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Understanding External and Internal Number Ranges in SAP: Material Master Migration Scenario
Number ranges are essential in SAP for uniquely identifying objects and ensuring data integrity. When migrating data between source and target SAP systems using IDocs, managing number ranges correctly is crucial to avoid conflicts and maintain consistency. This blog explains internal and external number ranges using a Material Master object and illustrates their behavior during migration.
Number Ranges in SAP
Number ranges are sequences of numbers used to uniquely identify objects within the SAP system. These can be internal (automatically assigned by the system) or external (manually assigned by users).
Internal Number Ranges
Internal number ranges are automatically assigned by the SAP system. The system assigns the next available number within a defined range when an object is created.
Example: Internal Number Range for Material Master
| Parameter | Value |
| Number range | 1000 to 1999 |
| First material | 1000 |
| Second material | 1001 |
| Third material | 1002 |
Steps to Define Internal Number Ranges:
Transaction Code: OMBT
- Define the number range interval (e.g., 1000 to 1999).
Transaction Code: MMNR
- Assign the number range interval to a material type (e.g., ROH for raw materials).
External Number Ranges
External number ranges are manually assigned by users, allowing for greater flexibility in numbering based on specific criteria.
Example: External Number Range for Material Master
| Parameter | Value |
| Number range | 2000 to 2999 |
| User assigned 1 | 2005 |
| User assigned 2 | 2010 |
Steps to Define External Number Ranges:
Transaction Code: OMBT
- Define the number range interval (e.g., 2000 to 2999) and mark it as external.
Transaction Code: MMNR
- Assign the number range interval to a material type (e.g., ROH for raw materials).
Number Range Behavior During Migration
When migrating data between SAP systems, handling number ranges properly is crucial. Here's how number ranges behave during migration:
Internal Number Ranges
Source System Configuration:
| Parameter | Value |
| Internal number range | 1000 to 1999 |
| Last assigned number | 1050 |
Target System Configuration:
| Parameter | Value |
| Internal number range | 3000 to 3999 |
Migration Behavior:
| Material Master Record | Source System Number | Target System Number (Post-Migration) |
| Material 1 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Material 2 | 1001 | 1001 |
| Material 3 | 1002 | 1002 |
| ... | ... | ... |
| Material N | 1050 | 1050 |
| New Material 1 (Post-Migration) | N/A | 3000 |
| New Material 2 (Post-Migration) | N/A | 3001 |
| New Material 3 (Post-Migration) | N/A | 3002 |
External Number Ranges
Source System Configuration:
| Parameter | Value |
| External number range | 2000 to 2999 |
| Assigned numbers | 2005, 2010, 2020 |
Target System Configuration:
| Parameter | Value |
| External number range | 4000 to 4999 |
Migration Behavior:
| Material Master Record | Source System Number | Target System Number (Post-Migration) |
| Material 1 | 2005 | 2005 |
| Material 2 | 2010 | 2010 |
| Material 3 | 2020 | 2020 |
| New Material 1 (Post-Migration) | N/A | 4000 |
| New Material 2 (Post-Migration) | N/A | 4005 |
| New Material 3 (Post-Migration) | N/A | 4010 |
Conclusion
Managing number ranges during SAP system migrations is crucial for maintaining data integrity and avoiding conflicts. Understanding the behavior of internal and external number ranges and following best practices during migration will ensure a smooth transition and consistent data management in the target system.