Displaying Commodity Codes and Import Code in SAP MM

Use

This function displays descriptions of commodity codes and import code numbers that meet

criteria you define.

Prerequisites

The codes must be loaded into the system before you can search them. For more on loading

codes, see Loading of Commodity Codes and Import Code Numbers

The resulting list of codes is grouped by chapter and section. To display the chapter and section

titles in the list, maintain the following tables in Customizing for Sales and Distribution → Foreign

Trade:

• Basic Data for Foreign Trade → Sections with regard to customs law

• Basic Data for Foreign Trade → Assign chapters to a section

You can compare commodity codes and import code numbers from the Foreign

Trade Data Service Area. See Foreign Trade Data Service Cockpit

Comparison of Commodity Code Numbers in SAP MM

Use

This function allows you to maintain the lists of commodity codes (for example, US Schedule B

codes) and import code numbers (for example, Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes) in the

system.

Periodically, some codes become obsolete with the customs authorities. This function identifies

obsolete codes by comparing codes currently in the system with the set of codes designated by a

keyword you enter. (See the graphic below.) This designated set of codes could be, for example,

the most recent set of commodity codes you received from the customs authorities and loaded

into R/3. From the comparison, the system creates a list of the codes that are not in the

designated set. You then have the option of deleting the listed codes.

Commodity codes Commodity codes Commodity codes

Currently listed in the selected for

in the system most recent set deletion

100 101 102 103 104

100 101 103

102 104

Prerequisites

To use this function, you must know the keyword assigned to the set of codes on which you want

to base the comparison. (When you load a set of commodity codes or import code numbers, you

can print the key you assigned to the set and keep it on file.) The system uses that keyword to

retrieve the set of codes from its database.

Loading Commodity Codes and Import Code Numbers in SAP MM

Use

This procedure describes how to load an external file containing commodity codes or import code

numbers for use in your system.

Prerequisites

• The external file must be in ASCII format

• You need to know the structure of the file – which columns (positions) the codes, the text

descriptions and the units of measure occupy.

Procedure

1. You access this function from the Foreign Trade Data Service Cockpit.

2. Choose the appropriate tab – European Union, Japan or Other – in the Load/Compare

section of the Data Service Cockpit. Choose the Load commodity code button next to the

Commodity code field to display the selection criteria screen.

3. Enter the selection criteria and the file specifications.

Entries in the following fields are mandatory:

– Country key

– File name

– Drive

– Subdirectory

– Initial position goods number

– Final position goods number

– Initial position goods text

– Final position goods text

See the field help (F1) for detailed information about each of the fields in this procedure.

You can determine the actual positions of the columns for the data record structure

entries by opening the ASCII file and counting the spaces used for the digits and the

text characters. For this you need to identify the beginning and end positions of the

codes, their texts and units of measure (when applicable) and enter them in the

corresponding fields.

For example, for a commodity code file with the contents "12345678 Sample text"

(with no unit of measure), you should make the following entries in the data record

structure section:

Data Record Structure

Field	Entry
Initial pos. goods no.	1
Final pos. goods no.	8
Initial pos. goods text	10
Final pos. goods text	21

If there is no unit of measure (optional entry), the last position for the goods text can be a

number that is much greater than the actual final position for the goods text (for example,

200).

4. If you want to use this set of codes as the basis for maintaining the codes in the system,

select Carry out preparations and enter an identification code in the Key for upload field. You

will need this key to access this set of codes during maintenance.

5. If you are installing codes from floppy disks or several files

– For the first disk or file, select First data carrier

– For additional disks or files, select Further data carriers

6. Execute the function.

Results

The system uploads the file contents to the SAP System.

Potential Errors

When you execute this report, the system issues an error message if

• The values for the beginning and end positions overlap

• You enter an incorrect length for a commodity code or import code

number

• The length for the codes has not been maintained for the country you

enter on the selection screen.

You assign commodity code and import code lengths for each country in

Table T609S in Customizing (see Sales → Foreign Trade/Customs →

Basic Data for Foreign Trade → Length of commodity Codes/Import
Code Numbers).

Loading of Commodity Codes and Import Code in SAP MM

Numbers

Use

This function copies commodity codes [Ext.] into the SAP System from external files available

from the customs authorities. It saves you the time required to manually enter these codes in the

system.

Integration

Once they have been loaded into the SAP System, the codes and their descriptions can be used

throughout the system. For example, you can match them with materials in material master

records and print them in foreign trade documents.

The system stores goods numbers and their descriptions in tables T604 and T604T (Foreign

Trade: Commodity Code / Import Code Numbers).

Prerequisites

Before the function can transfer the codes into R/3, you need to:

• Make sure that the file containing the codes and their descriptions is in ASCII format

• Know the structure of the file from which the system will copy the codes – which columns

the codes, the text descriptions and the units of measure (if available) occupy.

Features

You do not have to load all codes into your system. If you want, you can load only the chapters

relevant to your business.

You can overwrite all of the system’s existing codes or add only the new codes.

For example, suppose the system contains the codes 100 and 101 and the set of

codes you want to load contains codes 100, 101, and 102. You can do one of the

following:

• Load only the new code, 102, and ignore codes 100 and 101

• Load the new code and overwrite the existing information for codes 100 and

101

You can load commodity codes and import code numbers from the Foreign Trade
Data Service Cockpit.