HR Forms - Introduction

HR Forms

A complete HR form is an executable report with its own selection screen in the SAP System.

Objects in the Forms Workplace

Human Resource data and its system-related information are retrieved and
managed in various objects to facilitate the process of creating forms
The Forms Workplace uses these objects to
• Select data for creating forms
• Retrieve data for designing forms
• Print data in forms

MetaNet
The MetaNet is a view of printable data in the SAP System. It covers all data sources in Human
Resources that are available for the form creation process. The MetaNet is provided by SAP and
represents a directory from which you can select data to be printed in forms. The MetaNet provides all data and its system-related information in a directory. You can then select it to create forms. Once the data has been selected, an InfoNet  is used to make the data available to form processing using SAP Smart Forms.

MetaStar

The MetaStar is a view of data that can be read from a specific data source in the system. It
contains MetaDimensions  (complete descriptions of business objects or concepts)
and MetaFigures  (key figures). The MetaDimensions contained in a MetaStar
characterize the MetaFigures of this MetaStar.
A MetaStar contains data and its system-related information for which the same MetaDimensions
are meaningful. Therefore, it groups information together from the same business area. For
example, one MetaStar can contain the payments and deductions of a payroll, while another
MetaStar contains the data of an absence type. Different MetaDimensions are both meaningful
and possible for each of these MetaStars. In the case of deductions, for example, the type of
deduction could be taxes or benefits-related deductions, while in the case of absence types, it is
necessary to know when leave was taken and the amount with which it was paid.

MetaDimension

The MetaDimension is a complete description of a business object or concept. This description
consists of several pieces of information, the MetaFields . Each MetaField is part of the key
that provides a complete technical specification of the MetaDimension, or the MetaField is an
attribute , an additional characteristic of the MetaDimension.
MetaDimensions and MetaFigures with their relationships constitute a MetaStar . The
MetaDimensions are stored in separate tables and can be used in several MetaStars. Not all
MetaDimensions are assigned to a country grouping.

MetaFigure

MetaFigures and MetaDimensions  with their relationships constitute a MetaStar .
The MetaFigures are usually international. A MetaFigure can be used in several MetaStars.
A MetaFigure is represented by the icon in the node of a MetaStar within the overview tree of
the MetaNet.

MetaFields

MetaFields are pieces of information that exist in a MetaDimension [Page 18]. Each MetaField is
part of the key that completely specifies the MetaDimension, or it is an attribute , an
additional characteristic of a MetaDimension.
The MetaFields with their keys and attributes constitute the MetaDimension and are part of the
MetaStar .

InfoNet

The InfoNet defines the data of a concrete HR form [Page 13] that is read from the database at a
later juncture. The MetaNet  constitutes the template for the InfoNet.
On the basis of the InfoNet, data that is subsequently printed in the form is read in the system.

InfoStar
The InfoStar defines the data of a single data source for a concrete HR form. When the print
program is executed, this data is read from the database. The InfoStar characterizes the
relationships of InfoDimensions  and InfoFigures  . The MetaStar
constitutes the template for the InfoStar.
On the basis of the InfoStar, the data of a single data source is read in the system and then
prepared for form printing (designated).

InfoDimension
An InfoDimension is a complete description of a specific (individual) business object or concept.
This description consists of several pieces of information, the InfoFields . Each InfoField is
part of the key that provides a complete technical specification of the InfoDimension, or the
InfoField is an attribute , a further characteristic of the InfoDimension.
InfoDimensions and InfoFigures with their relationships constitute an InfoStar [Page 24]. The
InfoDimensions are stored in separate tables and can be used in several InfoStars. Not all
InfoDimensions are assigned to a country grouping.

InfoFigure

InfoFigures and InfoDimensions  with their relationships constitute an InfoStar .
The InfoFigures are usually international. An InfoFigure can be used in several InfoStars.
An InfoFigure is represented by the icon in the node of an InfoStar within the overview tree
of the InfoNet .

InfoFields
InfoFields are pieces of information that exist in an InfoDimension . Each InfoField is
part of the key that completely specifies the InfoDimension, or an attribute , a further
characteristic of the InfoDimension. Each InfoDimension in the form contains the complete key for the MetaDimension. The InfoFields with their keys and attributes constitute the InfoDimension and are part of the
InfoStar .