Unlocking the Power of SAP HR Tables

SAP HR (also known as SAP HCM – Human Capital Management) is a powerful suite of tools that helps companies streamline HR processes and manage their most valuable asset: their employees. A vital component of this system is the intricate structure of tables that store all sorts of HR-related data. Understanding these tables is crucial if you work with SAP HR as a consultant, developer, or end-user.

Table Naming Conventions: Your Key to Navigation

SAP has a logical naming convention for HR tables, making them relatively easy to identify and remember:

• PA tables: These tables house Personnel Administration data. Each table name starts with “PA” followed by a four-digit info type number (e.g., PA0001, PA0002, PA0105).
• HRP tables are dedicated to Organizational Management (OM) data. They begin with “HRP” followed by the four-digit info type number (e.g., HRP1000, HRP1001).

Crucial SAP HR Tables

Let’s take a look at a few of the most critical SAP HR tables you’ll encounter:

Personnel Administration (PA)

• PA0000 (Actions): Stores employee actions such as hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, etc.
• PA0001 (Organizational Assignment): Links employees to organizational structures like positions, jobs, departments, and cost centers.
• PA0002 (Personal Data): Houses core employee information like name, address, birth date, and nationality.
• PA0008 (Basic Pay): This document contains an employee’s compensation details, including wage types and recurring payments/deductions.

Organizational Management (HRP)

• HRP1000 (Objects): Stores organizational units, positions, jobs, etc.
• HRP1001 (Relationships): Defines relationships between organizational objects, creating the overall organizational hierarchy.

Other Notable Mentions

• PB tables: Used for recruitment-related data
• CATSDB: Stores time recording data from Cross Application Time Sheet (CATS)
• PTEX2000: Stores absence and attendance data (info types 2001 and 2002)

Finding the Right Table

There are a few ways to determine which table you need:

1. Infotypes: SAP HR uses infotypes to organize data. If you know the infotype number (e.g., Infotype 0002 for Personal Data), you can easily derive the table name (PA0002).
2. Transaction Codes: SAP transaction codes often hint at the underlying table. For example, PA20 displays HR master data, likely relying on tables like PA0001, PA0002, etc.
3. SAP Documentation: SAP provides extensive documentation that allows you to search for tables based on functionality.

Important Notes

• SAP HR tables often have complex relationships. Understanding these links is essential for accurate data extraction.
• Custom tables exist within your company’s SAP implementation. These usually start with the letter ‘Z’ or ‘Y’.

The Foundation of SAP HR

Mastering SAP HR tables will significantly boost your ability to navigate, report on, and customize the SAP HR system. Explore these tables, their relationships, and the data they store.