DST daylight saving time

3277061 – ABAP Date/Time Conversion with DST for SELECT_MESSAGES

DST (daylight saving time) starts in the spring (= a loss of one hour) and ends in the fall (= a gain of one hour ). For clock adjustment, one must remember “Spring forward, Fall back”.

Spring forward:

Fall backward:

Method 1: shut down the system

During the switch, simply shutdown the SAP system, for the entire duration of the double hour, and bring it up only after the double hour has passed. Thus, the SAP Kernel software does not have to deal with any possible mismatch of standard time and local time. The big setback off course is that you have work shutting down and starting up the systems in the middle of the night. And the business cannot work during this time. Long running weekend jobs might be interrupted as well and need to be redone.

Method 2: zero downtime by slowing down the time

Slow down the time by half, during the double hour, so that the 2 hour period is treated as one hour.

In SAP, executing this is easier than it appears by setting the parameter zdate/DSTswitch_contloctime = on which is default in the latest kernel release 6.40 and higher, so that you can make your SAP system see a continuous time with a deviation of 30 minutes.

During the conversion from summer time to winter time, there is a “doubled” hour.  In Europe, for example, the summer time is reset to winter time on the last Sunday in October between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

1:00    1:30    2:00    2:30    2:00    2:30    3:00 official time

–+——+—–x+xxxxx+xxxxxx+xxxxxx+xxxxxx+x—

How to check the time zone at different levels

  • Run the report from SA38: TZCUSTHELP (trouble shooting time zone)
  • Run the report from SA38: RSDBTIME (time diagnosis)
  • Run this function module in SE37: TZ_SYSTEM_GET_TZONE
  • Run this report fromSA38: TZONECHECK 

DST in non-ABAP systems

For DST in non-ABAP systems check these notes:

References

Excellent blog from SAP: Daylight Saving Time and Slowing Down The Time.

Reference OSS notes:

ABAP programming DST specific notes:

BTE events

BTE events are Business Transaction Events. These events can be used to put custom specific logic in ABAP code interface when this event occurs.

It is used by standard SAP, partner software, and you can create your own interfaces.

Pros and cons

The BTE can solve business specific issues in a graceful way with custom code. This is a large pro.

The biggest con is that the technique is hardly known. When there are issues inside the Z coding for BTE, they are tough to spot and to detect. Good documentation is required of the event usage (both on paper specification and inside the Z code).

BTE events

The main transaction for BTE events is FIBF:

The screen is indeed empty.

The main parts are below Settings and Environment.

To list all the events, choose Environment, Info System (P/S):

And the result screen:

If you select a line and press the Display Act Comp button, you can see the details, including the existence of a customer implementation:

Background and references

Many good blogs already exist. So no need to repeat here.

List of blogs and sites:

SAP profile parameters

This blog will give tips and tricks for SAP profile parameters.

List of all profile parameters

Program RSPARAM will list all profile parameters:

The system default, the user defined value and the description is listed.

Program RSPFPAR can be used for a selective set of parameters.

Explanation note: 3202666 – The RSPARAM report usage.

Changing profile parameters

Transactions RZ10 and RZ11 can be used to change the profile parameters. If lost after restart, check OSS note 2228845 – RZ10: New or changed value is not active after restart.

Check also OSS note 2789094 – Maintaining ASCS profiles using RZ10.

Checking history of profile parameters

Transaction TU02 will list the profile parameter changes:

A different way to check the history is using SAP Focused Run configuration validation. Read more on this feature in this blog.

Technical tables and routines

Table TPFET contains the current parameters.

Table PAHI is keeping the history of parameter changes (if not updated, read note 3205243 – PAHI Table data is not updated).

RFC enabled function module TH_GET_PARAMETER can be used to read a profile parameter value.

Function modules

Function module PFL_IMPORT_ACTIVE_SRV_PROFILES is doing the same action as RZ10 menu action Utilities / Import profiles / Of active servers.

PFL_GET_PROFILE_LIST – list profiles known in DB

PFL_READ_PROFILE_FROM_DB – read a profile version from the database

PFL_READ_PROFILE_FROM_FILE – parse a profile file from the filesystem

PFL_READ_PROFILE_FROM_FILE – imports from file (does not update the database)

Search transaction for user-exit and BADI

As ABAP developer you need to search for a user-exit and/or BADI for a certain transaction.

The helper program below can help you here. Copy and paste the source code and run the program:

Enter the transaction code and let the program search. Results will show:

You can click on the exit or badi name to jump to the definition.

The program to search for BADI or user-exit

REPORT zbadi NO STANDARD PAGE HEADING.
*& Enter the transaction code that you want to search through in order *
*& to find which Standard SAP User Exits exists. *

TABLES : tstc, "SAP Transaction Codes
         tadir, "Directory of Repository Objects
         modsapt, "SAP Enhancements - Short Texts
         modact, "Modifications
         trdir, "System table TRDIR
         tfdir, "Function Module
         enlfdir, "Additional Attributes for Function Modules
         tstct, "Transaction Code Texts
         rsstcd,
         trkey.
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
*& Definition of Types *
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
TYPES: BEGIN OF t_badi_list,
         obj_name TYPE sobj_name,
         devclass TYPE devi_class,
         dlvunit  TYPE dlvunit,
         imp_name TYPE exit_imp,
         packname TYPE devclass,
         dlvunit2 TYPE dlvunit,
         text     TYPE sxc_attrt-text,
       END OF t_badi_list.
TYPES: BEGIN OF t_badi_list2,
         obj_name TYPE sobj_name,
         devclass TYPE devi_class,
         dlvunit  TYPE dlvunit,
       END OF t_badi_list2.
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
*& Data Declaration *
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
DATA: lt_badi_list  TYPE TABLE OF t_badi_list,
      lt_badi_list2 TYPE TABLE OF t_badi_list2,
      ls_badi_list  TYPE t_badi_list OCCURS 0 WITH HEADER LINE,
      ls_badi_list2 TYPE t_badi_list2.
RANGES: r_badi FOR tadir-obj_name ,
rt_badi FOR tadir-obj_name .
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
*& Variables *
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
DATA : jtab    LIKE tadir OCCURS 0 WITH HEADER LINE,
       p_trkey LIKE trkey.
DATA : field1(30),
badiname(20),
count TYPE p.
DATA : v_devclass  LIKE tadir-devclass,
       p_devclass  LIKE tadir-devclass,
       p_old_langu LIKE sy-langu,
       p_mod_langu LIKE sy-langu.
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
*& Selection Screen Parameters *
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
SELECTION-SCREEN BEGIN OF BLOCK a01 WITH FRAME TITLE TEXT-001.
SELECTION-SCREEN SKIP.
PARAMETERS : p_tcode LIKE tstc-tcode OBLIGATORY.
SELECTION-SCREEN SKIP.
SELECTION-SCREEN END OF BLOCK a01.
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
*& Start of report *
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
START-OF-SELECTION.
* Validate Transaction Code
  SELECT SINGLE * FROM tstc WHERE tcode EQ p_tcode.
*Find Repository Objects for transaction code
  IF sy-subrc EQ 0.
    SELECT SINGLE * FROM tadir WHERE pgmid = 'R3TR'
    AND object = 'PROG'
    AND obj_name = tstc-pgmna.
    MOVE: tadir-devclass TO v_devclass.
    IF sy-subrc NE 0.
* This section is used if a FGR is involved\!
      CALL FUNCTION 'RS_ACCESS_PERMISSION'
        EXPORTING
          global_lock             = 'X'
          object                  = p_tcode
          object_class            = 'TRAN'
          mode                    = 'SHOW'
          language_upd_exit       = 'RS_TRANSACTION_LANGUAGE_EXIT'
          suppress_language_check = space
        IMPORTING
          new_master_language     = p_old_langu
          modification_language   = p_mod_langu
          transport_key           = p_trkey
          devclass                = p_devclass
        EXCEPTIONS
          canceled_in_corr        = 1
          OTHERS                  = 2.
      IF sy-subrc = 0. " Success
        MOVE: p_devclass TO v_devclass.
      ELSE. " For the case that nothing is found\!
        SELECT SINGLE * FROM trdir WHERE name = tstc-pgmna.
        IF trdir-subc EQ 'F'.
          SELECT SINGLE * FROM tfdir WHERE pname = tstc-pgmna.
          SELECT SINGLE * FROM enlfdir WHERE funcname = tfdir-funcname.
          SELECT SINGLE * FROM tadir WHERE pgmid = 'R3TR'
          AND object = 'FUGR'
          AND obj_name = p_devclass.
          MOVE: tadir-devclass TO v_devclass.
        ENDIF.
      ENDIF.
    ENDIF.
*Find SAP Modifactions
    SELECT * FROM tadir INTO TABLE jtab
    WHERE pgmid = 'R3TR'
    AND object = 'SMOD'
    AND devclass = v_devclass.
    SELECT SINGLE * FROM tstct WHERE sprsl EQ sy-langu
    AND tcode EQ p_tcode.
    FORMAT COLOR COL_POSITIVE INTENSIFIED OFF.
    WRITE:/(19) 'Transaction Code - ', 20(20) p_tcode, 45(50) tstct-ttext.
    FORMAT COLOR COL_POSITIVE INTENSIFIED ON.
    SKIP.
    WRITE:/1 'The application area is:', v_devclass.
    SKIP.
    IF NOT jtab[] IS INITIAL.
      WRITE:/(95) sy-uline.
      FORMAT COLOR COL_HEADING INTENSIFIED ON.
      WRITE:/1 sy-vline, 2 'Exit Name', 21 sy-vline, 22 'Description', 95 sy-vline.
      WRITE:/(95) sy-uline.
      LOOP AT jtab.
        SELECT SINGLE * FROM modsapt
        WHERE sprsl = sy-langu
        AND name = jtab-obj_name.
        FORMAT COLOR COL_NORMAL INTENSIFIED OFF.
        WRITE:/1 sy-vline, 2 jtab-obj_name HOTSPOT ON, 21 sy-vline , 22 modsapt-modtext,
        95 sy-vline.
      ENDLOOP.
      WRITE:/(95) sy-uline.
      DESCRIBE TABLE jtab.
      SKIP.
      FORMAT COLOR COL_TOTAL INTENSIFIED ON.
      WRITE:/ 'No of Exits:' , sy-tfill.
      SKIP.
      WRITE:/(83) sy-uline.
      FORMAT COLOR COL_HEADING INTENSIFIED ON.
      WRITE:/1 sy-vline, 2 'Badi Name', 22 sy-vline, 23 'Description', 83 sy-vline.
      WRITE:/(83) sy-uline.
* select the BAdI Definitions from the tables sxc_exit and sxc_attr
      SELECT t~obj_name t~devclass tc~dlvunit sx~imp_name sat~text
      INTO CORRESPONDING FIELDS OF TABLE lt_badi_list
      FROM ( ( ( ( tadir AS t
      INNER JOIN
      tdevc AS tc ON t~devclass = tc~devclass )
      INNER JOIN
      sxc_exit AS sx ON sx~exit_name = t~obj_name )
      INNER JOIN
      sxc_attr AS sa ON sx~imp_name = sa~imp_name )
      INNER JOIN
      sxc_attrt AS sat ON sx~imp_name = sat~imp_name )
      WHERE t~pgmid = 'R3TR'
      AND t~object = 'SXSD' "means BAdI
      AND t~devclass = v_devclass "narrow down seach with Dev.Class
      AND sat~sprsl = sy-langu.
      SORT lt_badi_list.
      DELETE ADJACENT DUPLICATES FROM lt_badi_list.
* create Ranges
      LOOP AT lt_badi_list INTO ls_badi_list .
        r_badi-sign = 'I' .
        r_badi-option ='EQ' .
        r_badi-low = ls_badi_list-imp_name .
        r_badi-high = ls_badi_list-imp_name .
        APPEND r_badi TO rt_badi .
      ENDLOOP.
* select the implementations
      SELECT t~obj_name t~devclass tc~dlvunit
      INTO CORRESPONDING FIELDS OF TABLE lt_badi_list2
      FROM tadir AS t
      INNER JOIN
      tdevc AS tc ON t~devclass = tc~devclass
      FOR ALL ENTRIES IN rt_badi
      WHERE t~obj_name = rt_badi-low
      AND t~pgmid = 'R3TR'
      AND t~object = 'SXCI'.
      FORMAT COLOR COL_NORMAL INTENSIFIED OFF.
      WRITE:/(83) sy-uline.
      count = '0'.
      LOOP AT lt_badi_list INTO ls_badi_list .
        WRITE:/1 sy-vline, 2 ls_badi_list-obj_name HOTSPOT ON, 22 sy-vline,
        23 ls_badi_list-text, 83 sy-vline.
        count = count + 1.
      ENDLOOP.
      WRITE:/(83) sy-uline.
      DESCRIBE TABLE ls_badi_list.
      SKIP.
      FORMAT COLOR COL_TOTAL INTENSIFIED ON.
      WRITE:/ 'No of BADIs:' , count.
    ELSE.
      FORMAT COLOR COL_NEGATIVE INTENSIFIED ON.
      WRITE:/(95) 'No User Exit exists'.
    ENDIF.
  ELSE.
    FORMAT COLOR COL_NEGATIVE INTENSIFIED ON.
    WRITE:/(95) 'Transaction Code Does Not Exist'.
  ENDIF.
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
*& Call SMOD or SE18 to lead the user to the selected exit or badi *
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------\*
AT LINE-SELECTION.
  GET CURSOR FIELD field1.
  IF field1(4) EQ 'JTAB'.
    SET PARAMETER ID 'MON' FIELD sy-lisel+1(10).
    CALL TRANSACTION 'SMOD' AND SKIP FIRST SCREEN.
  ELSEIF field1(12) EQ 'LS_BADI_LIST'.
    CALL FUNCTION 'SXO_BADI_SHOW'
      EXPORTING
        exit_name = sy-lisel+1(20)
                    EXCEPTIONS
                    action_canceled
                    access_failure
                    badi_not_exixting.
  ELSE.
  ENDIF.

Period end shift

The finance module works with periods. Mostly this is a calendar month, but it can also be a period of 4 or 5 weeks.

In a productive system the business Finance team will take care of month end closing and opening of new financial period.

In a sandbox or development system this might not be done. As a result logistical postings might fail with a message that the financial period must be opened.

Initialization of financial periods: MMPI

To initialize the periods in a newly installed system, start transaction MMPI:

Only run in newly installed systems!

Background and warning notes:

Period shift: MMPV

The shift the period with one month, start transaction MMPV:

MMPV relevant OSS notes:

Test slow network speed for FIORI and web developments

If you are working with users across the globe you will be faced with performance complaints for your FIORI apps and web developments, you can use Network throttling in Chrome.

To analyze these user complaints you need to throttle your network speed so it is behaving like a far way computer:

  • Lower bandwidth
  • Higher ping response times

The applications you develop close to the server on fast network can become very sluggish when used by distant users. It is your job as developer to analyze this issues and to improve your design to have less roundtrips.

Network throttling in Chrome

The full details of Chrome network throttling can be found here.

Short instruction:

  1. Open the developer tools with F12 and go to the Network settings

2. Select the No throttling and create a new profile:

3. Now select your profile:

Enjoy the new end user experience. Don’t forget to switch back to your normal speed!

Code and table generation

In some cases you need to regenerate specific coding and tables. An SGEN is too extensive for your situation.

Regenerate programs

Use program TOUCHSRC:

Or worst case program TOUCHALL:

Regenerate tables

For table regeneration run program TOUCHTAB:

And TOUCHINC for includes in table structures:

Consistency checks

To perform a check concerning the consistency between the ABAP dictionary and the runtime object, use the ABAP program RSNTABCONSISTENCY. To perform a check concerning the consistency between the database and the runtime object, use the ABAP program RUTDBCHK. Read more in OSS note 526394 – Information about ABAP Dictionary error analysis.

Background

Background OSS notes:

Best practice notes:

TRDIR and TADIR: tables behind programs and tables

TRDIR and TADIR are the tables behind programs and table data.

The below section is for experts only. Sometimes direct interception in TRDIR or TADIR is needed to solve nasty upgrade and support package issues. But if you don't know what you are doing: don't touch and raise message to SAP.

TADIR: development objects

TADIR contains the development objects list.

For example you want to know how many Z classes are created in your system, search in TADIR with SE11 and count the records:

Using TADIR with a search on DEVCLASS $TMP will give you a list with all programs in the $TMP (temp) space.

TADIR also has information about the original system. To change: follow the instructions in this blog.

TADIR does not contain a program editor lock. This is stored in table PROGDIR. See more in this blog.

Background notes on TADIR:

TRDIR: source code

TRDIR is a view on table REPOSRC. REPOSRC contains the actual ABAP source codes in RAWSTRING format. In some cases inconsistencies between TRDIR and TADIR might happen (mainly during upgrades). Direct interception on TADIR or TRDIR level might be needed, if you know what you are doing.

Transaction STDR can be used to check consistency:

Background notes on TRDIR:

Network performance tips & tricks

One of the most irritating and annoying things in the basis area is when the network gives issues. For whatever reason.

This blog will give hints and tips on how to recognize network issues and options to analyze them.

SAP notes on network performance

Main OSS note is: 1100926 – FAQ: Network performance.

Main SAP wiki on network performance can be found via this link.

Detailed analysis notes:

Specific issues with application to database server issues:

Check if database is the issue, or network:

Network issues on Azure:

LAN check

Check by ST06: start the LAN check by Ping:

Or directly via transaction OS01:

SAP GUI network issues

If the user is far away from the server, network issues can be cause of slow transactions for the end user.

SAP GUI slow connection can be set on creation of GUI entry, or by right clicking on the GUI entry and then selecting the network option:

FIORI and web developments

FIORI tiles and web developments might be slow with users further away from the server. If the application has many round trips built in the increase network latency will definitely kill the end user performance.

Read more in this blog on how you can simulate a distant user in Chrome to analyze the issue.