Sorting string The sorting string controls both the processing sequence of the individual item groups defined

through the grouping string and the sequence in which the open items within these groups are cleared. A simple example is sorting by due date: The sorting string can consist of up to five sorting characteristics. The characteristics required for sorting are defined in the activity Define grouping and sorting characteristics. By making the appropriate entry in the Sort field, you can change the sort sequence for each sorting characteristic from ascending to descending. To allow you to model complex sorting requirements, you can also define an alternate ranking in addition to sorting by the current or derived characteristic values in settlement control. The additional ranking rules are defined for each sorting characteristic and settlement step by activating a ranking rule in the Rank. order field. Define alternate sorting for sorting characteristics To simplify definition of the ranking, there are several control options for activating the ranking in a settlement step. For all the settings described below, the priority is fixed for all the characteristic values defined in the ranking. The differences in sorting are due to the handling of characteristic values that are not defined in the ranking. The following settings are possible: 1: Priority corresponds to ranking, otherwise characteristic value For all unlisted characteristic values, the value itself is treated as the priority. 2: Priority corresponds to ranking, otherwise to priority 000 Priority 000 is used for all unlisted characteristic values. You can use this setting to display certain characteristic values at the end. 3: Priority corresponds to ranking, otherwise to priority 999 You can use this setting to sort certain characteristic values at the beginning. 4: Priority corresponds to ranking, otherwise to priority 500 Priority 500 is used for all characteristic values that are not listed. This setting is an addition to settings 2 and 3. You can use it if certain characteristic values are to be sorted at the beginning, and other characteistic values are to be sorted at the end. Example You want to allocate budget billing payments first within an item group. Otherwise, allocation is to take place in accordance with the due date, regardless of the transaction.

To achieve this, define transaction as sort characteristic 1 and due date as sort characteristic 2. For the transaction characteristic, you must define a ranking that assigns priority 1 to the transaction for budget billing payments. In the sorting string of the settlement step, activate the ranking for the transaction characteristic using setting 3 (priority corresponds to ranking, otherwise priority 999). Sorting must be in ascending order. By making this setting, you ensure that only the budget billing transaction is treated specially during sorting. All other transactions are sorted identically that is, by the second sorting characteristic due date. Sorting in descending order If you set this indicator, the characteristic values are sorted in the opposite order.