COPA Planning

Planning is a key tool available in Profitability Analysis (COPA), which is widely used to plan for annual forecast
for Profitability Plans and track the actuals against the planned figures. Planning in Profitability Analysis allows
to plan Sales, revenue and profitability data in any selected profitability segments. The planning data can
be displayed in various ways, depending on business demands. It is not a standalone component. It can not
only send data to other applications but it can also receive planning data from those applications. It is also not
limited by any specific time frame. The planning can be done more than one fiscal year at one or on a rolling
basis. The data can also be planned by posting periods or calendar weeks. It is also possible to create and
store planning data in different plan versions.
The planning framework is the main working environment for sales and profit planning. It contains all possible
settings for building the planning framework. The planning can be carried out from this framework screen. MS
Excel can be used as a planning screen for planning data in the SAP system. The planning framework allows
for planning with or without MS Excel. The various ways in which manual planning can be executed are as
under:
Planning without Excel
Planning with Excel integrated in SAP Interface
Planning with offline planning in Excel and
uploading data into the SAP system

The first step in COPA planning is the planning framework. It contains the elements like Planning Level,
Planning Package, Planning Method and parameter set. The configuration transaction for creation of planning
framework is KEPM. The first step is to set the Operating Concern.

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The next step is to create a planning level. Planning level is used to determine the level at which the planning is
required to be done using the characteristics. In the transaction code KEPM, right click on Planning Level.

Now enter the planning level and description of the same.

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Now right click on the Planning Level created to add the characteristics needed for planning

The characteristic values are specified in a planning package. Right click on the planning level
and click on Create Planning Package.

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Specify the name and description of the planning package.

Enter the values which can be defaulted.

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The status of the planning package would be in Red. Double click on the status and change it to the required
status

The next important step is the definition of planning method. The planning method is a function with which the
planning data can be
entered and changed. The planning method can be manual or automatic. The automatic planning allows to
copy and revaluate actual or planning data for a large number of profitability segments at once. On the other
hand, the manual planning method allows you to define the planning screens as per requirement at any degree
of detail.

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The next step in the planning process is the creation of the parameter set. It contains all the
settings required for execution of planning
method. Right click on Enter Planning Data and than click on Create Parameter Set

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Enter the parameter set name and description

In the next screen, enter the required details like planning layout, currency etc. and Save it. This would create
the parameter set.

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There is a checkbox for integration with excel. This check box must be ticked as Active, if
integration with excel is required. If this is
not ticked, the excel integration will not work with COPA planning framework. The next step is to
define the planning layout. The planning layout will
determine how the screens will look like when the planning data is entered and which fields
would appear on the screen. The planning layout can be
created/modified using transaction code KE15 or KE16 or through the parameter set by click on
Create icon.

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Enter the layout description, name and choose the Characteristics as Header and Lead Columns as required.

Choose the value fields that are needed and save

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Check if the layout meets the requirements. This can be done in transaction code KE15 or KE16

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Other options for editing are available

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The planning framework is now complete and we can now execute planning
Planning without Excel Integration

Ensure that Integrated Excel check box is not ticked in the parameter set in transaction code KEPM

Double click on the parameter SET1. This would open the planning screen

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Now enter the planned values and save

You can check the posting in KE25 or use the path in the menu path as under:

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COPA Planning

Planning with Integrated Excel

Excel is integrated in the standard SAP planning screen. The checkbox should be ticked in the transaction
code KEPM

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Now double click on the parameter set to open the excel based planning screen

Once Macros are enabled, embedded excel screen opens in SAP Interface

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Once the planned data has been entered, save the planned data

Planning with Excel Upload

Ensure that the Integrated Excel checkbox is ticked in the Parameter set. Double click on the same and go to
Excel Integrated planning
screen. Enable the macros. In the planning screen go to Setting and click on Formatting

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This will generate a file description as shown below

Now click on Save File Description

Now click on Save Excel Layout to save the Excel worksheet in the SAP System

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Now click on Generic file to enter a generic file name. This name must consist of a string of
characters (upper case), an asterisk (*), and the file suffix ".TXT" (example: PLAN*.TXT). When you later
upload Excel files into the SAP System, this generic file name links the file on your local PC to the file
description.

After this save the overall planning as shown below:

In the excel planning screen, do file Save as to save the Excel Planning Layout for future use :

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Example the excel layout is saved as PLAN1 on your Local computer. Once the file is saved
on the local computer, it is not required to come again to KEPM and execute all the steps for
generate of the excel template. Just use the saved excel file, enter the planned data as TXT and
upload the same using transaction code KE13N

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Save the file in TXT format

Go to KE13N or use the path as below:

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You can check the planned data in KE25.

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