Understanding Number Range Tables in SAP HR

In the SAP Human Resources (HR) world, number ranges play a critical role in ensuring the smooth assignment of unique identifiers to various HR objects. These objects can include things like:

• Personnel Numbers: The unique ID for each employee
• Organizational Units: Structural elements in the company hierarchy
• Positions: Represent specific roles within the organization
• Infotypes: Collections of related HR data (e.g., personal data, payroll information)
• And more!

Let’s dive into how number ranges work in SAP HR:

Key Concepts

• Number Range Object: A named reference that defines the structure of a number range, including its starting value, ending value, and length.
• Number Range Interval: A specific range of numbers within a number range object. You can have multiple intervals for a single object.
• Internal vs. External Number Assignment:
  • Internal: SAP automatically generates the following available number within the range.
  • External: Users manually input the number (but it still must fall within the defined range).
• Current Number: The system keeps track of the last number assigned from a range.

The Table: NRIV

The heart of SAP HR number range data lies within the NRIV table. This table is where you’ll find information such as:

• Number Range Object (e.g., PA0001 for personnel numbers)
• Subobject (Further categorization if needed)
• Number Range Intervals
• Current Number

Configuring Number Ranges

Configuring and maintaining number ranges in SAP HR typically occurs within the SPRO transaction (SAP implementation guide). Here’s a simplified path:

1. SPRO > Personnel Management > Organizational Management > Basic Settings > Number Assignment > Number Ranges for Objects

Other Useful Transactions

• SNRO: Provides an overview of number range objects.
• OOAN: Used to create and edit number range objects.

Tips and Considerations

• Planning is Key: Design your number ranges with future growth in mind. Leave enough flexibility to accommodate new employees, positions, etc.
• Country Groupings: Many HR objects are associated with country groupings, so plan your number ranges accordingly.
• Avoid Overlap: Prevent conflicts by ensuring number ranges for different objects don’t overlap.
• Documentation: Maintain clear documentation of your number range assignments for easier reference and troubleshooting.

Example

Let’s say your company has employees in Germany. You could set up a number range object like:

• Object: PA0001 (Personnel Number)
• Country Grouping: 01 (Germany)
• Interval:
  • Number From: 10000000
  • Number To: 19999999
• Number Assignment: Internal

With this setup, the first German employee hired would get personnel number 10000000, the next 10000001, and so on.

In Conclusion

Number range tables are an essential part of the SAP HR landscape. By understanding their structure, configuration, and purpose, you can ensure that your HR processes run smoothly with organized and efficient numerical identification.