SAP GL (Classic GL & New GL)

http://gyansys.com/Docs/GyanSys_SAP_GL_Implementaion_Aspects_Tips_Tricks.pdf

http://scn.sap.com/people/marssel.vilaa2/blog/2009/03/23/new-general-ledger--introduction

There are four main new functionalities in New GL

- Document Splitting

- Balanced Books

- Real-time integration with CO

- Parallel Ledgers

The New funcationalites included in New GL Accounting are,

1. Extended Data Structure:- This allows us to activate additional fields(e.g., segment) in the New GL table.

2. Parallel Ledgers:- This provides the ability to produce different sets of financial statments.

3. Document Splitting:- This allows real-time allocation of an account assignment object to all your balance sheet postings, this is particularly relevant when you have postings from subledgers.

4. Improved Management Reproting:- Profit centers are now part of GL, which allows you to produce departmental or management accounts directly from the GL.

5. Segment Reproting:- A segment is a new account assignment object that can be used to produce segment reports to provide an additional dimension.  It helps in running analyses for objects at a level lower than company code.  This is in line with the IFRS/IAS segement reporting requirements.

6. Fast Close:- A reduction in the amount of time needed to complete the period end cycle enables a fast close to be completed.

Classical GL accounting General Ledger, Profit Center Acting, Reconciliation Ledger, Business Area, Spl Prupose Legers and Cost of Sales Accounting are different components but all these  are incorporated in New GL accounting.

When coming to Special Purpose Ledgers:-

They are used in reproting. These are all basically user-defined ledgers, which can be maintained either as GL or subsidiary ones with various account assignment objects (with SAP-dimensions like cost center, business area, profit center etc or customer-defined dimensions like region, area etc)

Once defined, this functionalit helps you to reprot at various levels.  Ideally you collect the information, combine them and create the totals.  This is something like an additional reproting feature, and usage of this feature will have no effect on the regular funcationalities of SAP.