Initial invoices are stored in the system to be modified at a later stage. When you are ready to process the invoice, you normally change the status of the invoice from initial to non-initial. The status of the invoice is controlled by the invoice status code, and you convert an initial invoice into a standard invoice by selecting a status code with a status other than Initial. Once you select a non-initial status code, the posting tabs are enabled and the system retrieves a voucher number for the invoice.

When you match an initial invoice against receivers, however, the system retrieves the non-initial status code automatically. To make an initial invoice available for matching, you choose an invoice status code that has the attributes Initial, No Allocation, and Receiver Matching selected. The Receiver Matching attribute requires that you specify the invoice status code that is to be applied to the invoice once it has been matched. This After Matching status code is automatically retrieved once the matching is complete. See Receiver Matching.

The system uses key fields on supplier invoices to generate financial, posting, and tax data. When you modify one of these fields, the system displays a warning that this data will be recalculated. See Navigating Supplier Invoice Create. When you modify an initial invoice by changing the invoice status code from initial to non-initial, however, the system does not attempt to recalculate this data.

Once an initial invoice is saved as non-Initial, the invoice postings are generated and you cannot reset the invoice to Initial.