Michael Management: LSMW or CATT

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Tom333
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Topic: LSMW or CATT - what's better?
Posted: 08 Sep 2006 at 12:12pm

What is the advantage of using LSMW over CATT?

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txm1004
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Posted: 08 Sep 2006 at 12:48pm

In general, both tools do the same thing (process transactions). CATT (Computer Aided Test Tool), transaction SCAT, was built as a true testing tool for project implementation phases and thus, comes with a lot of transaction logging features. It requires quite a bit of technical knowledge to work with though.

LSMW was built specifically for data loads (but can be used to process any transaction). While it does not have all the logging features of CATT, it is much easier & faster to deploy and does not require as much technical knowledge…but at the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference (mine is clearly with LSMW).

Regards,
Thomas Michael
Michael Management Corporation
-------------
http://www.michaelmanagement.com

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Mayank1214
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Posted: 14 Sep 2006 at 11:11pm

Hi,

What i feel is that both are two different things. CATT is meant for something else & LSMW is for another thing.

But frankly i used both the tools and found LSMW kind of a handy tool for Functional consultants. You dont need to depend upon the ABAPer for any data loading or doing some mass change kind of thing.

I believe we should compare a BDC with LSMW. That will be more insightful to all partcipants.

regards

Mayank

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Laun1234
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Posted: 15 Sep 2006 at 8:17am

We use LSMW but have found that it can be troublesome for newer employees to learn. If the settings are not just right you can really make a mess of things, which is why we always test these in our test environment first.

There is a third party tool that we are investigating called Winshuttle. Has anyone had any experience with that? From what we have seen it resides outside of SAP but records all your steps for whatever transaction you wish to record. It then can process the same transaction against spreadsheet data many times faster than a user. More or less the same as LSMW, we have just found the interface to be more intuitive. Also, it uses the already established user security so there is no additional security layer within SAP that needs to be created, as there is for LSMW.

I will let you all know as we find out more, but if there is anyone else with information on that it would be helpful to hear your experiences.

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Tom333
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Posted: 15 Sep 2006 at 9:58am

Hi Laun,

I have heard of Winshuttle (and there are various other tools just like it). The one benefit of LSMW is that it doesn't cost anything extra - I'm not sure what a Winshuttle license runs these days.

Also, just FYI, LSMW can be downloaded from the SAP Service marketplace and implemented into SAP all the way back to release 3.1x. I have just helped a client install it on a 4.5b system and it was a snap!

Thanks,

Tom

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RADHAKRISHNAMURTHY2395
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Posted: 15 Sep 2006 at 10:18am

LSWM is better as it facilitates easy data trasnportation

ARK Murthy

SAP FI/CO consultant

Mysore, India

Edited by RADHAKRISHNAMURTHY2395 - 15 Sep 2006 at 10:20am

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Riyaz2218
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Posted: 18 Sep 2006 at 1:52pm

I have used TXshuttle tool from winshuttle.

it was really handy..just recording the transaction and drag and drop the fields from excel sheet and you are good to go.

also you can save the shuttle script for future upload of data without any change (just excel data row changes)

I have also, used LSMW, i liked both the tools. but as tom said LSMW has one advantage..its FREE.

I dont know How much Txshuttle costs ??

Thanks

-Riyaz

FI/CO Capital Budgeting

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Kaushal3210
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Posted: 09 Oct 2006 at 3:52am

Hi,

Friends, I know LSMW and I have already use this transaction for Asset Legacy Data and Vendor Master Data Creation.

But I dont know CATT can u pls. give me idea how to use this..

can any one tell me

Kaushal Shah

India

+91 099247 56365

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Darrell3871
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Posted: 20 Dec 2006 at 5:06pm

I use LSMW on all new SAP conversions from legacy systems. It's easy, free, and does the job quite well.

Thanks,

Darrell D. Doyle

Implementation Consultant

Houston, Texas USA

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Robert290
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Posted: 04 Jan 2007 at 3:45pm

I recommend the LSMW tool. It much easier to use than CATT especially if its something you only need to use once in a while. I recently completed a small company conversion to SAP and used LSMW to convert assets, Customer masters, Vendor masters, AR open items and AP open items. It was nice not having to rely on our technical team to develop these programs.

Bob Gauthreaux

IT Manager

Scientific Atlanta

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General SAP issues
Michael Management :SAP Other :General SAP issues

Author	Message
Tom333 Moderator Group Moderator - Asset Accounting Forum Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 39	Topic: LSMW or CATT - what's better? Posted: 08 Sep 2006 at 12:12pm
	What is the advantage of using LSMW over CATT?
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txm1004 Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 329	Posted: 08 Sep 2006 at 12:48pm
	In general, both tools do the same thing (process transactions). CATT (Computer Aided Test Tool), transaction SCAT, was built as a true testing tool for project implementation phases and thus, comes with a lot of transaction logging features. It requires quite a bit of technical knowledge to work with though. LSMW was built specifically for data loads (but can be used to process any transaction). While it does not have all the logging features of CATT, it is much easier & faster to deploy and does not require as much technical knowledge…but at the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference (mine is clearly with LSMW).
	Regards, Thomas Michael Michael Management Corporation ------------- http://www.michaelmanagement.com
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Mayank1214 Newbie Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Posted: 14 Sep 2006 at 11:11pm
	Hi, What i feel is that both are two different things. CATT is meant for something else & LSMW is for another thing. But frankly i used both the tools and found LSMW kind of a handy tool for Functional consultants. You dont need to depend upon the ABAPer for any data loading or doing some mass change kind of thing. I believe we should compare a BDC with LSMW. That will be more insightful to all partcipants. regards Mayank
	IP Logged

Laun1234 Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Posted: 15 Sep 2006 at 8:17am
	We use LSMW but have found that it can be troublesome for newer employees to learn. If the settings are not just right you can really make a mess of things, which is why we always test these in our test environment first. There is a third party tool that we are investigating called Winshuttle. Has anyone had any experience with that? From what we have seen it resides outside of SAP but records all your steps for whatever transaction you wish to record. It then can process the same transaction against spreadsheet data many times faster than a user. More or less the same as LSMW, we have just found the interface to be more intuitive. Also, it uses the already established user security so there is no additional security layer within SAP that needs to be created, as there is for LSMW. I will let you all know as we find out more, but if there is anyone else with information on that it would be helpful to hear your experiences.
	IP Logged

Tom333 Moderator Group Moderator - Asset Accounting Forum Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 39	Posted: 15 Sep 2006 at 9:58am
	Hi Laun, I have heard of Winshuttle (and there are various other tools just like it). The one benefit of LSMW is that it doesn't cost anything extra - I'm not sure what a Winshuttle license runs these days. Also, just FYI, LSMW can be downloaded from the SAP Service marketplace and implemented into SAP all the way back to release 3.1x. I have just helped a client install it on a 4.5b system and it was a snap! Thanks, Tom
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RADHAKRISHNAMURTHY2395 Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 15 Sep 2006 at 10:18am
	LSWM is better as it facilitates easy data trasnportation ARK Murthy SAP FI/CO consultant Mysore, India Edited by RADHAKRISHNAMURTHY2395 - 15 Sep 2006 at 10:20am
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Riyaz2218 Groupie Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 18 Sep 2006 at 1:52pm
	I have used TXshuttle tool from winshuttle. it was really handy..just recording the transaction and drag and drop the fields from excel sheet and you are good to go. also you can save the shuttle script for future upload of data without any change (just excel data row changes) I have also, used LSMW, i liked both the tools. but as tom said LSMW has one advantage..its FREE. I dont know How much Txshuttle costs ?? Thanks -Riyaz FI/CO Capital Budgeting
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Kaushal3210 Newbie Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 09 Oct 2006 at 3:52am
	Hi, Friends, I know LSMW and I have already use this transaction for Asset Legacy Data and Vendor Master Data Creation. But I dont know CATT can u pls. give me idea how to use this.. can any one tell me Kaushal Shah India +91 099247 56365
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Darrell3871 Newbie Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 20 Dec 2006 at 5:06pm
	I use LSMW on all new SAP conversions from legacy systems. It's easy, free, and does the job quite well. Thanks, Darrell D. Doyle Implementation Consultant Houston, Texas USA
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Robert290 Newbie Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 04 Jan 2007 at 3:45pm
	I recommend the LSMW tool. It much easier to use than CATT especially if its something you only need to use once in a while. I recently completed a small company conversion to SAP and used LSMW to convert assets, Customer masters, Vendor masters, AR open items and AP open items. It was nice not having to rely on our technical team to develop these programs. Bob Gauthreaux IT Manager Scientific Atlanta
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