SAP Re-FX Configuration Document

By:
Samarjeet Singh
SAP Consultant
GBS Hyderabad

Table of Contents
Master Data in REFX .................................................................................................................... 4
Rules for the Assignment ............................................................................................................. 5
1.
2.

Default units of measurement ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Under Rental Accounting .................................................................................................................................................... 8

Configurations in Master Data Management in RE-FX .................................................................. 9

Master Data Basic Settings ........................................................................................................ 10
Define Measurement Types....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Define Total Measurement Types ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Define Derivable Measurements Types ............................................................................................................................... 11
Define Tenancy Laws ................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Architectural View Configurations ............................................................................................. 12

Create Architecture Object Types ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Assign Icons to Architectural Object Types ........................................................................................................................ 12
Define Allowed Object Type Hierarchy ................................................................................................................................ 13
Specify Rule for Determining Object ID................................................................................................................................ 13
Functions per Architectural Object Type............................................................................................................................. 14

Measurement Types per Architectural Object Type ................................................................... 14

PM Integration .......................................................................................................................... 15
Settings per Architectural Object Type ................................................................................................................................ 15
Define PM Notifications per Object Type............................................................................................................................. 15
Define Field Status Groups ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
Define Field Status ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Define Views .................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Define Screen Layout Views ...................................................................................................................................................... 16
Define Screen Layout Stages ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
Define Screen Layout Stages ..................................................................................................................................................... 18
Define Screens Sequences .......................................................................................................................................................... 18
Define Events .................................................................................................................................................................................. 19

Define Tables ............................................................................................................................ 20

Usage View ............................................................................................................................... 20
Define Fixtures/Fittings Characteristics for Usage View Objects ............................................................................. 20
Suppressing Leading Zeroes in Object Keys ....................................................................................................................... 22

Define Number Range for Business Entity .................................................................................. 23

Define Regional Locations ......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Define Layer ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Define District Locations ............................................................................................................................................................ 24
Define Transport Connection ................................................................................................................................................... 24
Define Maintenance Areas ......................................................................................................................................................... 25
Define Default Unit of Measurement per Company Code ............................................................................................. 25

Define Number Range for Building ............................................................................................ 25

Define Building Condition .......................................................................................................... 27
Define Building Types.................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Define Main Usage Types ........................................................................................................................................................... 27
Define Number Range for Property ....................................................................................................................................... 28
Define Municipality key .............................................................................................................................................................. 28
Define Location Qualities ........................................................................................................................................................... 28
Define Property Ground Types ................................................................................................................................................ 28
Define Overall Condition of Property .................................................................................................................................... 29

Define usage Types Acc. To Usage Plan ................................................................................................................................ 29

Define usage Types Acc. To Heritable Building Types ................................................................................................... 29

Define Number Range and other basic configurations for Rental Object ..................................... 29
Define Usage Types for Rental Object ................................................................................................................................... 30
Define usage Type per Rental Object .................................................................................................................................... 30

Define Usage Type for Pooled Space .......................................................................................... 31

Define Floor .............................................................................................................................. 31
Define Occupancy Obligations ................................................................................................... 32
Define Reasons for different rent increase ......................................................................................................................... 32
Define Reasons for different rent increase ......................................................................................................................... 32

Define Vacancy Reasons ............................................................................................................ 33

Define Vacancy Reasons based on Vacancy Event ........................................................................................................... 33
Define Vacancy Reasons based on Notice period ............................................................................................................. 33

Master Data in REFX

Master Data in REFX is divided into two views
Architectural View
This is an informative view,
which is used to integrate with
external designing software
like CAD and also define the
space measurements, which
then flows to the Usage View.
The architectural view
represents the actual
architectural framework, of a
real estate object, taking
account of all the chronological
changes relevant to its usage.
It is possible to define
architectural information on
rooms or spaces or fixed units
without creating a
corresponding rental object for
each room or space.

Usage View
This view takes care of all the
settings for which the actual
postings will happen in SAP.

Architectural View if defined has to

be defined before usage view. It is
advisable to implement
Architectural view in the following:
If detailed information about
the architectural structure of
the real estate in the system is
to be maintained in the system.
The usage of the objects
changes frequently. In this
case, the architectural view
remains constant and new
usage objects are created as
needed.
Graphical systems (CAD etc.)
need to be linked to the real
estate system.

The additional master data object is available for third-party management:

Mandate

The Master Data in SAP REFX is defined in a hierarchical manner. Each object at the lower
level is linked to a corresponding object of higher level. The hierarchy is maintained as
below:
Architecture View
Locality
Building
Land
Floor
Space
Area

Usage View
Company Code
Business Entity
Building
Land
Rental Object
Rental Space
Rental Space
Rental Unit

Assignments between Architectural and Usage Views:

Existing usage objects can be linked to existing architectural objects or vice versa. This
assignment can be either partial or complete. Also usage objects can be created with
reference from existing architectural objects. The advantage of this assignment is that user
can partially or completely adopt the measurements of the assigned object. In that case the
measurements can be automatically or manually updated.
The assignment can be made in following ways:
On an existing usage object (on the Architecture tab page)
On an existing architectural object (on the Usage tab page)
In both cases, the assignment can be made in master data processing on the specified tab
page by choosing with the quick info text Assign.
To remove the assignment, user has to select the object and choose with the quick info text
Undo Assignment.
When creating a new usage object (with one exception: rental objects)
Using occupancy planning: Here user can assign multiple architectural or usage
objects, or just plan them.

Rules for the Assignment

The following rules are to be kept in mind when assigning objects:
While linking objects in the usage and architectural views, user has to always start
with the highest-level object of the usage hierarchy (business entity) and when
removing a link it has to be done from the lowest level hierarchy first.
On the usage side, user is only allowed to assign usage objects to an architectural
hierarchy within the same time period if the highest-level usage object is already
assigned to the architectural hierarchy.

The usage objects, business entity, building and land, can only be assigned to one
architectural object in a given time period (1:1 assignment). Multiple assignments
are only possible in different company codes.

Pre-requisite to configuring master Management

To enable use of RE-FX, company code and controlling area need to be configured
beforehand.
To enable use of RE-FX, the following configurations are required to be set-up at the
enterprise level:
a. Activation of the Financial Extension (Application Indicator EA-FIN) Within the
SAP R/3 Enterprise Extension Set
b. Activation of the BTE Application (RE). This is essential to ensure Business
transactions events (BTE) related to other modules.
c. Activation of the Real Estate Extension

To enable use of RE-FX, the following configurations are required to be set-up at the
company code level:

R3-FI has to be activated as the Financial Accounting System.

Uniqueness of Object Assignment
It states that whether uniqueness of object is to be maintained or not.
Functional Location Multiple By checking, multiple real estate objects can be set in
the same time in the same period for a Functional Location.
Asset Assignment- By checking, multiple real estate objects can be set in the same
time in the same period for the assets.
WBS Multiple- By checking, multiple real estate objects can be set in the same time
in the same period for the WBS.
Order Assignment- By checking, multiple real estate objects can be set in the same
time in the same period for the order.
Asset Mandatory By checking, it is mandatory to assign the Fixed Asset to the Real
Estate Object

1.

Default units of measurement

Area Unit It specifies the unit of measurement for the area per company code as a
default value on the business entity.
Volume Unit It specifies the unit of measurement for the volume per company code
as a default value on the business entity.
Unit of Length It specifies the unit of measurement for the length per company
code as a default value on the business entity.

2.

Under Rental Accounting

Company Code Opts If this indicator is set, it means that option rates are to be
determined.
Residual Item It specifies when there is an incoming payment and that does not
clear the entire open item, then how will that be treated.
If this indicator is set then the remaining amount becomes a residual item that the
system treats as a new receivable (open item).
Fill Assignment If this indicator is set the assignment in document line item field is
automatically filled.
Item Summarization-If this indicator is set then there will be summarization of line
items.

Tax Line Item Summarization- If this indicator is activated then there will be
summarization of the tax line items based on certain specified criteria like Underlying
Tax Code, Tax Jurisdictions.
To enable use of RE-FX, the following configuration is required to be set-up also:
Activation of Real Estate Management

Also, along with the configurations given above the necessary configurations for
Master Data and contract management needs to be completed before configurations
for Service Charge Settlement can be done.

Configurations in Master Data Management in RE-FX

The Flexible real estate module comes under the accounting part in SAP and can be
accessed in easy access and SPRO as given in screenshots below:

Master Data Management configurations are available in SPRO under:

IMG Path: IMG Flexible Real Estate Management Master Data

Master Data Basic Settings

Before the Architectural view is configured the measurement types have to be defined for
architectural, usage and contracts. It can be done in the following part of SPRO settings:

The activities to be performed are as given below:

Define Measurement Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Basic Settings Measurements Define Measurement Types
Purpose: Measurements are used to record measurable traits of real estate objects. The measurement type
indicates the type of characteristic that is being measured. There is a special indicator that identifies area
measurements.

In the screenshot below the example is given containing the details for Gross Area.

Define Total Measurement Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data
Basic Settings
Measurements
Define Total Measurements
Purpose: Here user can specify how summarized measurements are derived from other measurements.

Define Derivable Measurements Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Basic Settings Measurements Define Derivable Measurements
Purpose: The user can define how the measurement amounts of a rental object (for example, when a rental
space is extracted) should be derived from other measurement amounts. The derived value can be changed
when the rental object is processed. As long as no manual changes are made, the value for the derived
measurement type is updated automatically each time the basis measurement is changed. It is possible to
derive measurement amounts for the following rental object types:
All rental object types from the same object or from subordinate/super ordinate architectural objects.
For rental spaces from a super ordinate pooled space

Define Tenancy Laws

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Basic Settings Tenancy Law

Purpose: Here user can specify which a tenancy law has to be maintained in RE-FX. User can
specify for the business entity, the contract and the settlement unit which tenancy law covers the
relevant object.

Architectural View Configurations

Create Architecture Object Types
IMG Path: IMG Master Data
Architectural Object Types

Architectural View

Architectural Object Type Create

Purpose: Here user can define the allowed architectural object types. By defining
architectural object types, user needs to define the different, distinct architectural levels,
which have to be in the system and their relationship to each other.

Assign Icons to Architectural Object Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Architectural Object Type Assign
Icons to Architectural Object Types
Purpose: Here the icons associated with the architectural object types are defined to assist
in distinguishing the different objects.

Define Allowed Object Type Hierarchy

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Architectural Object Type Define
Allowed Object Type Hierarchy
Purpose: In this step, user needs to define which architectural object types can be
assigned as higher-level object types (parent object types) within the hierarchy, per
architectural object type.

Specify Rule for Determining Object ID

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Architectural Object Type
Specify Rule for Determining Object ID
Purpose: Here user has to set up the rules to be used for generating a system-wide,
unique architectural object ID from the architectural object code (AOID code). The settings
depend on the object type. The AOID is assigned hierarchically which means that a new
architectural object ID contains the architectural object ID of the object above it in the
hierarchy. The architectural object code of the new object is added to this architectural
object ID. A separator can separate this code.

Functions per Architectural Object Type

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Architectural Object Type
Functions per Architectural Object Type
Purpose: In this step, user can specify the function for architectural objects, per
architectural object type. The function makes it possible to classify architectural objects. For
example, type of room or building can be defined using this function.

Measurement Types per Architectural Object Type

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View
Measurement Types per Architectural Object Type

Architectural Object Type

Purpose: User can define exceptions here for individual architectural object types.
However, the system ignores these exceptions if the No Exception indicator is set in the
step mentioned above.

PM Integration
Settings per Architectural Object Type
IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View PM Integration Make Settings per
Architectural Object Type
Purpose: In this section, user specifies for each architectural object type how functional
locations are created. They can be
Created automatically
Created automatically and updated
Not created automatically (no automatic integration with Plant Maintenance).

Define PM Notifications per Object Type

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View PM Integration Define PM
Notifications per Object Type
Purpose: Functional locations can be assigned to Real Estate master data either manually
or automatically (see PM Integration: Define Settings per Object Type. While processing
master data, user can create notifications for these functional locations. Here user specifies
what type of PM notification user can create for each object type.

Define Field Status Groups

IMG Path: IMG
Field Groups

Master Data

Architectural View

Dialog Screen Layout

Field Groups

Purpose: Allows the client to customize the fields that are displayed and the associated
actions required for each.

Define Field Status

MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen LayoutField
Groups Field Status
Purpose: Allows the user to customize the fields that are required to be displayed.

Define Views
MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout Field
Groups Field Status per Architectural Object Type
Purpose: Here on has to specify which field groups are grouped together into a view (part
of a screen, technically a sub screen). User should group together the field groups that
necessarily belong together during a check.

Define Screen Layout Views

MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout Views
Purpose: Here user has to specify which views are grouped together into sections.

Define Screen Layout Stages

MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout Stages
Purpose: Here user has to specify which views are grouped together into sections

Define Screen Layout Stages

MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout
Screens
Purpose: Here user has to specify which views are grouped together into sections (framed
areas in screens).

Define Screens Sequences

MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout Screen Sequences
Purpose: Here user has to specify which tab pages appear in the dialog, and which sections make up these
tab pages.

Define Events
MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout Screen
Sequences
Purpose: Here user has to specify which tab pages appear in the dialog, and which sections make
up these tab pages.

Define Tables
MENU Path: IMG Master Data Architectural View Dialog Screen Layout Tables
Purpose: Here user has to specify which tab pages appear in the dialog, and which sections make
up these tab pages.

Usage View
Define Fixtures/Fittings Characteristics for Usage View Objects
IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View General Settings for Multiple Object
Types of the Usage View Define Fixture/Fittings Characteristics for Buildings and Rental
Object
And
IMG Master Data Usage View General Settings for Multiple Object Types of the
Usage View Specify Structure of Fix. /Fittings Characteristics Independent of RLR
And
IMG Master Data Usage View Building Define Fixt. /Fittings Characteristics for
Buildings and Rental Object
And
IMG
Master Data
Usage View
Characteristics Independent of RLR

Building

Specify Structure of Fixt/ Fittings

Purpose: The fixtures and fittings characteristics are to be available when processing the
rental object and building. The fixtures and fittings characteristics that user defines can be
assigned to a representative list of rents
For fixtures and fittings characteristics that are not relevant for the representative list of
rents, user can define a structure using the Specify Structure of Fixtures and Fittings
Characteristics Independent of Representative List of Rents IMG activity.
For rental objects and buildings for which a representative list of rents is defined, the
structure of fixtures and fittings characteristics is determined using the representative list of
rents structure.
If a representative list of rents is specified for a building or rental object, then in the
processing dialog user can switch to representative-list-of-rents-independent display to
use the structure defined here.

Suppressing Leading Zeroes in Object Keys

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View General Settings for Multiple Object Types of the
Usage View Suppress Leading Zeros in Object Keys
Purpose: The indicator for object types has to be set for which; user want the system to suppress
leading zeros.
Input:
If user set the indicator for input, a purely numerical key is always saved technically in the database
with leading zeros. Therefore, the system saves the keys of a business entity for which user have
entered the number 1 as 00000001.
Output:
If user set the indicator for output then the system does not display saved leading zeros for purely
technical keys in the appropriate field in the database. For example, the system displays a business
entity that has the number 00000007 in the database as 7. The list is still sorted in the numerical
sequence.

Define Number Range for Business Entity

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity Number Range for Business Entity
Purpose: Here user can specify how number assignment is handled for usage objects. The specification
applies uniformly for the company code. .
For external number assignment, user can specify the number range that is available when user
creates the usage object.
For internal number assignment, the system counts upward sequentially starting from the number
shown in the Number level field.
For buildings, properties and rental objects, the system assigns the number per business entity when
internal number assignment is used. This number is unique within the business entity. The next assigned
number for these objects is therefore not identical with the number that is shown here in Customizing.

Define Regional Locations

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity Regional Locations
Purpose: Regional location is used to denote the geographic region of operation. Here user can specify the
regional locations for the real estate properties.

Define Layer
IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity Layer
Purpose: Create the necessary locations of business entities with the amount of detail user need,
and enter a name for the location.

Define District Locations

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity District Locations
Purpose: Create the district locations of business entities in the amount of detail user need, and
enter descriptions for them.

Define Transport Connection

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity Transport Connection
Purpose: Transport connections allow the maintenance of public transport availability. The user
can define the list in this setting.

Define Maintenance Areas

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity Maintenance Areas
Purpose: The user can create the necessary maintenance areas for business entities in the
amount of detail the requirements are there. The areas can be assigned names.

Define Default Unit of Measurement per Company Code

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Business Entity Default Unit of Measurement per
Company Code
Purpose: User can define the default unit of measurement per company code in this setting.

Define Number Range for Building

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Building Number Range for Building
Purpose: Here user can specify how number assignment is handled for this usage object. The
specification applies uniformly for the company code. Note that the system only takes the setting
for interval "01" into account.
For external number assignment, user can specify the number range that is available when user
creates the usage object. For internal number assignment, the system counts upward sequentially
start from the number shown in the Number level field. For buildings, properties and rental objects,
the system assigns the number per business entity when internal number assignment is used. This
number is unique within the business entity. The next assigned number for these objects is
therefore not identical with the number that is shown here in Customizing.

Define Building Condition

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Building Building Condition
Purpose: The SAP building condition field is used to hold the facility classification. User can
specify the descriptions for the conditions of buildings. The characteristic is for information only.

Define Building Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Building Building Type
Purpose: The SAP building type field is used to hold the facility classification. User can define the
facility classification in this setting.

Define Main Usage Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Building Main Usage Types
Purpose: Here user specifies the main usage type of the building. This attribute is of a purely documentary
nature.

Define Number Range for Property

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Number Range for Property
Purpose: Here user can specify how number assignment is handled for usage object property. The specification
applies uniformly for the company code.

Define Municipality key

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Municipality Key
Purpose: The municipality key fields are used to hold the MSA fields; MSA, county and state. The check
values and initial field values can be loaded in via data conversion.

Define Location Qualities

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Location Qualities
Purpose: To define the quality of the property location the below settings can be used.

Define Property Ground Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Property Ground Types
Purpose: This setting can be used to define the property ground type.

Define Overall Condition of Property

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Overall Condition of Property
Purpose: The below maintained setting is used to indicate if the land (property) is covered or uncovered

Define usage Types Acc. To Usage Plan

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Usage type according to Usage Plan
Purpose: This setting is made to indicate if the land is to be used for commercial, mixed building, park or
residential building purpose

Define usage Types Acc. To Heritable Building Types

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Property Heritable Building Right Types
Purpose: This setting can be made to indicate if the land is to be used for heritable building

Define Number Range and other basic configurations for Rental Object
IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Number Range for Rental Objects
Purpose: This setting is made to define the number assignment for rental objects. The specification
applies uniformly for the company code.

Define Usage Types for Rental Object

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Usage Types Usage Types
Purpose: In this section, user needs to specify the external usage types for rental objects and assign internal usage
type to them. The usage type specifies the following:
Which screen sequence is used for master data maintenance of the rental object
Which rental object types (rental unit or pooled space/rental space) are allowed
Which condition types are allowed for the rental object (by assigning a condition group per usage
type)
Which option rate method is defaulted
Which adjustment rule is defaulted for a condition type
Whether or not a rental object can participate in service charge settlement

Define usage Type per Rental Object

IMG Path: IMGMaster Data Usage View Rental Object Usage Types Usage Type per Rental
Object Type
Purpose: In this section, user has to specify which usage types can be used exclusively for which rental
object types.

Define Usage Type for Pooled Space

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Usage Types Usage Types Allowed
for Rental Spaces per Pooled Space
Purpose: User has to assign multiple usage types for rental spaces that are extracted from pooled
spaces. User assigns these to the usage type of the pooled space. In the standard system, rental spaces
have the same usage type as the pooled space they belong to. This means that when the usage type of
the pooled space is Office space, for example, the rental spaces user has to extract from it are also office
space. However, user might need different types of offices at the rental space level (single office, common
office, and so on).

Define Floor
IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Attributes Floor Descriptions
Purpose: Provides floor descriptions. User can maintain the floor descriptions in the list below.

Define Occupancy Obligations

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Attributes Occupancy Obligations
for Accommodation Entitlement Certificate
Purpose: In this section, user defines which occupancy obligations a rental unit can have. The occupancy
obligation specifies under which conditions a rental unit may be let. The occupancy obligation has to
match the accommodation entitlement certificate specified for the applicant, that is; the application/rental
request contains a list of the occupancy obligations for which the applicant owns a certificate.

Define Reasons for different rent increase

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Attributes Reasons for different rent
increase
Purpose: In this step user defines reasons for alternative rent increases, which can be defined as attribute
of the rental unit.

Define Reasons for different rent increase

MENU Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Attributes Account Determination
Values
Purpose: In addition to account symbols, user can also define account determination values. User enters
them in posting rules on the contract or rental object, and they control account determination for automatic
postings.

Define Vacancy Reasons

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Vacancy Define Vacancy Reasons
Purpose: in this setting the user has to define the possible reasons why a rental object is vacant.

Define Vacancy Reasons based on Vacancy Event

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Vacancy Determine Vacancy
Reason Based on Vacancy Event
Purpose: The vacancy reason in the master data of a rental object explains the reason that the rental
object is not occupied. User can enter the vacancy reason manually on the rental object.
However, the vacancy is usually caused by changes in the assigned occupancy contract. User can specify
which changes to the occupancy contract result in which vacancy reasons on the rental object. User can
still manually change a vacancy reason that was set automatically.

Define Vacancy Reasons based on Notice period

IMG Path: IMG Master Data Usage View Rental Object Vacancy Determine Vacancy Reason Based on Notice Reason

Purpose: When notice is given on a rental object, a notice reason has to be entered. For each notice reason, user
has to specify which vacancy reason is set on the rental object when this notice reason is used.