SAP downtime optimization app

SAP has create an app for analyzing the downtime for a SAP system upgrade or support package.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How to use the SAP downtime minimization app?

Full references of SAP downtime minimization app

The full specification of the SAP downtime minimization app is maintained in SAP OSS note 2881515 – Introduction to the Technical Downtime Optimization App and on this SAP blog.

Using the SAP downtime minimization app

The app is hosted at SAP and can be reached on this URL: https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/downtimeoptimization. When you start you come to the intro screen:

You start with the upload button. Here you can upload the UPGANA and APPLANA xml files:

After uploading, you need to wait 3 hours.

When you come back the result should be there:

Now you can analyze the SUM runtime uptime and downtime phase timing (this is tool time without idle time). There are hints given by SAP on which parts improvements could be made.

Reducing downtime

For reducing downtime, you can read the blog on including customer transport in SUM upgrade procedure as one of the means to reduce the downtime.

Also read OSS note 2351294 – S/4HANA System Conversion / Upgrade: Measures to reduce technical downtime, which contains many hints for downtime reduction.

Logical file names

This blog will explain the maintenance of logical file names.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • Why use logical file names?
  • How to setup logical paths and logical file names?
  • Which variables can be used in logical file names and logical paths?
  • What is new in transaction SFILE?

Why use logical file name?

The use of a logical file name in any ABAP keeps the location and name name of the file constant from a logical function perspective. The actual implementation of the file location can then be maintained by the basis team. If they want to move files around, they can do so, as long as they also update the logical files. Also this way an ABAP developer does not need to worry in case of any OS switch (for example from Windows to Linux).

The names are the same on development, QA and production system. The basis team can choose to have different file structures on each system. For example by including the system ID in the folder name.

Maintaining logical file path

To maintain logical file names, start transaction FILE:

With new entries, you can add new logical file path.

We will use A2_GLOBALPATH here as example. Select the entry and click on Assignment of physical path to logical path:

Select the operating system to see the details:

Logical file names

Logical file names are also maintained with transaction FILE:

Parameters in naming

The following parameters can be used in the naming conventions:

ParameterMeaning
<OPSYS>Operating system in function module parameter
<INSTANCE>Application Instance
<SYSID>Application name in accordance with system field SY-SYSID.
<DBSYS>Database system in accordance with system field SY-DBSYS
<SAPRL>Release in accordance with system field SY-SAPRL
<HOST>Host name in accordance with system field SY-HOST
<CLIENT>Client in accordance with system field SY-MANDT
<LANGUAGE>Logon language in accordance with system field SY-LANGU
<DATE>Date in accordance with system field SY-DATUM
<YEAR>Year in accordance with system field SY-DATUM, four characters
<SYEAR>Year in accordance with system field SY-DATUM, two characters
<MONTH>Month in accordance with system field SY-DATUM
<DAY>Day in accordance with system field SY-DATUM
<WEEKDAY>Weekday in accordance with system field SY-FDAYW
<TIME>Time in accordance with system field SY-UZEIT
<STIME>Hour and minute in accordance with system field SY-UZEIT
<HOUR>Hour in accordance with system field SY-UZEIT
<MINUTE>Minute in accordance with system field SY-UZEIT
<SECOND>Seconds in accordance with system field SY-UZEIT
<PARAM_1>External parameter 1 passed in function call
<PARAM_2>External parameter 2 passed in function call
<PARAM_3>External parameter 3 passed in function call
<P=name>Value of a profile parameter in the current system
<V=name>Value of a variable in the variable table
<F=name>Return value of a function module

Transaction SFILE

Transaction SFILE is a new maintenance transaction. It is available as of S4HANA 1610. The main functions are the same as FILE. Main new function is the mass download and upload of definitions.

More background on SFILE: see OSS note 2370836 – FAQ | File access management with transaction SFILE.

Bug fix OSS notes:

BI queue deletion

During a SPAM import or during application of a TCI OSS note using SPAM, you can get errors due to BI queues. This blog will explain how to delete these queues.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How to clean up the BI queues in case SPAM or TCI note is being blocked by it?

qRFC clean up

First start in transaction SMQ1 to delete the MCEX BI outbound queues:

SMQ1 BI outbound queues

Select all queues and press the delete button.

More blocks

If it is still blocking run program RMCEXCHK:

RMCEXCHK result

Look for the application number(s) that is blocking. In this example 04. For V3 updates read 2886816 – Supplement to Note 652310 & 67014 & 1083709 about error ‘due to open V3 proc not changed’.

Now start transaction LBWG to delete the setup for this application:

LBWG transaction

Details behind LBWG are explained in OSS note 1752439 – Explanation of transaction LBWG.

FIORI search setup

FIORI search is a very powerful tool for the end users. It enables a google like search on the business data.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How does FIORI search work from the end user perspective?
  • How to set up FIORI search?
  • How to authorize search data?

FIORI search from end user perspective

From the end user perspective: open the search glass and key anything. Just like in Google:

Now wait for the search engine to give results:

Now you can select a record, or select a related app (with the … you get more options):

Set up of FIORI search

In the FIORI launchpad configuration parameters (see SAP help) make sure that the enableSearch is set to true. Otherwise the search icon does not appear.

In case you run a FIORI hub, make sure to setup the web dispatcher rules properly to the backend (see SAP help).

Next step is to activate the search models and the backend (see blog). The search setup for FIORI launchpad is fully dependent on the backend search.

Some apps use related links. For these related links, the related FIORI app or FIORI factsheet must be activated. See this blog on how to fast activate complete groups of FIORI apps.

FIORI search authorizations

FIORI search relies on the authorizations of the end user. First make sure that the general authorization for the search is active in this IMG node:

The setting Model Authorization must be set to Check:

In the search cockpit (transaction ESH_COCKPIT), make sure that the user authorizations are indexed. In case of doubt run it under the Actions button, and select Index User Authority:

If one end user gets results and the other one does not get the same result: the main reason might be difference in authorizations.

Useful OSS notes

For specific use cases the following OSS notes might be relevant:

Setting up trusted RFC connection

This blog will explain how to set up trusted RFC connection.

Questions that will be answered are:

  • How to setup a trusted RFC connection?
  • How to edit generated RFC in SM59 using the TOGL function?

     

Setting up trusted RFC

Start in transaction SM59 to create an RFC to the destination system:

Trusted RFC with user name

Fill out your own user ID first. Make sure your user ID is existing in the destination system and is having sufficient S_RFCACL rights in the destination system. See OSS note 128447 – Trusted/trusting systems for the details.

Test the connection including the remote logon.

If that is ok, start transaction SMT1 and start the roadmap for setting up the trusted connection:

SMT1 enter destination

Enter the destination and finish the roadmap:

SMT1 complete roadmap

Complete the roadmap. 

Now return to SM59 for the destination and remove the user ID, tick the box “Current User” and switch the Trust Relationship to Yes:

Trusted RFC with trust setting

Now test again. All should work.

Background SAP wiki can be found in this link.

Background notes:

Testing trusted RFC

A trusted RFC can be tested via the Remote Logon button:

If you now can jump from the current system to the connected system without password prompt: then all is fine.

If it is not working: check in the target system in ST22 for a remote logon failure dump. Must likely your user does not have sufficient rights in the target system.

RFC security settings

For checking RFC security settings, read this dedicated blog.

RFC Access Control List

In the newer S4HANA versions, you can switch from an authorization check towards a full Access Control List setup. Use transaction SMTACL and select the trust connection:

Switch here to Access Control List Check.

RFC hacking

Be aware that RFC’s and especially trusted RFC’s can be misused for hacking. Read this dedicated blog on how, and how to protect.

Checking which systems you trust

With transaction SMT2 you can check which systems have a trusted system setup towards the system you are currently logged in to.

Editing trusted connections

Trusted connections are generated. In case of emergency you might need to edit this, in the command bar enter keyword TOGL to go to SM59 edit mode:

See note 3212943 – How to edit the settings of unchangeable RFC destinations.

Trusted systems and installation number changes

If you have trusted systems and want to change an installation number of one of the systems, carefully read this OSS note: 2849941 – SMT1/SMT2 configuration after SID or installation number change.

Issues with trust certificates

In exceptional cases you might face issues with cache refresh of replaced certificates. See OSS note 2947038 – Error SOAP:1033 CheckPSE occurs in STRUST/STRUSTSSO2. Solution is to run program SRT_CFG_CLEAR_DESIGNTIME_CACHE.

Trusted RFC security note 3157268

Unfortunately SAP released security note 3157268 – How-To-Guide: Migration of Trusted/Trusting Relationships. Along with the FAQ note 3281854 – FAQ for Security Note 3089413. If you did not migrate your existing trusted RFC’s to the new setup, do it fast within reasonable time (which includes proper testing).

After migration is done, or when you have a new setup, make sure you have set parameter rfc/allowoldticket4tt to the value no.

Set up FIORI notifications

This blog will explain the setup of FIORI notifications. They are sometimes also called FIORI push notifications.

The notifications on the FIORI launchpad are pushed to the end user on the top right part of the screen:

In this case 22 notifications are present.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How to generically activate FIORI notifications?
  • Which specific settings do I need to perform to activate notifications for my specific workflow?
  • Hot to test FIORI notificaitons?
  • Where to find more background on FIORI notifications?

Setting up the FIORI notifications

Goto the customizing entry for notification channel configuration. We will set up the scenario for embedded FIORI. If you want to set up notifications for the FIORI gateway as a central step, more activities are required. These are listed at the sap help site.

Start with the Notification Hub RFC destination:

Set the destination to NONE and press execute:

Now set the backend system alias to LOCAL and press execute:

Now goto the menu entry for Manage Notification Providers to activate the desired ones:

Now we will setup the notification channel hub. Goto this customizing actions:

Start with the action Manage SAP System Aliases and map the LOCAL gateway to RFC destination NONE:

Now select the Publish the Notification ODATA Service entry and make sure the service /IWNGW/NOTIFICATION_SRV is published:

If not done, push the button Publish Service Groups, select LOCAL, press button Get Service Groups and search for /IWNGW/NOTIFICATION_SRV:

And publish it.

Now check in Manage WebSocket Endpoint that service NOTIFICATION_PUSH_APC is active:

In the customizing entry Activate and Maintain Push Channels, check that the push channels are properly active, and if not activate it:

Go to transaction SWF_PUSH_NOTIF1 to add the workflow task for push notifications. We will add task TS00008267 (this is used in the generic workflow verification):

Click on the text icon to maintain the text:

Make sure that in the technical job repository SJOBREPO (see blog) that the jobs for deadline monitoring and push notifications are running:

Testing the push notifications

Now you can start the verification workflow in SWU3 (see blog) or start test transaction /IWNGW/BEP_DEMO:

The results can be seen on the FIORI launchpad:

Notification icon not visible on the FIORI launchpad

If the notification is hidden, check the configurations in transactions /UI2/NWBC_CFG_SAP and /UI2/NWBC_CFG_CUST. It can be that an adminstrator has suppressed this function.

Background information

The minimum requirements for FIORI notifications are described in OSS note 2578256 – What is the minimum requirement for Fiori Notification?.

Configuration restrictions are listed in OSS 2729492 – Configuring notifications in Fiori Launchpad and known restrictions.

See this SAP help file on the topic for setup FIORI notifications.

See this SAP help file for notification channel troubleshooting.

See this SAP help file for end user tips & tricks with regards to FIORI notifications.

For custom development of FIORI push notifications, read this SAP blog.

For a very good and extensive full setup description for 1809 FIORI 2.0 description, read this SAP blog.

Formal OSS note for error analysis: 3358966 – Fiori Push Notifications are not created – Help for analysis.

Bug fix notes

Number ranges tips & tricks

This blog is about number ranges.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How to maintain number ranges?
  • How to transport number ranges?
  • How to clean up old number ranges?
  • How to check if number ranges are full or almost full?
  • Which notes can help me when we have performance issues issues with number ranges?

SNRO number range maintenance

Number ranges can be maintained with transaction SNRO. After starting select the number range to maintain:

Now press the button Interval Editing:

Now you can display or change the intervals or current number:

Transport of number ranges

Number ranges are not directly put into a transport. If you want to transport them, select from the range maintenance screen the menu option Ranges / Transport. You will get this warning screen:

After pressing Yes, the popup for the transport request will come.

Number range fill up check

Program RSNUMHOT can be used to check if any number range is full or is at a certain percentage.

Output example:

For background running read the KBA note 2485249 – How to see the spool results of report RSNUMHOT.

Clearing abandoned number ranges: 3286395 – RSNUMHOT | Critical intervals are reported for abandoned number ranges.

Number range buffer

Using transaction SM56 you can check the number range buffer settings:

See also OSS note 2586414 – NUM: Increase default of number range buffer size.

Number range clean up

If you have an older SAP implementation, the amount of number ranges can go very high. There are many number ranges per year, especially in finance. The result can be that transaction SNRO gets very slow. If this is the case install OSS note 2931837 – NR: Reorganization of interval table. This will bring program NK_IV_REORGANIZE to reorganize the number range table:

Number range issues

Number ranges are know to have issues in 2 areas:

  • Performance (mainly on very large systems): can be seen in SM66 or SM50 with long updates on table NRIV
  • Gaps in number ranges where legal requirements exist

OSS notes to check when having number range issues:

Batch job result distribution

When a batch job finishes, there are use cases where you want to be informed on the results.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How can I mail the spool result of a batch job?
  • How can I mail if the job went ok or not?

Mailing job status

As of version S4HANA 1709 (basis version 7.52), you can mail the batch job result for cancelled jobs, or in all cases when it finishes. In SM37 after job is planned goto change mode of the job and push the E-mail Notification button:

In case of issues check OSS note 2951767 – E-mail notifications are not sent.

Mailing spool result

For mailing spool results use the Spool List Recipient button:

On older systems there might be a cutoff after 1000 lines in the mail. See OSS note 329537 – Spool cut off at 1000 lines when sent to recipient. In case of issues, you can check OSS note 760838 – Spool lists are not sent and 930570 – Problems with sent OTF documents.

Mailing spool result to multiple mail addresses

In transaction SO15 create a distribution list:

Hit the create button to create a distribution list:

Goto the tab Dist. list content to enter the e-mail addresses:

Save the list.

Now you can go to SM37 and change the job:

In the recipient field hit F4 or the selection button and switch to the distribution list. Search the correct one and press ok:

In case somebody by accident deleted a shared distribution list, check OSS note 2477819 – Distribution Lists have been deleted for recovery options.

Bug fixes

Bug fix OSS notes:

SAP upgrade SPAU and SPAU_ENH handling

At the end of each upgrade or support package SPAU and SPAU_ENH handling is required.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How to execute SPAU processing?
  • What is SPAU_ENH?
  • Where to find more background information on SPAU?

SPAU processing

General information on SPAU processing can be found in OSS note 1970888 – How To: SPDD/SPAU handling during the Update/Upgrade.

When you start transaction SPAU it will ask for a Protocol Title. Give it a meaningful name (background information on the protocol is in OSS note 2497863 – A protocol has to be created before SPAU/SPDD can be executed):

Now you enter the main SPAU screen. The first action to do is to push the button Prepare Notes:

This will start a batch job to download latest versions of the OSS notes and will check if they are relevant for your support pack or upgrade. You can monitor this job in SM37:

For a support pack this jobs can take up to 30 minutes. For an upgrade of ECC on large system it can easily run for 4 hours or more.

After the notes download is done SPAU has 3 tabs:

Notes, with assistant and without assistant. For each tab make download or screen shots of the items before starting with SPAU handling. For each item record your action for future reference. If anything is wrong with the note or ABAP object, you can refer back to this recorded decision.

OSS notes processing

First start with the OSS notes processing. Complete all OSS notes before proceeding to the next tab.

The processing sequence is top down: older OSS notes first, then work down all the list.

In principle, you want to return as much as possible to standard SAP. But be careful: the older OSS notes might be valid modification notes which need to be re-applied after support pack or upgrade. Check with these ones with the functional team.

Old modification OSS notes can give a warning like this before you Reset them to original:

Some OSS notes might give download issues:

In some cases the note might not even be available any more on support.sap.com. Check it there. If not available, check if the content can be ignored.

Some notes might give issues with content delivery event:

Check on support.sap.com if the note is still present. Check if the content can be ignored.

Some notes might be locked:

Most likely root cause: in SPDD processing sometimes you have to process OSS notes as well, and have to repeat in SPAU phase. In this case, release the SPDD transport from client 000 and redo the action in SPAU.

If you re-enter SPAU later (next day), you might encounter this screen:

In this case choose Continue with Current Protocol.

With modification assistant

Proceed with the tab With modification assistant only when the Notes tab has been processed. There might be some note items left due to the issues mentioned above. When agreed to ignore, you can proceed with the With modification assistant tab.

Reminder: download the items and record your decisions.

For each item you need to decide to Reset the object (return to standard SAP), or took fully keep the modification, or to do a manual adjustment. SAP can make guided proposals in this section.

It is an expert job to make the right decisions. Never let junior staff deal with this part. And when you do, you will regret it later on. It can take a huge amount of time to discover the issues and find out it was because of wrong handling in SPAU.

Without modification assistant

After you have completely done the With modification assistant tab, move on the to Without Modification tab.

Here the same processing as With Modification Assistant. SAP will not make any suggestions. Same expert warning as above.

Checking and activation

The other 3 tabs in SPAU (deletions, migrations and translations) are optional. Process as much as you can:

After SPAU has been done, goto SE80 and make sure that all objects are activated. If not activated, process each inactive object.

Never report back to the basis team to finalise SUM upgrade if you have inactive objects left. On older releases, when SUM is finalised and you still have inactive objects, you need to call off object keys.

SPAU_ENH

After SPAU, you are not yet done. You need to start SPAU_ENH transaction and take care of all the enhancements (explicit and implicit):

OSS note 2584912 – How to work with SPAU_ENH contains a word manual with tips and tricks.

With an S4HANA upgrade, you will regret the implicit enhancements. The code were they were applied to might simply have disappeared.

Including usage data

In newer versions of S4HANA SPAU processing, you can include SUSG usage data to make SPAU handling easier. Based on usage you can more comfortably decide to return an item back to standard SAP.

TRDIR and TADIR issues

For TRDIR and TADIR issues during upgrades, support packages, read this dedicated blog.

Finding not adjusted items quickly

Run program RS_FIND_NOT_ADJUSTED_OBJECTS to find out quickly which objects have not yet been adjusted. See also OSS note 2742627 – Display of objects still to be adjusted.

Bug fix and reference OSS notes

Reference OSS notes:

Bug fix notes:

Custom Z code

Custom Z code is not part of SPAU handling. This you do after the upgrade.

For S4HANA you need to do custom code adjustments. Read more in this blog.

Further upgrade post-processing

Pending on your use of functionality more upgrade or support package post processing might be required. Read this dedicated blog for more details.

SAP upgrade SPDD handling

When upgrading any SAP system, the data dictionary objects changes done to standard SAP will have to managed. This is done in the SPDD phase of the upgrade.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How to logon to the shadow system?
  • How to process the SPDD items?
  • Why is it important to document the SPDD items?

This blog is followed by special blog on SPAU handling.

Logging on to the upgrade shadow system

Logging on to the upgrade shadow system to perform the SPDD processing can be done in two ways:

  1. Create extra SAP GUI entry based on the data from the SAP basis team
  2. Via SM59 connection SAP_UPGRADE_SHADOW_SYSTEM

In SM59 goto the RFC connection SAP_UPGRADE_SHADOW_SYSTEM. Now press the button Remote Logon:

As processor of SPDD, the basis team will need to create your account in the shadow system and inform you on the password.

SPDD processing

Once logged in to the shadow system, start transaction SPDD:

First start with the With Assistant tab and handle all items, before moving to the Without Assistant tab.

Before starting with any processing, make screen shots/downloads of both tabs. Later when processing the SPDD, write down in any way the decisions you have made. Typically the first upgrade (and SPDD) is done on a sandbox system. Also write SPDD decisions down on the sandbox. If anything appears not ok, you can still do the right thing on the real development system.

The SPDD has to be save in one single transport. This transport will be re-used by basis team from the development system for further on upgrades. This tool (SUM tool) can handle only 1 transport. If there were more transport requests created, merge them to one ( use Include objects functionality) and mark it for transport via Utilities -> Assign Transport in SPDD/SPAU.

SPDD with assistance

On the SPDD with assistance, per item first select the option Compare Versions:

This overview is normally too big to analyse. Press the button Delta display to see the differences:

Based on the content you have to decide to:

  1. Reset (reset back to standard SAP)
  2. Adjust (make you own changes)

This decision is not made in the delta screen, but back in the main SPDD screen. Finalize all the items with assistance, before proceeding to without assistance tab. Record all you decision.

SPDD without assistance

Now proceed on the SPDD tab without assistance:

Red items can only be reset to standard SAP.

For yellow, green and white items there are 3 options:

  1. Reset (back to standard SAP)
  2. Adjust with proposal
  3. Adjust (manually)

A proposal can be accepted or adjusted:

Process each item in the list.

Final checks on SPDD

Before reporting SPDD complete, first check in SE80 that there are no inactive objects left:

If any inactive object is left: activate it. Solve all issues.

Under no circumstance leave issues that DDIC objects cannot be activated. The further on SUM processing will stop due to this inactivation, and you have to redo again till this point, and still have to solve this issue.

Check at the end that all SPDD items are done:

If the list is not empty, discuss with your basis team, before concluding if SPDD is done.

This is reason why you need to create screen shots/download the list in the beginning: it is gone now.

TRDIR and TADIR issues

For TRDIR and TADIR issues during upgrades, support packages, read this dedicated blog.

Background

More information can be found in OSS note 1970888 – How To: SPDD/SPAU handling during the Update/Upgrade.

Interesting is also OSS note 2286852 – SPAU/SPDD: Display report for reset candidates.

Bug fix and explanation notes

Bug fix and explanation notes: