Functionality
Using this method, you read allowed values forprocess instructioncharacteristics and processmessage characteristics from the SAP system.
The allowed values are determined based on the search help that has beenallocated to the characteristics in R/3 or SAP ERP Customizing. Thefollowing characteristic settings are taken into account (see IMG forProcess Management, Define characteristics forprocess messages and Define characteristics forprocess instructions):

• The allowed single values or value ranges


• The allocated check table or check function


• The allocated foreign key dependency

Matchcodes defined in characteristics are not taken into account.

Notes
Prerequisites for Value Selection


• The characteristics must belong to a characteristics group that has been
released for use in process instructions or process messages (see IMGfor Process Management, Define characteristicsgroups for process messages and Definecharacteristics groups for process instructions). The system checkswhether the characteristics groups have been released in the plant youspecify in parameter Plant.

• A function module for value selection in the background must have been
defined for characteristics with check functions. The name of thefunction module must consists of the following:
The name of the check function defined in the characteristic
The ending _ND
A corresponding function module is currently available for the followingcheck function in the standard system:
COC1_PPPI_CHAR_VALUES (Value check of process characteristics withforeign key dependencies)
Authorizations
You need the following authorization to carry out the method:
Authorization object,,Field ,,Value
C_PROCCHAR ,,Characteristic name,,Characteristics whose
,, ,,values you want to read
,,Aktivität ,,B1 (Transfer allowed
,, ,,values to external system)
The system checks the characteristic whose name you specify in parameterCharacteristicName.
Selection Criteria
Using parameter SelectionForHelpvalues you can pass on criteriafor the selection of allowed values. Which criteria you can use dependson the search help of the characteristic.
For information on the search help, first carry out the method using theDescriptionOnly indicator.
If you do so, the SAP System passes on the search help parameters, thatis, the criteria you can use, in parameter DescriptionForHelpvalues
(provided there are any).
To read the allowed values, carry out the method without theDescriptionOnly indicator afterwards and pass on the selectioncriteria.
Allowed Values Transfer
The allowed values are returned in parameters Helpvalues,ValuesForField, or FixValues.
System Messages
System messages issued during method processing are returned inparameter Return. For more information on possible systemmessages and their meaning, see the parameter documentation.

Description
In this table, the SAP system returns the messages issued during themethod call.

Value range
System Messages on Authorizations
Type,,ID ,,Number,,System message
E ,,CB ,,616 ,,No authorization to display allowed values
System Messages on Characteristic
Type,,ID ,,Number,,System message
E ,,0C ,,010 ,,Enter a valid characteristic
E ,,CB1,,207 ,,Characteristic & not created in the system
System Messages on Characteristic Values
Type,,ID ,,Number,,System message
E ,,CB ,,614 ,,No allowed values defined for characteristic &
A ,,CB1,,210 ,,Unable to determine allowed values for
,, ,, ,,characteristic &
Miscellaneous Messages
Type,,ID ,,Number,,System message
E ,,CB1,,200 ,,Plant & does not exist (Enter valid plant)
A ,,CB ,,251 ,,Further processing not possible (Contact
,, ,, ,,(system administrator)

Description
In this parameter, you pass on the name of the characteristic whoseallowed values you want to read.

Description
Using this parameter, you specify whether you want the SAP system todetermine the corresponding search help only or whether you also want itto determine the allowed values.
If you do set the DescriptionOnly indicator when you carryout the method, the system does not determine any values. However, itpasses on the search help parameters (that is, criteria you can use forvalue selection) in parameter DescriptionForHelpvalues.
Afterwards, you can read the allowed values by carrying out the methodwithout setting the DescriptionOnly indicator but enteringspecific selection criteria.

Value range
X ,,Only return search help parameters,
,,do not determine values
' ' (blank),,Determine allowed values

Description
In this parameter, you pass on the maximum number of allowed values tobe selected for the characteristic.
The parameter is not taken into account if the allowed valueshave been defined as single values or value ranges in thecharacteristic itself. In this case, all values or value ranges arepassed on.

Default
500

Description
In this parameter, you pass on the currentplant to the SAP system.
The characteristic whose values you want to request must belong to acharacteristics group that has been released for use in processinstructions and process messages in this plant (see Customizing forProcess Management).
However, the plant is not used as a selection criterion for valueselection.

Value range
See the ABAP Dictionary

Description
This parameter describes the structure of entries in theHelpvalues table. The structure of the Helpvalues tableis passed on dynamically because the information transferred variesfromcharacteristic to characteristic and search help to search help.
Structure of "DescriptionForHelpvalues" Table
TABNAME ,,Name of the database table to which the field belongs
FIELDNAME ,,Name of a field in the Helpvalues table
,,You can use the fields passed on here as selection
,,criteria or search help parameters in the
,,SelectionForHelpvalues table
LANGU ,,Key of the language in which the texts of the Repository
,,object (for example, data element) belonging to the
,,field are passed on
POSITION ,,Field position in the table (for example, 5 = 5th
,,table field)
OFFSET ,,Field position in work area (for example, 7 = field
,,starts with 7th character in the line)
LENG ,,Field length
FIELDTEXT ,,Short description of Repository object
REPTEXT ,,Heading
SCRTEXT_S ,,Short keyword
SCRTEXT_M ,,Medium keyword
SCRTEXT_L ,,Long keyword

Description
In this table, the SAP system passes on allowed values that have beendefined as single values or value ranges in the characteristic itself.
Allowed values determined using a foreign key dependency, a check table,or check function are passed on in the Helpvalues table. Singlevalues defined in the characteristic are also passed on in theHelpvalues table, provided they have format CHAR.
Structure of "FixValues" Table
OPERATOR_LOW ,,Operator for lower limiting value
OPERATOR_HIGH ,,Operator for upper limiting value
LIMIT_LOW ,,Lower limit of value range
LIMIT_HIGH ,,Upper limit of value range
FIX_VALUE ,,Valid single value
DEFAULT_FLAG ,,Ind.: Single value is default value
Example
The following value range has been defined for a numeric characteristicin R/3 or SAP ERP Customizing: >5.5 - <12.0
The following entry is passed on in the FixValues table:
OPERATOR_LOW ,,>
OPERATOR_HIGH ,,<(><<)>
LIMIT_LOW ,,5.5
LIMIT_HIGH ,,12.0
FIX_VALUE ,,5.5
DEFAULT_FLAG ,,' ' (blank)
OPERATOR_LOW ,,> ,,Greater than
und OPERATOR_HIGH ,,<(><<)> ,,Less than
,,>= ,,Greater than or equal to
,,<= ,,Less than or equal to
DEFAULT_FLAG ,,X ,,Value is default value
,,' ' (blank),,Value is not default value

Description
In this table, the SAP system passes on allowed characteristic valuesthat have been:


• Determined based on the selection criteria (parameter
SelectionForHelpvalues) and a foreign key dependency, checktable, or check function defined in the characteristic

• Defined as single values in the characteristic itself

Value ranges that have been defined in the characteristic are passed onin the FixValues table.
Structure of the "Helpvalues" Table
The Helpvalues table has no fixed structure for the followingreasons:

• The information passed on varies from characteristic to characteristic
and from search help to search help.

• Search helps can be changed.

For this reason, the table structure is passed on dynamically inparameter DescriptionForHelpvalues. Always use this parameter toaccess the table.

Description
In this table, you pass on the criteria for selecting allowedcharacteristic values.
You use this table to restrict the number of selected values, providedthat the values are determined based on a foreign key dependency, acheck table, or a check function.
The selection criteria are not taken into account if the allowed valueshave been defined as single values or value ranges in thecharacteristic itself. In this case, all values or value ranges arepassed on.
Table Structure
SELECT_FLD ,,Name of a search help parameter you
,,want to use to restrict the selection
SIGN ,,Ind.: Include or exclude value or value range
,,in selection
,,You use the following fields to define the value
,,or value range.
OPTION ,,Selection operator that determines a value range
,,together with the LOW and HIGH fields
LOW ,,Single value or lower limit of value range
HIGH ,,Upper limit of value range
SELECT_FLD ,,Parameter of the search help that is allocated to the
,,characteristic. It is identical to a field in the
,,check table (if it is available at all).
,,You can determine the fields if you first set the
,,DescriptionOnly indicator when you carry out
,,the method. The R/3 System returns the field names
,,in parameter DescriptionForHelpvalues, field
,,FIELDNAME.
SIGN ,,I ,,Include value or value range in selection.
,,E ,,Exclude value or value range from selection.
OPTION ,,See ABAP Dictionary
Caution
Search helps can be changed. For this reason, always determine thesearch help parameters dynamically using parameterSelectionForHelpvalues.
Example
You want to determine the allowed values for characteristicPPPI_BATCH (Batch). To do so, you pass on the followingselection criteria:
SELECT_FLD ,,MATNR (Field for material number in check table)
SIGN ,,I (Include value in selection)
OPTION ,,EQ (Equal to)
LOW ,,MAT_4711 (Material)
HIGH ,,' ' (Blank)
The system selects all batches created for material MAT_4711 andreturns the allowed values.

Description
In this parameter, the SAP system passes on the same characteristicvalues as in the Helpvalues table. However, it does not includeadditional information.
The ValuesForField table is recommended for performance reasonssince the characteristic values are accessed without a structuredefinition. The number of rows is identical in both tables. For thisreason, you can use table Helpvalues to determine the row of aspecific value and use table ValuesForField to read the table.