Topic overview

This article describes how inventory values are queried in the system and how the Inventory value query application is structured. Further information on the available valuation procedures can be found in the Inventory valuation article. There you will also find which processes can lead to a revaluation of item inventories and what effect they have on other processes and applications.

Instructions for using the Inventory value query application can be found in the article Procedures: Inventory value query.

Definitions of terms

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 tFIFO (first in/first out) or LIFO (last in/first out), can only be identified after the posting period has been closed.

Inventory owner
The inventory owner is the legal possessor of the specified warehouse inventory. The inventory owner is used for many inventory management processes, for example, inventory counts and inventory valuation. For each business process, it may be necessary to specify the inventory owner in order to determine whose inventory is used or considered in a process.

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.

Posting periods
Posting periods are time limits or time periods within a fiscal year. All postings, such as inventory postings, must be assigned to a posting period.

FIFO
The FIFO (First In—First Out) assessment process is a consumption-based process and a fiscal valuation method (according to taxation law). FIFO stands for the assumption that the first inventories acquired are also the first to be consumed. The calculation of the inventory value is therefore based on the receipts received last.

Moving average price (MAP)
The moving average price valuation method is one form of weighted average price valuation. It is in the group of valuation simplification methods and is a valuation method for inventory recognized in trade law. The moving average
price is defined as the value of inventory divided by the quantity. At every inventory posting of a receipt, it is recalculated and remains valid until the next receipt. It is used for valuation of issues.

LIFO
The LIFO (Last In—First Out) assessment process is a consumption-based process and a fiscal valuation method (according to taxation law). LIFO stands for the assumption that the last inventories acquired will be consumed first. The
calculation of the inventory value is therefore based on the receipts received first.

Application description

With the help of the application Inventory value query application, you can query the inventory values of your inventory-managed warehouse items according to various criteria.

Depending on the settings in the Customizing application, inventories are valued either at the Firm and item level or at the Firm, item and warehouse level.

Follow the instructions in this section to display the inventory values and their presentation: Displaying inventory valuation.

The application has several views, which are described under:

• Item values current view
• Item values periodic view
• Inventory account view
• Item account view

In all views, the application consists of a query pane and a work pane.

Displaying inventory valuation

Below you will find some information on the views of the Inventory value query application.

Viewing valuation records

Inventory valuations for an item or an item-warehouse combination are only displayed if material transactions have taken place for the warehouse in the selected posting period. It is therefore possible that the total of the displayed inventory valuations per warehouse does not match all warehouse valuation in periods that have not been completed. A corresponding warning will inform you of this.

If the posting period to be queried is closed, the inventory values of the selected item are displayed, provided that a material movement has taken place in an earlier posting period or at least in the selected posting period.

Displaying values

The prices and amounts are displayed with the decimal points set in the Customizing application. The rounding differences that could potentially arise during inventory valuation can be marked as not attributable. This prevents inventory with zero quantities from having an amount other than zero due to rounding errors.

For some material transactions, only the quantity and the total value are displayed, but not the valuation price. This is because, for example, the respective receipt transaction was not posted with a unit price but with a total value and this amount cannot be displayed accurately enough as a price with the decimal points set in each case.

Displaying inventory transactions

The display of inventory transactions can also be controlled by posting date in the Item account view. However, only values within the selected posting period can be displayed. Inventory transactions within the same day are calculated and displayed in chronological order.

Backdated inventory transactions are shown in red. A backdated inventory transaction always exists if inventory transactions with a later posting date already exist at the time the material is posted. This means that the inventory transactions were not recorded in chronological order.

Because backdated inventory postings are not rolled up, the calculated value could deviate from the moving average price that would have resulted from a strictly chronological processing of the inventory postings, as the following example shows:

When backdating, please bear in mind that not only the moving average price, but also the periodized average price can be distorted. This distortion can lead to the period inventory value linked to the inventory posting value assuming extreme values, e.g. in the case of inventory value corrections (with little or no inventory in this period).

Presentation of non-attributable values

In the Item account view, non-attributable values are displayed as non-attributable in a separate line below the value of the inventory transaction. This additional line is only displayed if the [Non-attributable values] button is activated and there are actually non-attributable values in the inventory posting.

Item values current view

In the Item values current view, the current inventory valuations of an item are displayed. The inventory values can be displayed per item and warehouse using the moving average price valuation method.

Query pane

In the query pane, you will find the fields you need to determine the desired inventory values.

Below is a detailed description of the fields:

Item – in this field, enter the identification of the inventory item whose inventory value you want to query.

Warehouse – if required, enter the identification of one or more warehouses in this field in order to query the inventory values for the item based on the warehouse and thus optimize the results list. If the field remains empty, the inventory values are queried in all warehouses.

Work pane

The work pane contains the columns required to display the inventory values using the moving average price method.

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Own inventory – this column shows the total inventory quantity, i.e. in all warehouses.

Last cost price – this column shows the last cost price in all warehouses, taking into account the price dimension, if the Item valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the first header line in this case.
If the Item/warehouse valuation level is defined, this information is missing for all warehouses and can be displayed using the [Warehouse information] button.

Average price – this column displays the moving average price in all warehouses, taking into account the price dimension, if the Item valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the first header line in this case. If the Item/warehouse valuation level is defined, this information is missing for all warehouses and can be displayed using the [Warehouse information] button.

Price dimension – the currently valid price dimension set in the valuation is displayed in this column if the Item valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the first heading line in this case. If the Item/warehouse valuation level is defined, this information is missing for all warehouses and can be displayed using the [Warehouse information] button.

Inventory value – this column shows the total inventory value, i.e. in all warehouses.

[Inventory information] button

If you select the [Warehouse information] button, a second heading line is displayed with detailed information on the values for each warehouse.

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Warehouse – this column shows the warehouse for which the displayed inventory valuation was calculated.

Warehouse inventory (own) – this column shows the inventory quantity at the warehouse.

Last cost price – this column displays the last cost price for the warehouse, taking into account the price dimension, if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the second heading line in this case. If the Item valuation level is defined, this information is missing for each warehouse. You will then find this information for all warehouses in the first heading line.

Average price – this column displays the warehouse-related moving average price, taking into account the price dimension, if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the second heading line in this case. If the Item valuation level is defined, this information is missing for each warehouse. You will then find this information for all warehouses in the first heading line.

Price dimension – the currently valid price dimension set in the valuation is displayed in this column if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the second heading line in this case. If the Item valuation level is defined, this information is missing for each warehouse. You will then find this information for all warehouses in the first heading line.

Warehouse inventory value – the inventory value at the warehouse is displayed in this column.

Item values periodic view

In the Item values periodic view, the inventory valuations of an item are displayed for the selected posting period. The inventory values can be displayed per item, warehouse and posting period. You can display the inventory values according to different valuation methods such as the moving average price, LIFO or FIFO.

Query pane

In the query pane, you will find the fields you need to determine the desired inventory values.

Below is a detailed description of the fields:

Item – in this field, enter the identification of the inventory item whose inventory value you want to query.

Warehouse – if required, enter the identification of one or more warehouses in this field in order to query the inventory values for the item on a warehouse basis and thus optimize the results list. If the field remains empty, the inventory values are queried in all warehouses.

Posting period (fiscal year/posting period) – specify the posting period for which the inventory values are to be displayed. Only valid posting periods can be queried. Enter the fiscal year in the first field and the identification of the posting period in the second field.

Valuation methods – in this field, specify whether you want to query the inventory values according to a specific or all available valuation methods. Select one of the following entries:

• Any
• Floating average price
• FIFO
• LIFO
• Annual LIFO

If Any is selected, all existing inventory valuations for the OLTP database are displayed for the selected posting period. Further information on the valuation procedures can be found in the Inventory valuation article. 

Work pane

The work pane contains the columns required to display the desired inventory values.

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Valuation methods – this column shows the valuation method used to calculate the displayed values.

Period end inventory – this column shows the inventory quantity in all warehouses at the end of the selected posting period.

Period price – this column displays the all warehouse price, taking into account the price dimension at the end of the selected posting period, if the Item valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the first header line in this case. If the Item/warehouse valuation level is defined, this information is missing for all warehouses and can be displayed using the [Warehouse information] button.

Price dimension – the currently valid price dimension set in the item master data is displayed in this column if the Item valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the first header line in this case. If the Item/warehouse valuation level is defined, this information is missing and can be displayed using the [Warehouse information] button.

Period end inventory value – this column shows the inventory value in all warehouses at the end of the selected posting period. 

Deviation in % –  this column shows the deviation in percent all all warehouses between the displayed valuation method and the valuation method that provides the lowest inventory value within the scope of the valuation methods selected for the query.

[Inventory information] button

If you select the [Warehouse information] button, a second heading line is displayed with detailed information on the values for each warehouse.

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Warehouse – this column shows the warehouse for which the displayed inventory valuation was calculated.

Period end inventory – this column displays the warehouse-related inventory quantity at the end of the selected posting period.

Period price – this column displays the period price, taking into account the price dimension at the end of the selected posting period, if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the second header line in this case. If the Item valuation level is defined, this information is missing for each warehouse. You will then find this information for all warehouses in the first heading line.

Price dimension – the currently valid price dimension set in the item master data is displayed in this column if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. This column is also only displayed in the second heading line in this case. If the Item valuation level is defined, this information is missing for each warehouse. You will then find this information for all warehouses in the first heading line.

Period end inventory value – this column shows the warehouse-related inventory value at the end of the selected posting period.

Application-related action: [Calculate interim inventory values]

You can use the [Calculate interim inventory values] action to preliminarily calculate the periodic inventory values for one or more items according to the Moving average price valuation method. The inventory values are calculated using the inventory postings entered at the current time. You must carry out the final calculation using the Calculate inventory values application.

Inventory account view

In the view Inventory account view, the material transactions are summarized per company, inventory account, posting period and posting key. The displayed inventory values of an inventory account are determined using the moving average price valuation method for the selected posting period and are displayed both for all warehouses and for each warehouse, depending on the defined valuation level. The valuations of the inventory account calculated at the beginning and end of the posting period are displayed. You define the valuation level in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. See this chapter if required: Customizing.

Query pane

In the query pane, you will find the fields you need to determine the desired inventory values.

Below is a detailed description of the fields:

Inventory account – in this field, enter the identification of the balance sheet account whose balance sheet value you wish to query.

Posting period (fiscal period/posting period) – specify the posting period for which the inventory values are to be displayed. Enter the fiscal year in the first field and the identification of the posting period in the second field.

Warehouse – if required, enter the identification of one or more warehouses in this field in order to query the inventory values for the item on a warehouse basis and thus optimize the result list. If the field remains empty, the inventory values are queried in all warehouses. This field is only displayed if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function.

Work pane

The work pane contains the columns required to display the desired inventory values.

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Warehouse – this column shows the warehouse to which the inventory values apply if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. Depending on the [Posting information] button, the following is displayed for each warehouse in the same line in the results list:

• With posting information – in the results list, the inventory value at the start of the period is displayed in the warehouse identification line. After the inventory values have been listed for each posting key, the inventory value is displayed at the end of the period.
• Without posting information – in the results list, the inventory value at the end of the period is displayed in the line of the warehouse identification.

Inventory value – this column shows the warehouse-related (without cross-warehouse) totaled inventory value per posting key that was posted to the specified inventory account in the selected posting period. For this purpose, the respective posted item quantities were valued according to the moving average price.

[Posting information] button

If you select the [Posting information] button, a second heading line with detailed information on the values per warehouse is displayed. If the button is selected, the results list contains the following:

The first lines in the results list (see Inventory account total) show both the inventory value at the start of the period and any cross-warehouse inventory values per posting key if several warehouses are displayed. The inventory value at the end of the period is also displayed. If only one warehouse is determined, the display of the inventory account total and the cross-warehouse data is omitted.

If the button is not selected, the results list contains the following:

The first line in the results list provides the inventory account total with the inventory value at the end of the period if several warehouses are displayed. This is followed by the values at the end of the period for each warehouse. If only one warehouse is determined, the inventory account total is not displayed.

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Warehouse – this column shows the warehouse to which the inventory values apply if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function. Depending on the [Posting information] button, the following is displayed for each warehouse in the same line in the results list:

• With posting information – in the results list, the inventory value at the start of the period is displayed in the warehouse identification line. After the inventory values have been listed for each posting key, the inventory value is displayed at the end of the period.
• Without posting information – in the results list, the inventory value at the end of the period is displayed in the line of the warehouse identification.

Posting key – this column shows the posting key for which the inventory values have been summarized.

Period inventory value – this column shows the total period value of all inventory transactions with the same posting key.

Unassignable inventory value – this column shows the total of all unassignable period inventory values with the same posting key.

Inventory value – this column shows the total of all unassignable period inventory values with the same posting key.

Item account view

In the view Item account view, the quantities and values of all inventory transactions relating to an item are displayed according to the moving average price valuation method. The inventory valuation of the item valid at the time of the inventory posting is also displayed for each transaction.

The inventory values can be displayed per company, item, warehouse and posting period. The inventory values are displayed according to the moving average price valuation method for the selected posting period.

Query pane

In the query pane, you will find the fields you need to determine the desired inventory values.

Below is a detailed description of the fields:

Item – in this field, enter the identification of the warehouse item whose transaction and inventory values you want to query.

Warehouse – if required, enter the identification of one or more warehouses in this field in order to query the inventory transactions and values for the item on a warehouse basis and thus optimize the results list. If the field remains empty, the inventory transactions are queried in all warehouses. This field is only displayed if the Item/warehouse valuation level is set in the Customizing application, Financials function, Valuation sub-function.

Posting period – specify the posting period for which the inventory transactions are to be displayed. Enter the fiscal year in the first field and the identification of the posting period in the second field.

Posting date – if required, enter one or more posting dates within the posting period entered in this field in order to query the inventory transactions and values by date and thus optimize the results list. If you enter a date or a period, only matching inventory postings will be displayed in the results list.

Work pane

The work pane contains the columns required to display the desired inventory transactions and values.

In the results list, the first line always shows the inventory quantity and the inventory value at the beginning of the posting period. The last line always shows the total of the following data for the end of the posting period:

• Receipt quantity
• Issue quantity Inventory quantity
• Receipt value
• Issue value
• Inventory value

Below is a detailed description of the columns:

Posting date – the posting date of the inventory posting is displayed in this column. If the inventory posting relates to a value correction, the posting date is displayed in red.

Receipt quantity – this column shows the item quantity that was posted as a receipt with an inventory posting. Negative receipt quantities represent an issue. If the inventory posting represents an issue per posting key, zero is displayed. If a value correction was posted with the inventory posting, the column is empty.

Issue quantity – this column displays the item quantity that was posted as an issue with an inventory posting. If the inventory posting per posting key represents a receipt, then zero is displayed. If a value correction was posted with the inventory posting, the column is empty.

Inventory quantity – this column shows the inventory quantity of the item after the inventory transaction. Please note that querying a specific warehouse or a posting date will affect the quantity displayed and that only a company’s own inventory is shown.

Price – this column shows the valuation price that was posted with the inventory posting. The valuation price is only displayed for those inventory postings that contain a price for the valuation. These are usually receipts and corrections.

Receipt value – this column shows the valuation-relevant value that was posted with an inventory posting that represents a receipt or a correction. If the inventory posting represents an issue per posting key, zero is displayed.

Issue value – this column shows the valuation-relevant value that was posted with an inventory posting that represents an issue. If the inventory posting per posting key represents a receipt, then zero is displayed.

Inventory value – this column shows the inventory value of the item after posting. Inventories are valued using the periodized moving average price method for the posting period in question.

[Unassignable values] button

If you activate the [Unassignable values] button, the unassignable value share that was posted with the inventory posting is displayed in a separate line under either the receipt value or issue value column, if available.

Customizing

For the Inventory value query application, the following settings are relevant in the Customizing application under the Financials → Valuation function.

Valuation level – in this field, you specify the valuation level that is to apply to the inventory valuation. Carefully select one of the two possible valuation levels:

• Item
• Item/warehouse

The selected valuation level controls the level, i.e. the level of detail, at which the inventory is to be valued. All material transactions that lead to changes in the quantity or value of inventory-managed items are documented for the defined valuation procedures at the valuation level set in each case. You can find further information in this article: Customizing: Financials.

Business entities

For the Inventory value query application, the following business entities are relevant, which you use, for example, to

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

Inventory values, Item values current view com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.InventoryValuation

Period inventory values per valuation method, Item values periodic view com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.InventoryValuePeriodSummary

Period inventory values per inventory account, Inventory account view com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.InventoryTransactionPeriodSummary

Inventory posting, Item account view com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.InventoryTransaction

The business entities are part of the following business entity group:

Inventory voucher data: com.cisag.app.inventory.OrderData

Authorizations

Authorizations can be assigned using the authorization roles as well as 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 value query application.

Organization assignments

Organization structures are used to control which data is visible, usable or editable. To do this, the Content-related authorizations function must be activated in the Customizing application.

To enable a person to use the Inventory value query application is displayed to a person in the user menu, they must be assigned to an organization that is included in one of the following organizational structures:

• Inventory management
• Financials

An organization can be integrated into both organizational structures or at least two organizations can be assigned to the user, one of which is integrated into the inventory management organizational structure and the other is a company.

Special features

There are no special features for the Inventory value query application.

Authorizations for business partners

The Inventory value query application is not released for business partners.