Maintain Core Articles
Application component: Mass Maintenance Master Data
App type: SAP GUI
Description: You can use this function to create an article from an application without actually leaving the application. A core article master record contains the article segments and article data that you need for the function in which you are creating the core master record. You can enhance a core article master record with master data so that you can use it operationally as a complete article in every application. For example, if you create a purchase order in which an article is missing, you can call core master data processing from the purchase order, create the article, and post it. You can then use it immediately in the purchase order. 
Key features: Entering a maintenance group You must enter a maintenance group to control the field display during processing. Note If you call processing from an application, the system displays the initial screen for core article master data processing. A default maintenance group is defined for each application.To change the maintenance group, choose Change Maintenance Group. You can only select the maintenance groups that you have specifically defined for the application. In addition to the maintenance group you can enter a template. The template can contain default values for the initial screen and the master data fields in the maintenance group. Note Core article master data processing incorporates multilevel reference handling. Default data from the interface has the highest priority, followed by default data from the template. Data from the reference article has the lowest priority.   Creating core master data On the initial screen you must make entries for the article type, merchandise category, and article category. You can define validity areas and specify a reference article.The system displays the following areas on the main screen: NavigationDisplays the views with the field groups that are combined in the selected maintenance group. Organizational dataDisplays the article short text and the selected organizational levels. Work areaDisplays the fields for the level selected in the navigation view. The system enters default values depending on your entries. Note If you select a higher-level node, for example, Units of Measure, the system displays all the lower-level fields for this node in one line in the work area. You can display or hide individual areas.  The system displays the fields to be processed that are contained in the selected maintenance group. Depending on the maintenance group, it also displays required entry fields for the articles to be created, for example, maintenance of classification data used to define variants for generic articles.You can use a Business Add-In (BAdI) to adapt the screen to customer-specific requirements.For more information about the BAdI, see Customizing for  Logistics - General under Article Master  Retail-Specific Settings  Settings for Core Master Data  Enhancements Using Business Add-Ins  BAdI: Customer-Specific Maintenance Screens. If you create generic articles with processing for core article master data, you evaluate characteristics and create variants. The system then displays the main screen for the function.For all fields that contain variant-specific data, you can double-click to call another screen on which you make entries for individual variants.   Saving core master data If you call processing for core article master data from the SAP Easy Access screen, you can save the data and return to the initial screen, or save the data and use it as a template.If you call processing from another application, the system returns to the original application after saving the data. You can use a BAdI to check and adapt the data to be posted on a customer-specific basis.For more information about the BAdI, see Customizing for  Logistics - General under Article Master  Retail-Specific Settings  Settings for Core Master Data  Enhancements Using Business Add-Ins  BAdI: Additional Checks and Data Adjustment.   
Business roles: Master Data Specialist - Product Data (Retail)