SAP’s daily work schedule rule table is the configuration object (table TDWSR, view V_TDWSR) that defines the sequence of daily work schedules (e.g., Monday = 8 hours, Tuesday = 6 hours) for a weekly work schedule. It is the master data that tells SAP which daily schedule applies to each day of the week, including special rules for holidays and shorter weeks.
What Is a Daily Work Schedule Rule?
A daily work schedule rule is a grouping of daily work schedules assigned to the seven days of a week. For example, a rule might say: Monday–Thursday use the “Standard 8-hour” daily schedule, Friday use “Short Friday 4-hour,” and Saturday–Sunday use “Non-working.” The rule is then assigned to a weekly work schedule, which in turn is assigned to an employee or a group of employees in their time management configuration.
The rule table stores the rule ID, a description, and the daily schedule IDs for each weekday (1=Monday, 2=Tuesday, … 7=Sunday). It does not store dates; it stores the pattern. Actual dates are resolved when the weekly work schedule is generated for a specific payroll period or time evaluation period.
How the Rule Table Works in SAP
When you run time evaluation (transaction PT60) or time management, SAP reads the employee’s weekly work schedule (from infotype 0007 or the work schedule rule in infotype 0001). That weekly schedule points to a daily work schedule rule. The rule table then provides the daily schedule for each day of the week. If a day is a holiday, the holiday calendar overrides the daily schedule (e.g., a holiday might use a “Holiday” daily schedule with 0 hours).
The table is maintained in customizing under Personnel Time Management → Time Data Recording and Administration → Work Schedules → Define Daily Work Schedules and then Define Daily Work Schedule Rules. The actual table name is TDWSR (Daily Work Schedule Rule) and the view is V_TDWSR.
How to Configure a Daily Work Schedule Rule
Configuration is done in the Implementation Guide (IMG). The steps are:
- Define daily work schedules (e.g., D01 = 8 hours, D02 = 6 hours, D03 = 0 hours).
- Create a daily work schedule rule (e.g., R01) and assign a daily schedule to each weekday.
- Create a weekly work schedule (e.g., W01) and assign the daily work schedule rule to it.
- Assign the weekly work schedule to an employee via infotype 0007 (Planned Working Time) or to a work schedule rule in infotype 0001.
Example: For a rule “R01 – Standard Office Week,” you might assign D01 (8h) to Mon–Thu, D02 (4h) to Fri, and D03 (0h) to Sat–Sun. When you generate the work schedule for a week, SAP will produce 8+8+8+8+4+0+0 = 36 hours.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
A frequent issue is that the daily work schedule rule does not automatically account for holidays. You must also define holiday daily work schedules and assign them in the holiday calendar. Another misconception is that the rule table is date-specific; it is not. It is a weekly pattern. If you need a different pattern for a specific week (e.g., a short week due to a public holiday), you create a separate weekly work schedule with its own rule and assign it manually to the employee for that period.
Another common error: when you change a daily work schedule rule, existing time data is not retroactively recalculated unless you run time evaluation again. You must re-run time evaluation for the affected period.
Comparing Daily Work Schedule Rules and Weekly Work Schedules
Daily work schedule rules are the building blocks of weekly work schedules. A weekly work schedule is a container that holds one daily work schedule rule for a full week. You can have multiple weekly work schedules (e.g., “Standard Week,” “Shift Week A,” “Shift Week B”) that all use the same daily rule, or each can have its own rule. The daily rule is more granular; the weekly schedule is what you assign to employees.
Cost and Implementation Considerations
There is no extra cost for the rule table itself; it is part of SAP ERP HCM or SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central (Time Management). However, configuration time is a cost. A typical implementation might take a few hours to set up rules for a small company, but complex shift models with many rules can take days. You need a functional consultant who understands time management. If you use SAP SuccessFactors, the configuration is done in the “Time Off” or “Time Sheet” modules, and the rule table is in the “Work Schedule” setup.
Safety, Accuracy, and Legal Compliance
Incorrect daily work schedule rules can lead to wrong payroll, overtime, or compliance issues. For example, if you set a rule that says Friday is 8 hours but your labor law says Friday is 4 hours, you might underpay or overpay overtime. Always verify that the rule matches your legal working time regulations. If you are unsure about labor law compliance, consult a qualified HR or legal professional.
Template for a Daily Work Schedule Rule
Use this blank template to document your daily work schedule rule configuration.
| Rule ID | Description | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Sample (fictional): Rule ID: R01, Description: Standard Office, Mon: D01, Tue: D01, Wed: D01, Thu: D01, Fri: D02, Sat: D03, Sun: D03.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the table name for daily work schedule rules in SAP?
The table is TDWSR (Daily Work Schedule Rule) and the configuration view is V_TDWSR. You can view it via transaction SE11 or SE16.
How do I assign a daily work schedule rule to an employee?
You assign a weekly work schedule (which contains the daily rule) to the employee via infotype 0007 (Planned Working Time). The weekly schedule is linked to the daily rule in customizing.
Can I have different daily rules for different weeks?
Yes. You create multiple weekly work schedules, each with its own daily rule, and assign them to the employee for specific periods (e.g., via infotype 0007 or time event type).
How do holidays affect the daily work schedule rule?
Holidays are handled by the holiday calendar, which overrides the daily schedule on those dates. You must define a separate daily schedule for holidays (often with 0 hours) and assign it in the holiday calendar.
What happens if I change a daily work schedule rule?
Changes affect future time evaluation runs. Past periods are not recalculated unless you run time evaluation retroactively. You may need to adjust the rule and re-run PT60 for the affected period.