Functionality
You can use this method to change differentiated attributes for thecustomer segment, for example.
You can process differentiated attributes in dialog mode only byusing the Differentiation pushbutton. The table BP1013(Business Partner: Differentiation Type-Dependent Attributes)presents an example implementation for the customer segment field. Youcan add further fields to the table in accordance with the Business DataToolset (BDT) conventions.
You can use the Differentiation function to differentiate betweenselected business partner components in order to reflect differentpoints of view. In the Differentiation function you can useselected differentiation criteria (in this methodsynonymous with differentiation type characteristic (relevant forchange documents)) to store different values for one and the sameattribute of a business partner. You can therefore subdivide ordifferentiate values for similar business partner data according to yourrequirements.
Differentiation could be necessary when you have a businesspartner who exists as a customer in several branches of your company,and you want certain data to be displayed in the above-named componentsfor each particular branch.
By assigning certain attributes to a differentiation criterion,the Differentiation function enables you to improve data entryfor a business partner, and to avoid data redundancy in the businesspartner dataset.

Notes
You can change several records with differentiated attributes for eachbusiness partner.
A preprocessing run takes place before the data is added:

• A check is performed to determine whether the business partner is
available for processing.

• A simple exclusive lock is activated.

This prevents other users from changing the business partner that iscurrently being processed until either the method TransactionCommit
or TransactionRollback for the Business ObjectBapiService is executed. The authorized user can access the samebusiness partner repeatedly.
The differentiated attributes are not written to the database until themethod TransactionCommit for the Business Object BapiService
has been called.

Authorizations
You can make settings for business partner authorization objects to bechecked in Customizing for the SAP Business Partner underBusiness Partner-> Basic Settings-> Authorization Management.

Buffering
This method works with buffering. Change and read methods for thisbusiness object category can be repeatedly used for this instance. Aftercalling the save method, read and write methods can access thebuffered instances and supply current attributes in the same Logical Unit of Work (LUW)
.

Dependencies
If you want to change differentiated attributes, the system then carriesout the following checks:


• It checks whether the business partner is available in a role that
permits the differentiation of the attribute.

• It checks whether the differentiation criterion is permissible.

If the entries in the Customizing settings for differentiationare correct, then you can change differentiated attributes.
You make settings for differentiation in Customizing for the SAPBusiness Partner for Financial Services under Settings forFinancial Services-> General Settings-> Basic Settings->Differentiation-> Define Differentiation Criterion and SetDifferentiation Criterion.
You make settings for the business partner roles in Customizing for theSAP Business Partner for Financial Services under GeneralSettings-> Business Partner-> Basic Settings-> Business Partner Roles->Define BP Roles.
You can use the method AddRole_2 to create business partner rolesthat permit differentiation of business partner data.

Return messages
Messages are returned in the Return parameter. You can find thereturn values and their meaning in the parameter documentation.

Further information
Further information is available in the SAP Library under SAPBusiness Partner for Financial Services-> Functions-> Differentiation
.

Description
This parameter is a required (mandatory) parameter.
You can find information about the meaning of the parameter in thecorresponding documentation for the data element:Business Partner Number.

Value range
The value range for the parameter corresponds to the value range for thedomain of the data element.

Description
This parameter is obsolete and does not have a function.
The system generates change documents automatically.

Value range

Description
This parameter is currently not in use.

Description
You can find information about the meaning of the parameter in thedocumentation for the data element: Switch to SimulationMode for Write BAPIs.

Value range
'X' Method is called in simulation mode, that is to say, the data is notupdated.
' ' Method is not called in simulation mode, that is to say, the data isupdated.

Default
' ' Method is not called in simulation mode.

Description
This parameter is a required (mandatory) parameter.
It contains attributes, such as the customer segment, that are onlyavailable in a differentiated version. You can processdifferentiated attributes in dialog mode only by using theDifferentiation pushbutton. The table BP1013 (BusinessPartner: Differentiation Type-Dependent Attributes) presents anexample implementation for the customer segment field. You canadd further fields to the table in accordance with the Business DataToolset (BDT) conventions.
For more information about the individual parameter fields, see therelevant data element documentation in the ABAP Dictionary.

Description
This parameter is a required (mandatory) parameter.
You can find information about the meaning of the parameter in thecorresponding documentation for the data element:Change (Updated) Information in Related User DataField.
You have to transfer values for all of the fields to be changed in theparameter ATTRIBUTES.

Value range
'X' Change differentiated attributes
' ' Do not change differentiated attributes
This table contains the return messages from the method call.