Customer Reviews

SAP ERP Financials: Configuration and Design

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Other reviewers have called this book "sloppy", but I bought it based upon generally good reviews and the scarcity of comprehensive SAP configuration textbooks. However, after reading the book almost cover-to-cover, I was amazed at the number of errors, omissions and typo's that one good proof-reading should have caught. Why should we continue to accept mediocrity? Would the authors of this book be as sloppy during a real-life SAP configuration project? Of course not, or they would never get work again. SAP Press does itself a diservice by endorsing this type of book... or do they feel that a mediocre error-filled book is acceptable?

I notice that one of the authors lists a review here that includes the 12 chapters and their content. Maybe he can explain why the book references "Chapter 13" which isn't there, or material in the "appendix" which is also non-existent.

I gave the book 2 stars because there is good information covering FI configuration, and the coverage of some topics is fairly comprehensive. However, other topics are not clearly explained or adequately demonstrated though examples or screen-prints. Speaking of the screen-prints, many of them do not show the specific settings that the text is describing.

I am a former SAP FICO configuration specialist who needed an update and refresher primer. I have found another text, "Configuring SAP R/3 FI/CO" by Hurst & Nowak that is far superior for new as well as experienced SAP consultants. It's a shame that this 10-year-old book has not been updated, but still it provides a much better foundation for the SAP configuration specialist and provides excellent examples and explanantions throughout. I would recommend that you start with this book, then buy newer texts to learn about the latest changes and updated functionality (such as "New GL"). According to an ad in the back of the Arif & Muhammad book, Hurst & Nowak have a new book out covering just CO, but I haven't yet been able to locate an available copy online.

This is a great introduction to SAP FI/CO. Extremely well-written and easy to follow, this book uses practical examples and provides solutions to commonly encountered issues on the job.

This book offers a good introduction to the main pieces of SAP ERP Financials, including the New GL, however I was quite surprised by the sloppy editing. This book is full of errors (gramatical as well as content). Be careful when purchasing this book, it obviously wasn't proof read.

SAP ERP Financials: Configuration and Design

A deliberation of competence and mastery in the field of SAP ERP Financials. I would say this book SAP ERP Financials: Configuration and Design by Naeem Arif and Tauseef Sheikh Muhammad is the ultimate and completely educational - it guides you, step-by-step through the process of complete implementation and integration of the Financial modules in SAP ERP and in particular ECC 6.0. A wonderful work by the duo for the beginners and the consultants who wish to acquire in-depth knowledge in SAP ERP Financials.

This book offers a good introduction to the main pieces of SAP ERP Financials, including the New GL, however I was quite surprised by the sloppy editing. This book is full of errors (gramatical as well as content). Be careful when purchasing this book, it obviously wasn't proof read. It is not recommended for SAP novices because they will be misled by wrong content mostly in the AP and AR section. It is also misleading because there is a reference in the book to the SPECIAL TOPICS section which is nowhere to be found. It is unprofessional for SAP PRESS to have allowed this publication.

I have bought more than 10 SAP books either from SAP Press itself or Amazon, this book is the best written, and I should thank for the author for his efforts put into it (usually I think that authors of SAP Press books do not care much about the readers).

Well, the book gave me a very good overview for SAP FI, although I would prefer to see more real examples....

I have not tried every configuration in the book. But it would be a shame if the suggested configuraion does not work like other comments said....

If you want to learn SAP configuration please DO NOT buy this book. It is a disgrace SAP press will allow a book to be published under 'SAP Press' name. This book is full of MISTAKES. You can not even configure the basics of SAP ERP with this book. Even basic configuration of 'Posting periods' or 'assignment' are not correctly printed in the book. Posting period configuration is within first few step of FI configuration. From then onwards you will have to refer other books, in order follow this book. Ultimate shame on part of SAP PRESS. If you rely on this book to configure SAP, rest assured, you will add two or three extra digits to your age before you succeed.

This is a great book, I purchased this book in November and have almost tried all the configuration steps, I never confronted with any error etc. Though one should be careful about menu paths as people may be on different R/3 systems 4.6, 4.7 or with new GL.

There is no other reason for me rather to believe that these bad comments are due to jealousy by Indian techies. Good product should be praised.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ... 15

1 Overview ... 17

... 1.1 Introduction ... 17

... 1.2 Brief history of SAP ... 20

... 1.3 SAP Implementation Overview ... 21

... 1.4 SAP Navigation Basics ... 25

... 1.5 Summary ... 31

2 SAP Enterprise Structure ... 33

... 2.1 Building an Enterprise Structure ... 34

... 2.2 Building a Straw Man ... 35

... 2.3 Straw Man Design ... 39

... 2.4 Configuration of Enterprise Structure ... 41

... 2.5 Summary ... 65

3 Financial Accounting Component (FI) Global Settings ... 67

... 3.1 What Is a Document in SAP? ... 68

... 3.2 Configuration of Global Settings ... 71

... 3.3 Sales and Purchase Tax ... 109

... 3.4 Summary ... 119

4 New General Ledger ... 121

... 4.1 Overview of the GL ... 122

... 4.2 Building Your New GL Blueprint ... 127

... 4.3 Configuration Steps to Activate the New GL ... 129

... 4.4 Summary ... 162

5 Accounts Payable ... 163

... 5.1 Overview of the P2P cycle ... 164

... 5.2 Building an AP Business Model ... 167

... 5.3 Master Data ... 168

... 5.4 Vendor Account Groups ... 171

... 5.5 Vendor Number Ranges ... 180

... 5.6 Accounting Clerks ... 185

... 5.7 Define Sensitive Fields for Dual Control ... 186

... 5.8 House Banks ... 188

... 5.9 Invoice Processing ... 193

... 5.10 Document Parking ... 197

... 5.11 Outgoing Payments Processing ... 198

... 5.12 Summary ... 213

6 Accounts Receivable ... 215

... 6.1 Overview of the Order-to-Cash Process ... 215

... 6.2 Building an Accounts Receivable Business Model ... 218

... 6.3 Master Data ... 219

... 6.4 Customer Master Records ... 219

... 6.5 Finance Documents Global Settings ... 236

... 6.6 Customer Invoice Processing ... 237

... 6.7 Customer Payments ... 239

... 6.8 Debtor Management ... 246

... 6.9 Summary ... 264

7 Asset Accounting ... 265

... 7.1 Overview of Asset Accounting ... 266

... 7.2 Building Blocks of Asset Accounting ... 267

... 7.3 Building an Asset Accounting Business Model ... 272

... 7.4 Asset Accounting Configuration ... 273

... 7.5 Asset transaction processing ... 304

... 7.6 Summary ... 320

8 Controlling Component (CO) in SAP ERP ... 323

... 8.1 Overview and Diagram ... 324

... 8.2 Subcomponents of the Controlling Component (CO) ... 325

... 8.3 Building a Controlling Model ... 327

... 8.4 Configuration Settings in the Controlling Component (CO) ... 330

... 8.5 Summary ... 361

9 ERP Financials Integration ... 363

... 9.1 Automatic Account Determination ... 365

... 9.2 Master Data ... 382

... 9.3 Interfaces ... 390

... 9.4 The Value of Integration Testing ... 396

... 9.5 Summary ... 396

10 Data Migration ... 397

... 10.1 Key Principles of Data Migration ... 398

... 10.2 The Six-Step Migration Model ... 399

... 10.3 Inventory Transfer ... 404

... 10.4 Open Items Transfer ... 405

... 10.5 Upgrade to SAP ERP ECC 6.0 ... 406

... 10.6 Asset Accounting Legacy Data Transfer ... 407

... 10.7 Summary ... 413

11 Period-End Closing ... 415

... 11.1 Fast Close with the New GL ... 416

... 11.2 Key Elements of a Period End Timetable ... 417

... 11.3 Dependent Activities Already Completed ... 417

... 11.4 Analysis of Period-End Activities ... 417

... 11.5 Summary ... 424

12 SAP ERP Financials Reporting ... 425

... 12.1 Building Your Reporting Suite ... 425

... 12.2 Reporting Tools ... 427

... 12.3 Common Reporting Requirements ... 429

... 12.4 Creating Basic Management Accounting Reports with Report Painter ... 435

... 12.5 Summary ... 455