SAP : Difference between VF04 and VF06

As we are aware VF06 uses the program RV60SBAT, but internally the RV60SBAT program calls the SDBILLDL program which represents transaction code VF04, when processed in background.

So the RV60SBAT is like a master program and creates multiple jobs to process in parallel incases where we have high volume of data for invoicing or mainly month end closing.

If we have noticed, when VF06 is executed in the background, you have multiple jobs with something like INVOICE_141111_074352_01_ESSDEV0. This naming rule is within the master program for VF06 which basically is represented as  INVOICE_DATE_TIME_JOB#_APPSERVER. See screen 3.

 Screen 1 : Parallel Processing

a. Number of Jobs: Defines the jobs to be created for background processing.
b. Target Computer: Allows to specify the Application server name to process the jobs 

Screen 2 : SM37 log 


Screen 3 : Calling SDBILLDL within RV60SBAT.


Screen 4 : Naming Convention of the Background job


Screen 5 : List output

a. If the “List Display” is checked, the output log written for each individual job.
b. Else the output log is written to the master program only with the total number of documents processed 

Other functions of VF06 are like

1. Filter out blocked documents
2. Execute in Test mode
3. Schedule the invoice printing with required date and time for the configuration of the output type.

VF04 can also be processed in background but has be set using SM36 and as usual provide the program name and variant.


Regards,
[V]