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Questions regarding the use of OCC are asked quite often.
This Blog tries not to provide answers to the questions but to list threads with OCC questions of interest.
To use OCC as an option (in EHS Classic) the following need to be stated:
We have limited documentation in SAP IMG
We have limited documentation on SAP Marketplace
We have some quite good documents in place regarding how to prepare "Load File"
But limited documentation how to do the "specific" set up
E.g. how to enable the needed "RFC" connection
How to install and use the software locally
How to handle "Unicode" related issues
etc
OCC is a good tool for doing regulator updated and if needed you can use it as well to do upload for e.g. "Density" or other data. But it is (like WWI) to a certain extent like: Start the work, crawl, walk and after some time you can run.
The "Load File option with EXCEL" is niece (but tricky to use (e.g. Unicode story etc.)
You should use the most up to date OCC software locally. You should check for SAP errors in this area as well from time to time (check SAP Marketplace for relevant OSS Notes)
Technique
To use the OCC: we need a relevant "User Exit" to do so. Here you have the SAP IMG which tries to guide you. You start with the "hit list" in CG02 (Edit Mode) (Online Mode of use of OCC) and start the job. In most cases: you are on the "safe side" to use the "Online Mode". This mode has more options than the "offline mode".
BUT as you block/lock the specifications in CG02 in the "Edit" mode.. you should not do an upoad for to many specifications in one run and you should not try to load for "all properties" in one run.
It is more or less VERY tricky if there is a "load error"... so if your load file was not prepared correct sometimes you will get "useless" data. This is the "nightmare" in using the tool. There are not so many options in the place to "delete" then the useless data and to start again.
Overview of questions
OCC seems now to have more interest as in the past. Here some links discussing the use of OCC. You will find much more like these questions. In many cases: The answers/discussion in the relevant threads will hel you to install and use the tool properly.
The questions can be grouped in:
what is the difference of "online" to "offline" mode
issues in getting SAP connected to OCC (RFC etc. etc.)
Difference regarding "legal content" load and data load a such
Topic of "examples" (EXCEL Template, step by step guidelines etc.)
Difference "Data Editor" <=> OCC
etc.
SAP Marketplace
I have done a research in SAP Marketplace. We have many OSS Notes to consider for using SAP EHS OCC tool (October 2022). Please check SAP Marketplace if you have trouble with the OCC tool.
Using as a search term "EHS OCC" i can find roughly 130 threads discussing OCC. If you change your search: you find may be more.
Use of OCC
OCC can be used to load "regulatory content" but as well data like "density" etc.
Depending on the starting postion: the use of OCC can be helpful if you need to support data migration topics.
The only "con" is this:
If you use the "EXCEL" template for doing the load (specification load): It is not easy to understand how to prepare the EXCEL file. This process can take a huge amount of time (e.g. select the correct phrase etc.) as the data model in EHS is such "big" (many properties etc.). Even is you focus on Safety Data Sheet like properties: This is a big work to support.
Therefore: in many cases it is a good idea to "spli" the story. E.g. create first the specifications as such and the do a "step by step" load of the objects using the OCC approach. May be start "simple". Properties like "Form", "State of matter", "Odor" are "simple" properties. Same liek "first Aid" proeprties etc.
Properties in the area of "tox", "Ecotox" are complex properties.
You should split as well your load between properties of type "composition/Spec. Listing". To do the load you have first to prepare the objects in the system
Data regarding "Dangerous Good" should be any how seperated from the load.