
The following examples are syntactically correct identifications of storage locations:

• 101/AAA
• 08-001/2
• 007-10-021/02
• 12-B-03A

If segregated item storage is activated for the storage location, receipts are only possible if the storage location is empty or exhibits only inventory of the item specified in the Item field.
If segregated identifier storage is also activated for the storage location, receipts are only possible if the storage location is empty or exhibits only inventory of the identifier specified in the Identifier field.
You enter the storage locations available for selection beforehand in the Storage locations or Generate storage  locations application.

Storage unit – if a storage location is a storage location type with storage unit, you specify the storage unit that is to be used for the inventory posting in this field. The specified storage unit must have been entered for the item. The storage location type assigned to the storage location must permit both the type as well as the determined quantity of the specified storage unit. If you do not specify a loading unit, the storage unit entered in the Inventory management view of the Items application will be used.
Only one storage unit category can be stored at a storage location at a given time. In other words, if pallets are already stored at a storage location, only pallets can be added. If you withdraw a partial inventory from a storage location with loading unit, you must specify the storage unit already present at the storage location with a count of zero (0).
For a transfer posting, the storage unit applies to both the source and destination storage locations. If the storage location type does not provide for use of storage units, the specification of a storage unit will be ignored. This enables a transfer posting from a storage location with storage unit to a storage location without storage unit, for example.
In the case of loading units, the Storage unit field is hidden because the storage unit used for the loading unit is also used for the inventory posting.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input and the storage unit specified in the loading unit used is entered.
You enter the storage units available for selection beforehand in the Items application.

Number of storage units – if you have specified a storage unit, you must also specify the number of storage units to be used. The number of storage units must not exceed the capacity of the storage location. If the storage location type provides for the use of storage units, at least one storage unit must be present at the storage location if inventory is stored there. However, it is possible to withdraw the entire inventory from a storage location with storage unit without having to withdraw the storage unit. In this case, the empty storage unit is retained at the storage location.
A storage location with an empty storage unit is regarded as partially filled and not empty. Such storage locations are not taken into consideration in the empty location put-away strategy or in the replenishment strategy. Storage locations with an empty storage unit appear in yellow in the Inventory value query application.
If you have selected the special process Loading unit correction, the field is not ready for input and is calculated  automatically when checking and saving.
In the case of loading units, the Storage unit field is hidden because the storage unit used for the loading unit is also used for the inventory posting.

Identifier – if the item is managed by identifiers, you enter the lot, batch, or serial number to be posted in this field.
If manual creation of the identifier was specified in the item master, you must specify a valid identifier.
You enter the identifiers available for selection beforehand in the Identifiers application.
If, on the other hand, the identifier is created automatically, you can also leave the Identifier field empty in the inventory posting. In this case, the system automatically generates a new identifier from the information in the Identifier defaults
grouping of the item master data and uses this identifier for the inventory posting. The identification of the new identifier is taken from the range of numbers entered in the item master data.
If the item is managed by serial numbers and None is selected as the special process, there must not be any reservation for the serial number. If the item is not managed by an identifier, the Identifier field is hidden. 

Price – in this field, you can specify a valuation price for the inventory posting. A price that is determined based on the valuation price entered for the posting key is displayed as a default. If you leave the field empty, a price of zero (0) will be used for the inventory posting. For inventory postings with a Receipt, Revaluation, or Correction process posting key that includes inventory valuation, you must specify a valuation price.
The valuation price is used for calculating the inventory values. If the posting key does not provide for an inventory  valuation, the Price field is hidden. The same applies to issues, which are always valued at the moving average price (MAP). For a transfer posting, the field is also hidden because the MAP of the issues posting is also used for the receipts posting (follow-up posting).
If the source and destination warehouses belong to different internal companies, they may also exhibit a different MAP. Depending on the set valuation level, the MAP is managed at the level of the company and item or company, item, and warehouse. As a result, the receipts positing may change the MAP at the destination warehouse. However, the transfer posting is always valuation-neutral at the corporation level.

Price dimension – in this field, you can specify a price dimension for the valuation. If you use the billing prices 1 to 5 or the inventory price, the price dimension for valuation prices stored in the item master data is displayed as the default value (see Items application, Financials view, Valuation prices grouping). If, however, the moving average price or the last cost price is set as the price specification in the posting key, their price dimension is offered. The following price dimensions are available:

• Per unit of measure
• Per 10 units of measure
• Per 100 units of measure
• Per 1,000 units of measure
• Per 10,000 units of measure
• Per 100,000 units of measure
• For total quantity

If For total quantity is selected as the price dimension, the amount entered in the Price field is used as the posting value.
If the posting key does not provide for inventory valuation, the Price dimension field is hidden. The same applies to issue and transfer postings, which are always valued at the moving average price (MAP).

Cost center – in this field, you specify the cost center to be posted to. For an item managed by serial numbers, you can view the cost center posted to by the last inventory posting in the Identifiers application. If the Cost center function is not activated for the posting key used, the field is hidden.

Cost unit – in this field, you specify the cost unit to be posted to. For an item managed by serial numbers, you can view the cost unit posted to by the last inventory posting in the  Identifiers application. If the Cost unit function is not activated for the posting key used, the field is hidden.

Source warehouse – in this field, you specify the source warehouse for a Receipt transfer posting process posting key. The source warehouse is the warehouse where the inventory is currently put away. If the posting key used is not a Receipt transfer posting process posting key, the field is hidden.

Source warehouse zone – in this field, you specify the source warehouse zone for a Receipt transfer posting process-type posting key. The source warehouse zone is the warehouse zone where the inventory is currently put away. If the source warehouse is not  subdivided into storage locations, you leave the field empty. If the source warehouse is subdivided and you do not specify a source warehouse zone, then the issue is made from the issue of goods zone. If the posting key used is not a Receipt transfer posting process posting key, the field is hidden.

Source storage location – in this field, you specify the source storage location for a Receipt transfer posting process posting key. The source storage location is the storage location where the inventory is currently put away. If the source warehouse or source warehouse zone is not subdivided into storage locations, you leave the field empty. If the posting key used is not a Receipt transfer posting process posting key, the field is hidden.

Source item – in this field, you specify the source item for a Receipt revaluation process posting key. The source item is the item before revaluation of the item inventory. By contrast, the information in the Item field corresponds to the item after revaluation. If the posting key used is not a Receipt revaluation process posting key, the field is hidden.

Source identifier – in this field, you specify the identifier of the source item for a Receipt revaluation process posting key, provided that the source item is managed by identifiers. The source identifier is the identifier before the revaluation of the item inventory. By contrast, the information in the Identifier field corresponds to the identifier after revaluation. If the source item and item are the same, then the source identifier and identifier must be different. If the source item is not managed by identifiers, you leave the field empty. If the posting key used is not a Receipt revaluation process posting key, the field is hidden.

Partners – you can specify a partner in this field. For an item managed by serial numbers, you can view the partner used by the last inventory posting in the Identifiers application

Transaction type account classification – enter a transaction type account classification that is to be taken into account when determining the accounts for the inventory posting. This classification can be used to assign accounts intended for special business processes in the Account assignments application.

Voucherless demand – in this field, you can specify an existing voucherless demand, in order to cover it by the inventory posting and thus cancel the reservation created by the voucherless demand.
The field is only visible if the Reserved issue without voucher special process has been selected in the identification pane.

Original voucher category – an inventory posting can be linked to a voucher that is regarded as the origin of the inventory posting. The None and Reserved issue without voucher special processes do not trigger any other follow-up processes in  conjunction with the linked vouchers. The specification of a voucher category is for informational purposes only. Possible voucher categories are:

• Sales order
• Picking order
• Delivery order
• Customer invoice
• Purchase order
• Receipt of goods
• Supplier invoice
• Inventory requisition
• Inventory order
• Production order

The Supplier return of goods special process sets the original voucher category to purchase order this cannot be changed. The Production receipt, Production issue, Co-product receipt, and Material provided to vendor special processes set the original voucher category to production order and this cannot be changed.
All linked vouchers are saved in the extendedOriginalOrder attribute. The link to a voucher is also used to assign the inventory posting in the annual turnover statistics in the Planning view of the Items application.
Depending on the specified original voucher category, different value assistants are offered in the fields for the voucher.

Original voucher – so long as the Original voucher category field has not been selected, the Original voucher field remains not editable. The field will be displayed if the None or Reserved issue without voucher has been selected in the Special process field. If required, enter a voucher by voucher type, voucher number and voucher line item number. The specification of a voucher is made for informational purposes only. No other processes, such as a voucher update, are initiated. The voucher is also not used for account determination.

Purchase order – this field will be displayed if the Supplier return of goods has been selected in the Special process field. Enter the purchase order associated with the return by voucher type, voucher number and voucher item number. The status of the purchase order is updated by the inventory posting.
If the purchase order is canceled, an inventory posting of the same posting process is automatically generated, but with the opposite sign.
The invoicing party, the delivery partner and the transaction type account classification of the order line item are used for the account determination of the inventory posting.

Production order – this field will be displayed if the Production receipt special process was selected. The associated production order is not specified down to the line item level. Therefore, only two fields (Voucher type and Voucher number) can be specified. The field for the voucher line item is not editable. Consequently, only the production order is checked. The status of the voucher is updated by the inventory posting.

Production order line item – this field is displayed if one of the following entries has been selected in the Special process field:

• Production issue
• Co-product receipt
• Material provided to vendor

The associated production order must be specified down to the line item level. Therefore, all three fields (Voucher type, Voucher number and Voucher line item number) must all be specified. The status of the voucher is updated by the inventory posting.

Posting error log view

When inventory postings are generated, it is possible for inventory postings with incorrect or incomplete information to occur as a result of upstream processes or when inventory postings are imported Such an inventory posting cannot be processed correctly by the responsible inventory management server. Instead, an entry is generated in the posting error log, which you can subsequently display and process in the Posting error log view of the Inventory postings application. Various options are available in this view for correcting incorrect inventory postings and posting them successfully. Incorrect inventory postings can also be deleted from the posting error log. However, if incorrect inventory postings are deleted, the process that caused the incorrect inventory posting may not be able to continue running or be traced. For this reason, it is recommended that you always correct incorrect inventory postings before you delete them.

All incorrect inventory postings are displayed in the posting error log. The display is not limited to inventory postings that were created for a warehouse assigned to the site selected in the workflow bar. In order to correct an incorrect inventory posting, it may be necessary to be in the context of the proper site.

The Posting error log view consists of an identification pane and a work pane.

Identification pane

The identification pane contains the base data that apply generally to the incorrect inventory posting. The identification pane corresponds to the identification pane of the Inventory posting view (see chapter Identification pane) and additionally contains the following information:

Origin – this field shows the origin of the incorrect inventory posting. The following origins are possible:

• Inventory count
• Inventory count valuation
• Receipt of goods
• Delivery order
• Production order
• Supplier invoice
• Inventory order
• Loading unit
• Import
• Loading unit from inventory count
• Customer invoice
• Goods receipt correction
• Transfer posting from production warehouse to picking
• Automatic issue posting upon receipt of goods
• Return of goods

Employee responsible – this field displays the employee that made the incorrect inventory posting.

Creation time – this field displays the date and time at which the incorrect inventory posting was made.

When you open an incorrect inventory posting, you first go to the area containing the error. If the base data are incorrect, the identification pane will then be displayed. If an input field contains incorrect or incomplete information, the field will be marked with a red corner.

Work pane

When you open an incorrect inventory posting, you first go to the area containing the error. If the base data contain errors, the data in the work pane do not yet exist and therefore only the fields for the base data are displayed. If the base data do not contain errors, you then go automatically to the work pane and the fields in the identification pane are write-protected.

If you want to make changes to the already write-protected base data, even though they are correct, you can do this using the [Undo] action. Please note that this will delete the entire inventory posting. See chapter Application-based action: [Undo].

The work pane allows you to specify additional information for the inventory posting and correct the incorrect files. Depending on the settings in the item, warehouse, and posting key used, the fields already described for the Inventory posting view are displayed. In addition, the inventory posting voucher is displayed if the inventory posting originated from a process.

The additional fields that are not available in the Inventory posting view are described below:

Supplementary costs – in this field, you enter the supplementary costs for which an inventory posting using the Correction process will be generated automatically.

Correction posting key – in this field, you enter the posting key that is to be used for posting the supplementary costs. This field is a mandatory field if supplementary costs are specified. The specified posting key must meet the following
criteria:

• Process: Correction
• Quantity transaction: Not activated
• Valuation category: Interim
• Inventory valuation: Activated

Inventory account – an individually specified inventory account can be displayed in this field. The field is not ready for input. 

Offset account – in this optional field, you enter an offset account different from the account determination (keyword:
nominal ledger postings), provided that the field is available for input.

Inventory posting voucher category – an inventory posting is based on a voucher that triggered the inventory posting. The voucher category of this voucher is displayed in this field. Possible voucher categories are

• Delivery order
• Customer invoice
• Picking order
• Production order
• Receipt of goods
• Supplier invoice
• Inventory order

Inventory posting voucher – an inventory posting is based on a voucher that triggered the inventory posting. This voucher is displayed in this field. If an inventory posting was entered manually, there is no inventory posting voucher as the trigger and the fields remain empty. 

Status update for references orders

An inventory posting can be linked to a voucher. The linked voucher can be the trigger for the posting or it can be the first voucher in the voucher references chain. In the former case, the voucher is called an inventory posting voucher.
In the latter case, it is called an original voucher. Inventory postings in the posting error log, on the other hand, were either generated by the system or imported incompletely via the import interface. Inventory postings in the posting error log can be linked both to the inventory posting voucher as well as to an original voucher. The links are displayed in the posting error log, but cannot be changed.

If you correct an incorrect inventory posting in the posting error log and then post it, the status of the vouchers that are linked to the inventory posting will be updated in the following cases:

• The original voucher is a purchase order and the inventory posting voucher was not specified. This situation occurs when returned goods are manually posted, for example.
• The original voucher is a production order and the posting key does not describe a transfer posting.

In all other cases, the document status is not updated by the inventory posting. When using a posting key from the “Correction” transaction and the “Roll-up” valuation type, the document status is also not updated.

In all other situations, the voucher status is not updated by the inventory posting. When a Correction process posting key and a Roll-up evaluation type is used, the voucher status is also not updated.

View-based actions

The following view-based actions are available in the Posting error log view:

• Accept corrected inventory posting
• Delete incorrect inventory posting
• Display next entry in the posting error log

Accept corrected inventory posting

Once the incorrect data have been corrected and have undergone a successful check, you can accept the inventory posting. The [Accept this entry] button in the standard toolbar is used for this purpose. When the inventory posting is accepted, the inventory posting that you have created using the posting error log will be posted. At the same time, the associated posting error log is cleared. Like any other inventory posting, the accepted inventory posting is also  processed by the inventory management server and used to update the inventories and/or inventory values

If the inventory posting is successfully accepted, the next entry in the posting error log is automatically displayed and the associated cause of the error is displayed as an error message. If there are no further incorrect inventory postings in the posting error log, the application automatically switches to the Inventory postings view, where you can enter a new inventory posting.

Upon successful acceptance of the inventory posting, the next entry in the posting error log is displayed automatically and the associated error cause is output as an error message. Provided that no other posting error logs exist, the application switches automatically to the Inventory postings view, where you can create a new inventory posting.

Delete incorrect inventory posting

To delete an incorrect inventory posting, you may use the [Delete this entry] button in the standard toolbar.

When an incorrect inventory posting is deleted, the currently displayed inventory posting is not accepted and the associated posting error log is cleared. Note that any status update that would have been performed when the inventory posting was accepted does not take place in this case. Reservations and storage location reservations are not affected by this. In other words, all reservations and storage location reservations that have been made for this inventory posting are undone.

After a successful deletion, the next entry in the posting error log is displayed automatically. Provided that no other incorrect inventory postings exist in the posting error log, the application switches automatically to the Inventory postings view, where you can create a new inventory posting.

Display next entry in the posting error log

To display the next faulty inventory posting in the posting error log without editing the currently displayed inventory posting, press the “Next entry” button in the standard toolbar. When you reach the end of the posting error log, the first entry is displayed again.

To display the next incorrect inventory posting in the posting error log, without editing the currently displayed inventory posting, select the [Next entry] button in the standard toolbar. If you are at the bottom of the posting error log, the first entry will be shown again.

Application-based action: [Undo]

If basic data for an inventory posting has been saved, the fields concerned become display fields and are therefore no longer ready for input. The work pane also contains fields in which the transaction and valuation data for the inventory posting can be entered, such as the quantity.

As long as the inventory posting is not saved a second time and thus posted, the data in the work pane and the saved basic data can be deleted using the [Undo] action. The fields for the data in the work pane are no longer displayed and the input fields for the basic data are ready for input again. The basic data remains as default values for a new inventory posting.

Checks for the Correction posting process

This section describes the checks using a Correction process posting key.

The following is defined for this process:

• If the valuation category of the posting key used is Roll-up, the following limitations apply:
  • Both positive and negative quantities are permitted, but quantities of zero (0) are not permitted.
  • Both positive and negative valuation prices are permitted, and valuation prices of zero (0) are also permitted.
  Example

  Roll-up of the interim valuation of a receipt of goods from the supplier as a result of the supplier invoice or the supplementary cost invoices.

• If the valuation category of the posting key used is Final and the posting key does not provide for any quantity transaction, the following limitations apply:
  • Positive quantities and quantities of zero (0) are permitted, but negative quantities are not permitted.
  • Both positive and negative valuation prices are permitted, and valuation prices of zero (0) are also permitted.
  Example

  Inventory value difference

• If the valuation category of the posting key used is Final and the posting key provides for a quantity transaction, the following limitations apply:
  • Both positive and negative quantities are permitted, but quantities of zero (0) are not permitted.
  • Only positive valuation prices are permitted. Negative valuation prices and valuation prices of zero (0) are not permitted.
  Example

  Inventory quantity difference

• For a correction without quantity transaction, with inventory valuation, regardless of the set valuation type, with manual or imported posting, the following is also checked:
  • The inventory value may be derecognized to a maximum of zero, whereby the value cannot fall below the zero line if the inventory is positive (inventory and inventory value would have different signs).
  • The same applies to a negative inventory.
• For a correction with quantity transaction, without inventory valuation, regardless of the set valuation type, with manual or imported posting, the following is also checked:
  • If an inventory value exists, the inventory must not be written off to zero, e.g. manual quantity corrections.
• For a correction with quantity transaction and inventory valuation, regardless of the set valuation type, with manual or imported posting, the following is also checked:
  • An inventory value without an inventory or a deviation in the sign is indicated by corresponding warnings. In principle, inventory without inventory value is permitted.

Customizing

The following settings are relevant for the Inventory postings application in the Customizing application.

Inventory management function

Of the settings for the Inventory management function in the Customizing application, the following are relevant for the Inventory postings application:

Identifiers function

If the Identifiers function is active, then the input field for the identifier is visible if you are using an item that is managed by identifiers.

Warehouse inventory function

Of the settings in the Warehouse inventory function, the following fields are relevant for the Inventory postings application:

Allow negative inventory – if this function is activated, the inventory posting allows negative inventories to be posted at the warehouse level.

Parallel inventory units – you can use this field to control the maximum number of parallel inventory units an item may
have. This information determines the maximum number of fields available for specifying quantities in the Inventory postings application.

Storage location control function

If the Storage location control function is active, then the input fields for the warehouse zone, storage location, storage unit, and storage unit count are visible.

Reservations function

If the Reservations function is active, the special process Reserved issue without receipt can be selected in the Inventory postings application and such a reservation can be posted. The maximum quantity that can be posted is the reserved issue quantity.

Shipping function

Of the settings for the Shipping function in the Customizing application, the following are relevant for the Inventory postings application:

Loading units function

If the Loading units function is active, both the input field for the loading units and the selection of the Loading unit correction special process are visible in the Inventory postings application. Using the field, you can either post a loading unit or change its content if the special process Loading unit correction is selected.

Production function

Of the settings for the Production function in the Customizing application, the following are relevant for the Inventory postings application:

If the Production function is active, the following special processes can be selected in the Inventory postings application:

• Production receipt
• Production issue
• Co-product receipt
• Material provided to vendor

This allows you to post the corresponding production operations for an existing production order.

Controlling function

The following settings from the Controlling function in the Customizing application are relevant for the Inventory postings application:

If the Controlling function is active, then the visibility of the Cost center and Cost unit fields is controlled by the  specifications in the posting key. If the Controlling function is deactivated, then the Cost center and Cost unit
fields are not visible, irrespective of what is specified in the posting key.

If the Comarch Financials Enterprise cost accounting adapter is used, the Cost center and Cost object fields are displayed regardless of the setting in the posting key. However, the fields are only mandatory fields for manual posting if the Cost unit or Cost center function is also activated in the posting key.

The visibility of the fields is determined based on the company that is entered for the inventory posting. If the source and destination companies are different, the Controlling function will also be regarded as active if the function is active for at least one of the companies. If the specified inventory owner is not a company, then the company at the site of the  utilized warehouse will be used.

Financials function

The following settings from the Financials function in the Customizing application are relevant for the Inventory postings application:

Valuation function

The following fields in the Valuation function are relevant for this application:

Valuation level – in this field you specify the level at which the average price is calculated. Two levels are available:

• Item
• Item/warehouse

Please refer to the Customizing: Financials article.

Optional valuation method – in this field, you specify which valuation methods are available in the Calculate inventory values” and Inventory value query applications. The Moving average price valuation level must always be available.

General ledger entries function

If the General ledger entries function is active, the visibility of the Inventory account and Offset account fields in the Posting error log view is controlled by the Nominal ledger entries parameter in the posting key. If the General ledger entries function is deactivated, the Inventory account and Offset account fields are not visible, regardless of the entries made in the posting key.

Business entities

The following business entity is relevant for the Inventory postings application, which you use, for example, to

• assign authorizations,
• set up activity definitions or
• import or export data.

Inventory posting: com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.InventoryTransaction

Authorizations

Authorization can be assigned both with the help of the authorization roles and by assigning an organization. The authorization concept can be found in the technical article Authorizations.

Special capabilities

There are no special capabilities for the Inventory postings application.

Organization assignments

If the Content-related authorizations function is activated in the Customizing application, a person can only use the Inventory postings application if they have been assigned an organization in the partner master data that is integrated into at least one of the following organizational structures:

• Inventory management

Special features

There are no special features for the Inventory postings application.

Authorizations for business partners

The Inventory postings application is not released for business partners.