typical sap charm implementation scenarios and their answers
DESCRIPTION
sap charmTRANSCRIPT
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1. How many development clients are possible?
2. How to work with target groups
3. How to work with transport groups
4. Virtual systems
5. Temporary inactive system flag in SMSY
6. Changes in the logical components of a project where Charm is already activated
7. Several Solution Managers in the landscape
8. Completing a task list
9. Completing inconsistent task lists (note 933705)
10. Can I delete a project with Charm activated?
11. Scheduling of import job /TMWFLOW/SCMA_TRORDER_IMPORT hourly
12. Import options
13. Return codes and tp errors
14. Urgent correction SDHF stays in the import buffer after the import
15. Working with urgent corrections and normal corrections in the same task list --REALLY
interesting case to know
16. Task list "logs"
17. Error: "No maintenance cycle is opened for the current system"
18. Dump ITAB_DUPLICATE_KEY
19. Retrofit functionality
20. System copy
21. Missing authorizations for READ RFC connections
22. Registering transport requests in ChaRM
23. Report CRM_SOCM_SERVICE_REPORT and email actions not processed
24. What happens when the solman system is down?
25. Special considerations for non-ABAP landscapes in ChaRM
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26. In which situations a ChaRM project is locked?
27. Several managed system with same SID
28. Incorrect use of SM_*_LOGIN RFC connection
1. How many development clients are possible?
By default Charm only recognize the standard SAP transport layer (if there is SAP transport layer
pointing the DEV system to the QAS system) so this means that you can create several clients in a dev
system, but all transport orders, of customizing and workbench type, created in these clients will use
the same standard SAP transport layer.
Sometime this SAP transport layer is not used or you want to use the customer Z transport layers, in
this case you need to run report /TMWFLOW/SET_TRACK_GENERATION according to note 922779, after
that you should create a NEW project with its new cycle to get this Z transport layer assigned to the
transport track.
After you decide which kind of transport layer you want to use, you must configure their STMS settings
(transport routes, client specific transport layer,...) accordingly.
Example of client specific transport layer:
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One example of the use of several customer Z transport layer is when you have different Z transport
layers for different DEV:clients, ZAAA and ZBBB for client 100 and 200 for example and you want to
separate your customizing and workbench changes, customizing in client 100 and workbench changes in
client 200, then by using customized layers for the generation of the transport tracks you will be able to
move the changes using different transport layers. This separation for the moment is only possible using
this customized transport layers.
After you need to define a project with several logical components, one per development client, always
these logical components must fit with the real TMS configuration, them when developer creates a
correction, he can select the source dev system: client.
Usual errors during the project check are: "No consolidation system found for SID-XXX", please see note
922779 carefully because it is very important to the track generation of Charm..
Note: In Charm, during the creation of task list, all possible tracks based on your STMS settings on
managed system and transport layer settings are calculated. Therefore, during the generation of
transport tracks in ChaRM, the transport request type (workbench/customizing) can not be taken into
consideration. And after that, the transport layer of the project will be fixed in table
/TMWFLOW/TTRCKEC (usually standard layer 'SAP'). So when you create a request afterwards, Charm
uses this transport layer (which has been checked as correct and consistent when generating task list)
but will not consider your local settings on DEV systems (which might contain inconsistencies because
they have never been checked in Charm).
Always remind that when generating tracks Charm will try to find connections among all DEV systems
and QAS systems in your system landscape, not only the systems defined in the same logical
components.
However as charm is triggering the "tp import transport request of a CTS project" if you are using two
development clients that will come into the same target system, one qua and one prd system for
example, then you can face dependences issues between the transport requests of these two different
CTS projects.
SAP should always suggest to set up only one development client to avoid inconsistences in the follow
up systems, and make the whole scenario more complex. "Merged" transport routes, I mean two
development clients pointing to the same target, are not SAP recommended configuration, due to this
this scenario is not supported in Charm.
2. How to work with target groups
If you are using target groups in your TMS landscape and you want that all system: clients defined in
your target group get the transport order imported them you need to enter these systems: clients in the
logical component.
Imagine this TMS Landscape:
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DEV:XXX-->/Q/ -->QUA:YY1 -->PRD:ZZZ
-->QUA:YY2
-->TST:MMM
You have three possibilities for this landscape:
- Defined/ add each client as target systems to the existing logical component
Click on System Role Assignment and go to System Roles:
Enter a Target system entry like the marked on:
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Then:
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Then:
Enter QUA:YY2 for Quality2, TST:MMM for Quality3, etc....
Create a separate logical component for each target client.
Z_LC1:DEV:XXX-->QUA:YY1-->PRD:ZZZ
Z_LC2 with Quality Assurance system QUA:YY2
Z_LC3 with Quality Assurance system TST:MMM
This will create a task list with one source system, three target systems: clients and one Production
system.
For urgent corrections the system try to use the shortest way to the production systems, see details in
this URL:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_smehp1/helpdata/en/b4/f2178b54a546a2a9590ea1be4c8fbd/content.ht
m
"The task list of a maintenance cycle contains all the systems that you defined in the maintenance
project. The task list of an urgent correction contains the production system in which the problem
occurred, and only the systems on the shortest transport route from the development system to the
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production system. This implements your urgent correction as quickly as
possible."
In the example the task list of the urgent correction will see this transport track: DEV:XXX-->QUA:YYY--
>PRD:ZZZ
The first quality system of the first LC is used.
The third possibility is to define these LC:
Z_LC1: DEV:XXX->QUA:YY1->PRD:ZZZ
Z_LC2: DEV:XXX->QUA:YY2
Z_LC3: DEV:XXX->TST:MMM
This will also create the correct transport tracks.
Please apply note 1374153 "Changeable transport requests are invisible in new cycle" if you want to use
this option.
Always remember that the Logical Component in Systems tab and the TMS information in STMS in the
domain controller of your real landscape must fit together.
Transport routes must be set client specific if several dev system: clients are used.
3. How to work with transport groups
This is a landscape with two transport groups and files that need to be move from one transport group
to the other.
Charm supports transports between different transport groups within the same transport domain. In
such cases, transport group comparison shall be carried out before the import of change requests.
Charm is able to do the transport group adjustment for different transport groups in different transport
domains as well, as long as the transport domains are connected by a domain link!
Please refer also to note 954516: "Transport groups comparison in the Change Request"
The general recommendation is to use the same transport group for systems of the same track! For
different tracks it may make sense to store the transport data in different directories.
For transports between different transport domains, Charm only supports domain links in the
configuration. And the setup is really complicated, which goes beyond the scope of development
support. Actually it is a consulting issue.
Charm does NOT support external systems in more than one domain.
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SAP STRONGLY recommend to setup system landscape only in one transport domain to reduce the
complexity and administration effort! This is in accordance with our designed goal of Charm.
4. Virtual systems
To define a virtual system in SMSY ensure you define this system like virtual in the corresponding TMS
landscape and fill the field Transport Domain with the corresponding DOMAIN_SID, create virtual
system in SMSY and use the button "read system data remote" in the domain controller system of the
managed system, you will get the Virtual System flag selected.
Virtual system can be used in Charm but only "temporally" for testing purposes because not all action
can be selected because if the system is virtual so not import or logon is possible at all.
You can start using just one physical development system and complete your landscape with virtual
systems.
Create a virtual system in STMS with the same SID that you will use.
When the real system is ready replace it in STMS and refresh the information in SMSY, run the “read
system data remote” again from the domain controller system of the managed system and from the
virtual system itself.
The logical component does not need to be changed because the SID is still the same.
Also there is no need to close the maintenance cycle of the project, but refresh the project.
In case of problems, you can close the tasklist and re-generate the cycle to bring the new physical
systems to the tasklist.
Please see also the document “ChaRM_ST400_Virtual_System.pdf” attached to note 1520678 - Change
Request Management Configuration & Operation Guide
See also notes:
1004569 "Virtual systems in Change Request Management"
1007217 "SMSY (SLD): Do not read TMS systems"!
5. Temporary inactive system flag in SMSY
Select this switch whenever a system is down, for maintenance reasons, or because of a crash, charm
will stay working, unless the system is the domain controller of the landscape.
You can enter the task list as usual and if you try for example to process the task system logon onto a
system which is down you get a message "The system is temporarily inactive" and the action will be
canceled.
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In the track where the system is down you can't do any action at all because it makes no sense if one
system is down on the transport route.
But every other Actions with the active systems are working as before. So you can continue your work in
the task list.
If the inactive system is online again you have to delete the inactive flag in the smsy and everything
works fine again.
Note: If the DEV system is also the Domain Controller and this system is down, the whole project is not
working; this is just works as what we designed to prevent further inconsistency in the project. If some
DEV system is down but it is not a Domain Controller then you can work with the project without the
system which is down. Configure a backup Domain Controller if possible in this situation.
In case you change the domain controller of your landscape and the system has been already defined in
the solman system, go to smsy and refresh the system information clicking in "Read System Data
Remote or ensure you have activated the Automatic Data Capture for System Landscape.
See function Module 'SMSY_GET_ALL_TMS_DOMAINS' and note 1255174.
6. Changes in the logical components of a project where Charm is already activated
Please never add or remove Logical Components for active project cycle, this is always
dangerous.
If you would like to add/remove Logical Component to project landscape or to manually adjust systems
(change systems and roles) included in exiting Logical Component for active project cycle after the task
list generation, I would recommend always follow the following steps:
Close the current project cycle
Add/remove Logical Component
Generate a new project cycle
Any change in the TMS configuration, in the transport routes for example, will be handling in the same
way.
NOTE: When you refreshed the managed system with development role them you need to follow the
same steps, closing the current MC and opening a new one or work with a new maintenance project
directly. This must be done to avoid problems with the CTS ID project attached to the IMG project.
When you refresh your development managed system, the number range for CTS projects in your DEV
system is refreshed to, but that old information is still used in your solman system, closing the cycle and
re-creating a new one will generate a new CTS project.
Check in table /TMWFLOW/PROJMAP that CTS_ID projects are always unique.
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The task list is generated with help of some tables:
/TMWFLOW/TTRCKHC transport track header
/TMWFLOW/TTRCKEC transport track entries
/TMWFLOW/CMSCONF all systems in the task list
A transport track contains all systems belonging to exact one development
system.
'Belonging' means: they are linked by TMS transport routes.
'Development system' means: the systems have the role type 'D' in the Solution Manager (SMI)
project.
'All systems' means: they are linked by TMS transport routes and they are included in the SMI
project.
These three tables are built up when you define a SMI project and mark it as relevant for the Change
Request management.
If you change the SMI project or the TMS transport routes after the generation of the task list, you will
have to complete the task list and generate a new one.
Why? when systems in the logical component of the SMI project or TMS transport routes has been
changed after the generation of the task list, tables /TMWFLOW/TTRCKHC and /TMWFLOW/TTRCKEC
will be updated partly, the tables will be updated in that way that new entries will be created. The new
entry in the header table /TMWFLOW/TTRCKHC will get the 'active' flag , and the old entry will remain,
but get the 'Completed' flag. The task list will go on working with the old entries. But if you complete the
task list and generate a new one, this will use the new entries.
7. Several Solution Managers in the landscape
You can have several Solution Managers with this landscape for example: SMD:XXX->SMQ:YYY--
>SMP:ZZZ
Is possible to use Charm scenario to manage the changes in a solution manager
Landscape formed by tree systems?
Yes! You can configure one Solution Manager to manage changes in your solman landscape. This will
mean to create Change Request for all changes that you want to perform in the Solution Manager
system itself.
8. Completing a task list
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In order to close the task list work ALWAYS with the SDMN document of the maintenance cycle and go
from Development wo release phase to Development with release to Test phase, etc, until you get the
last phase "Completing" in order to close the task list correctly.
A task list can be closed even with modifiable transport orders according to note 1071412 "Completing a
task plan with changeable transport requests".
Then when you create a new cycle, the system automatically assigns these processes and objects to the
new cycle. This is also logged in application log. To display the log entries, you can use transaction
/TMWFLOW/MAINTINST. Navigate to the tab with your project type (usually the maintenance project)
and choose 'Create...' and 'Execute'. Then select the required project and choose 'Messages at Time of
Creation'.
Other related notes: 1354638, 1344191 and 1158885.
9. Completing inconsistent task lists (note 933705)
When you have no chance to close the project cycle by switching the project phase to in completion
status, via the actions in the cycle document, SDMN document for a maintenance project for example,
then you should evaluate the reasons that make this task list inconsistent, because depending on the
reasons you could have different solutions.
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1. You cannot operate on the cycle because the phase of the task list M* and the phase on the cycle
document, SDMN for example, are not consistent.
This can be fixed by using option "Set phase value" in report /TMWFLOW/PHCNTRL_DB_UTILITY. There
is no need to close the whole cycle due to this simple point.
2. If the above was not your case see the possible ways to handle a task list inconsistency, but you
should be aware that if you adopt this solution, close the task list forcibly, then probably all the old
change documents and transport requests will not be able to be processed in charm anymore. You
should know this possible side effect before closing the project forcibly.
Select the project phase transaction by starting the transaction CRM_DNO_MONITOR.
Select transaction type SDMN for selecting maintenance project cycle transactions or SDDV for selecting
implantation, upgrade or template project cycles.
Start cycle transaction document and choose document flow button.
The document flow button should show you all dependant open transactions like regular corrections
and urgent corrections. Navigate into the transactions and write down the numbers of the corrections
and also the number of the cycle document itself.
Now you have these options:
2.1. You can leave the corrections in the status they have, open corrections, and do the following steps
for closing a cycle task list:
a. Start program /TMWFLOW/TL_COMPLETE_FORCE (see note 1345459), type in the cycle task list name
you got from the cycle transaction document flow.
b. The cycle task list is now unconditionally closed but the IMG and CTS projects are still
open.
c. As a last step destroy any reference of the cycle by starting the program
/TMWFLOW/PHCNTRL_DB_UTILITY. Select the option: "delete all cycles of a project" and insert the
project name of the cycle you just withdraw unconditionally.
Now the project cycle is completely withdrawn and the project can be used for creating a new cycle.
Note: the above operations are irreversible!!!
Now when you create a new task list, using the same IMG project, in the better case the open
corrections, with the involved TRs, will be inherit to the new task list. But this is the nicest possibility I
mean we cannot assure that the open corrections will be inherit to the new task list.
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In the case that the open corrections do not get inherit in the new task list, them these old change
documents and transport requests open corrections will not be able to be processed in charm, I mean as
the task list where they are linked is completed you could not work at all with this corrections in charm.
At this point, you can only withdrawn them with report CRM_SOCM_SERVICE_REPORT using
'unconditional withdraw'.
Still you have the TRs in the TMS real landscape and you should move the TRs manually to the
production system, but not via charm processing anymore.
2.2. Another "cleaner" possibility for forcibly closing a task list is to withdrawn all cycle dependant
transactions and then also withdrawn the cycle transaction itself. Now follow the steps to close the task
list a, b, c.
Close manually the IMG project via spro_admin.
At this point you should work manually with the TRs involved in the closed task list, as the corrections
are withdrawn at charm level.
Create a new cycle, this new cycle will not contain any relation to the corrections of the previous task
list.
Note. In the case of the SDMN or SDDV document has been accidentally deleted then there is not
standard way to get the corrections documents assigned automatically to the new task list, for
important correction changes in place open a message in SAP SMP for further analysis of the situation.
To avoid this situations, for all charm roles, please remove delete activity (authorization key '06') for
authorization objects CRM_ORD_PR and CRM_ORD_OP. This activity will allow manual deletion of CRM
documents, which might lead to data inconsistency in charm, so please for all users who will participate
in charm processes, make sure they do not have this particular authorization key.
3. If you don´t know how to handle the situation and there are important corrections changes in place,
please open a message in SAP SMP for further analysis of the situation.
10. Can I delete a project with Charm activated?
Since the project has been used for Change Request Management you can not delete it anymore, for
traceability reasons.
11. Scheduling of import job /TMWFLOW/SCMA_TRORDER_IMPORT hourly
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Test to run 23 jobs per day, one at each hour, but choose Ends on 2099 to avoid to run only 1 time.
The second option is to schedule the import job for the CTS project directly from the TMS (this is a
standard TMS functionality).
Go to the import queue, filter it by the Project (CTS Project) ID and then select the import button (the
truck) you will get a popup to schedule the import.
See also SAP Note 911051.
However notice that this is just recommended for the QA system when you needs to import
periodically.
12. Import options
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- Select All Requests for Later Import
The requests remain in the import queue after the import and can be imported, for example, into
another client. This is only useful if you have not switched on extended transport control, but you want
to provide several clients with requests.
- Overwrite Originals
The transport control program also imports objects if the objects are the originals in the target system.
The object directory entry determines the SAP System where the original version of an object is located.
- Overwrite Objects in Unconfirmed Repairs
The transport control program also imports objects if they were repaired in the target system and the
repair is not yet confirmed.
- Ignore Predecessor Relationships
You can choose this option if you want to import all the requests for one or several projects, but
additional requests from other projects exist for which there are dependencies. This option is switched
off by default, which means the predecessor's relationships are checked before the import. The import
only occurs if the predecessor's relationships will not be damaged.
These are the only import options available for Charm.
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13. Return code and tp errors
To display import errors, under General Tasks in the task list mark the function "Correcting Imports with
Errors (Repair Flag)" and choose Executing Tasks.
The system displays an overview of the imports with errors in each of the target systems in the task list.
Select the target system and choose Log.
The system displays the log overview.
To display more detailed information about import errors, select the import with errors with the status
Ended with Errors.
The system displays the log file that sets out the import error.
Correct the error in the target system that attempted the import with errors. If, for example, a missing
domain caused the import error, import the domain transport request and regenerate the
corresponding data element.
To change the status of the corrected import error and to be able to end the task list, under General
Tasks remark the function in the task list "Correcting Imports with Errors (Repair Flag)" and choose
Execute Task.
The system displays an overview of the imports with errors with each target system in the task list.
To change the import status of the corrected error, mark the transport request and choose "Errors
Corrected".
14. Urgent correction SDHF stays in the import buffer after the individual first import
You should be able to disable this by setting the task list parameter from SAP0 to SAP1. For more
information please do following:
Call T-code /TMWFLOW/MAINTINST -> Go to tab "Settings" -> Choose "Variants for task lists in task list"
-> Press "Maintain Configuration" -> Put mouse in column "Buffer" -> Press F1
Then you'll find detail information for those variants, this would be a summary:
Currently there are two kind of import strategies one is referred to variant SAP0 and the other is for
variant SAP1.
1) By using SAP0 the corresponding maintenance cycle type is SDMN, by using SAP1 it is SDMM, in the
later case BC-set SOLMAN40_CHARM_TRANSTYPE_SDMM needs to be activated
2) With variant SAP0, it is possible to create both normal corrections and urgent corrections under this
maintenance cycle. And we have different import considerations: for normal correction we are using
import project all, which means in this case all requests on the same CTS project will be imported all
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together (including those in urgent corrections); while for urgent correction we are using import subset,
which means only those requests created under specific urgent corrections will be imported.
To resolve the dependency issues caused by the conflictions of these two import options, we have
designed that all urgent corrections will stay in the import buffer after the first import, and they will be
imported the second time together with project import.
3) With variant SAP1, there is another import strategy, that is urgent correction will only import the
associated transport request one time. After the import, this request will be flagged as "Request Already
Imported" in the transport queue. Even though it is visible there, no more import can be done for this
request.
If you don´t want to see these requests in the transport buffer, you can manually remove them by
selecting "Extras -> Delete Imported Requests" in the import queue.
So, really these are not removed from the import buffer but yes flagged as "Request Already Imported".
So this variant is only designed for project cycles which contain ONLY urgent corrections. I mean you
cannot link a normal correction to a maintenance cycle with SAP1 variant.
The reason is if we have both normal corrections and urgent corrections in these cycles then that will
lead to serious dependency problems. (later version might be imported ahead of previous
version!)
15. Working with urgent corrections and normal corrections in the same task list --REALLY interesting
behaviour to know
This is the case:
MC in status Go-Live with several Normal corrections in status consolidated and two urgent corrections
assigned to this MC, one urgent correction already in status Confirmed and the other in status "To be
tested".
From the MC I schedule the import into production system:
- the two transport orders of normal correction in status "Consolidated" were imported correctly
- the urgent correction in status "confirmed" ( already imported into production) is imported again in
production as we see in point 14, see the log of the transport order
- the urgent correction in status "to be tested" is ALSO IMPORTED in production ----- WHY????? I HAVE
NOT EVEN TEST THIS URGENT CORRECTION!!!
Ok! What I have described is the correct behavior; all TRs are imported, also when you do not want to
import the second UC.
How to handle the situation and why cannot it be solved:
Every time a transport request is imported into QUA system, this transport request is entered into the
import buffer of the production system.
Note: The same happens when the transport request is released, the transport request is entered into
the import buffer of the quality system.
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The process of an urgent correction includes the import into PRD, so we have to fill the import buffer of
PRD, there we use standard SAP technique, when import into QAS the import buffer of the following
system will be filled.
The IMPORT into PRD made from ChaRM is a pour call of TMS functionality, so we can not manipulate
the import queue.
How to handle this situation:
Always switch the phase/status in the SDMN transaction and not in the task list, in the CRM transaction
you will get the info that there are already urgent corrections in the import buffer switch are in status to
be tested.
Which this information you should contact the colleague who owns the urgent correction and solve this,
means forcing the colleague to test his urgent correction.
So this means, it is not recommended to switch to status going-live and import immediately, because
you always have to check the import buffer before import, by checking the status of the SDMN
transaction.
This describes the process how it should work.
Basically this is the main idea of the ChaRM concept, that you manage your project in phases and during
the Go-Live phase all transports connected to this project are applied to production.
Therefore before switching into the Go-Live phase, the project has to be finished completely.
I can only recommend holding the Go-Live phase as short as possible and don't work with urgent
corrections unless is mandatory because this is really an urgent change.
Sorry for using capital letters in this area but this behavior is really creating important issue when this
behavior is not known.
16. Task list "logs"
When you see the action "Release transport request" or/and action "Import transport request" in the
task list /nscma, you see a light next to this action. These lights are only showing the tp command has
been sent or not successfully to the satellite system.
These lights are never storing the log information of this action in the satellite sytem.
Every time you perform an import you should check the TMS import monitor. From charm we trigger
the tp import command for the correction transport request, and this is what is logged in the task list,
but we will only trigger the import action but for the detail transport log they must be checked on the
remote system directly.
We can not wait to see if the import of the transport request is correct or not, imagine a long import and
charm waiting until the tp import command finishes.
This is right that the correction goes to the next status, however when you try to move to the next
status the import logs are checked in conditions IMPORT_INTO_PROD_OK (SDHF) or
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PRODUCTION_IMPORT_OK (SDMJ) and if these import logs are not available or are not correct you get
an error saying that the import was not really performed.
When checking one of these conditions think that we check this condition, we wait for this import to
finish, during a time determined with the CHECK_NTIMES_SOCM parameter, see note 1426029 for
details, we don´t recommend values biggers than 20 for this parameter CHECK_NTIME_SOCM.
Sometimes happens that you are moving the status of the correction in a faster than the import time
finishes and you can get an error saying that the import is not ok only because the import is not really
finished yet in the managed system.
17. Error "No maintenance cycle is opened for the current system"
When creating a normal correction or urgent correction (or setting it from "Created" to "In
development"), the customer receives error "No maintenance cycle is opened for current system."
(SOCM_ACTION_LOG011).
Possible reasons are:
- The IBase is wrong: The IBase/component must represent the production system in the project
landscape.
- Lack of authorizations: Assign role "SAP_SOCM_ADMIN" or "SAP_CM_ADMINISTRATOR_COMP" (or
equivalent) to the user who would like to approve the change request.
- Project is locked in table /TMWFLOW/PROJMAP: If an error is detected during the processing, then the
project might be locked in this table. The customer can unlock it by pressing the refresh button under
tab "System Landscape" -> "Change Requests". If there are other error messages shown during the
refresh process, the customer must fix those errors beforehand.
P.S. The 'Check' button under tab 'Change Requests' (the same as transaction /TMWFLOW/CHARMCHK)
will only do the checking. On the other hand, the 'Refresh' button will do the checking and update the
relevant database entries.
18. Dump ITAB_DUPLICATE_KEY
Actually, the root cause of this dump is that you are trying to configure more than one IMG projects for
the same charm project in the same physical DEV system, in /nsolar_project_admin->System Landscape-
> IMG Projects.
If you have for example this landscape with two development clients in the SAME development system,
at the moment of creating the IMG project only one IMG project should be created, each with their own
CTS project:
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Firstly you select the first entry of the IMG Projects tab for first client, SMM:888 in our example and
create the IMG Project.
After you select the second entry for SMM:100 and select the same IMG project name:
If you try to select for this second entry a different IMG Project name then you will get the dump
ITAB_DUPLICATE_KEY.
If you go to the IMG Project in the development system SMM:888, you will see that for IMG project in
client SMM:800 the CTS project is SMM_P00048:
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If you go to the IMG Project in the development system SMM:100, you will see that for IMG project in
client SMM:100 the CTS project is SMM_P00049:
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If you to see the related entries in table /tmwflow/projmap:
See the following picture, an IMG project in DEV system can have assigned several CTS projects, one per
client of this DEV system.
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19. Retrofit functionality
Please see the following SDN Blog Change Request Management scenario: Retrofit Functionality
For further information about this Charm scenario see also SDN Blogs:
- First steps to work with Change Request Management scenario
- "Change Request Management scenario: Working examples"
20. System copy
In case you want to make a system copy for the managing system, solman system, please have a look to
this notes:
1297727 Change Request Management and System Copy
In the case that you want to make a system refresh of a consolidation managed system from production
managed system please follow these steps:
- Implement notes 1487892 and note 1512342 in the solman system.
- Implement note1269192 on all your managed systems.
- Go to SMSY and select flag "Temporarily Inactive System" for the system that is going to be refreshed
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- Make the system refresh
- Removed the old ALOG files after the system copy, leave this directory empty
- Press button "Delete Buffered Transport Data" in SMSY for the refreshed system to remove the
obsolete transport data
- Them, re-import manually all transports in to the refreshed system which, at this time, are not in the
production system.
- Remove in SMSY the flag "Temporarily Inactive System" for the refreshed system
- Run report /TMWFLOW/REP_DATA_READ according to note 1546452
21. Missing authorization for READ RFC connections
Our default authorizations for remote READ RFC users (created in SMSY) do not allow us to read
transport requests information. But READ RFC users are used extensively in Charm to get those
information. It is a bug in SMSY which has not been fixed by now. So currently for such kind of messages
we have to ask our customer to manually add appropriate authorizations (e.g. profile S_TMW_CREATE)
to those READ RFC users.
- Open transport requests are not marked as red when release them from task list.
Note 1279558 - Red Question Mark Icon Missing from Charm Transport Release
- "Error RFC destination SPROJECT_GET_SMI_DATA_R" when register outside transport requests into
Charm.
Please assign enough authorizations to all those READ RFC users on their DEV system (including client
000).
- Cannot complete maintenance cycle due to "Error RFC destination
/TMWFLOW/TL_COMPL_CHK_TR_WO_TL"
Please assign enough authorizations to all those READ RFC users on their DEV system (including client
000).
- Transport request information is missing in the result of Charm Reporting.
Please assign enough authorizations to all those READ RFC users on their DEV system (including client
000). And after that they should re-execute background job SM:TMWFLOW_CMSSYSCOL to update
those information on Solution Manager system again.
22. Registering transport requests in ChaRM
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You can register a transport request created outside a charm correction after in a tasklist.
Please keep in mind the three points below:
1) To register a request into ChaRM task list that transport request must have already been assigned
to the CTS project which belongs to that ChaRM project cycle, for doing this assign the associated IMG
project to the transport request by entering the IMG project name in the Project field on Properties tab
of the involved transport request.
2) Only when the request is still modifiable you can register them into ChaRM. For released request it
won’t work.
3) After registering, those requests can only be managed in the task list directly, there is no change
document associated with it and hence no workflow is possible.
See note 1150426 for details.
23. Report CRM_SOCM_SERVICE_REPORT and email actions not processed
We have observed this behavior when there are issues in your actions condition definition, between
start and scheduling conditions, when they are in conflict with each other, therefore, the action cannot
be determined correctly.
For example: The action is relevant (scheduled) if "user status = E0009SDHFHEAD" and can be started if
"user status = E0006SDHFHEAD".
When your start condition is fulfilled, your scheduling condition is not fulfilled anymore. When the
scheduling condition is not met anymore, the action is removed:
E0006SDHFHEAD = E0009SDHFHEAD => false
Here is a suggestion to solve this issue:
Please check if it would be possible to use your start condition as a scheduling condition. Remove the
start condition. Normally, a 'status check' belongs in a scheduling condition.
If the above suggestion is not enough for your scenario, you can also take a look at consulting note
1007346.
But really this is a CRM-BF-ACI issue more than a Charm issue.
24. What happens when the solman system is down?
Please see note 1528657 "Workaround when SolMan system is temporarily unavailable"
25. Special considerations for non-ABAP landscapes in ChaRM
1. Definition of a dual stack system as single ABAP stack in ChaRM
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Please see note 1573825 “ChaRM: only use ABAP stack for a dual stack system”.
This is a new functionality, previously if you has a dual stack system and you declare both parts like
relevant in SMSY, then you make sure both ABAP and non-ABAP stacks have the correct STMS
configurations when try to use system logon action from ChaRM.
However sometimes you do not need to use ChaRM on the on-ABAP stack and you don´t want those
redundant configuration. After implementing note 1573825, you will be able to define such systems as
pure ABAP stack system, so no CTS+ configuration is needed for them.
2. For non-ABAP system, the IMG project is created on the communication system and the CTS project
will be created "implicitly". That means, you will not be able to see the CTS project in SPRO_ADMIN.
However if you check in table CTSPROJECT, in the solman system, the correct entry is there looking like
"SID/IMG project ID”.
So, please keep in mind that you should NEVER activate the CTS project manually for non-ABAP systems.
Let me explain this with some screenshots, imaging that you create project I020554_N8 for a non-ABAP
landscape:
You create the IMG project I02055_IN8:
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If you go to see this IMG project in the communication system you will see that the CTS project “looks”
no activated:
However if you go to see in the solman system, table CTSPROJECT you will see that the entry
EPD/I02055_IN8 is there:
In the case that you activate the CTS project manually in the IMG project you will create an entry with
this name: I020554_IN8 and this can generate further issue at the time of the maintenance cycle
closure.
3. The CTS project status switch for non-ABAP systems cannot be displayed
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Please implement note 1354430 to non-ABAP communication system, and notes 1517644, 1552230 to
SOLMAN system.
However you must know that still the import action switch is currently not working for non-ABAP
systems due to basis CTS+ restrictions.
4. If you want to user ChaRM on non-ABAP systems, make sure the communication system is with
SAP_BASIS Release 701 SP Level SAPKB70103 or higher.
For more information, check note 1356771 “Complete maintenance cycle with non-ABAP systems”.
26. In which situations a ChaRM project is locked?
In principle, the ChaRM project will be locked if your STMS configuration and your logical component
definition are not consistent with each other.
First point to clarify is that the ChaRM project is locked for all the logical components, for all TMS
landscapes managed in the project, not only for the TMS landscape that has for example the domain
controller down, I mean, this is a global lock not a particular lock affecting to the entire project.
Possible situations:
1. ChaRM project will be locked when domain controller system is down
If the domain controller system is unavailable, then in principle no transport should be performed in this
transport domain.
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In this case ChaRM cannot get STMS configuration so there is no way to check whether they are
consistent or not, the result is the project will be locked as a self defensive action. For more information,
check note 1322696 “Work with Project Cycles where some systems are unavailable”.
2. ChaRM project will be locked when one RFC destination to a managed system is not working
correctly, because of a momentary network error or because the user used in the TMW or READ RFC
connection is locked.
This case is similar to the first point because we may not be able to get the correct STMS settings, so the
project will be locked.
RFC destination plays a very crucial and important role through the whole ChaRM processes. If you take
a look in the ChaRM check result, you will see we are also checking a lot of RFCs just to ensure the
project is consistent. If there are some errors for those RFCs, especially to your domain controller
systems, then we will say the whole project might be in danger because the communication to remote
systems might have been closed for a moment. Here we do not differentiate whether it is a READ RFC or
TMW RFC, it is also very hard for us to decide the real root cause of the error. It might disappear after a
few seconds; it might also be some network problems or even hardware issues which need a longer time
to solve it. Therefore, to make sure the whole project is safe and consistent, I am afraid the best solution
is just to lock it.
All those errors can be found in SLG1 system log and the system administrator has to investigate the
issue and fix it.
3. You have changed the STMS settings after the cycle is generated, i.e., replaced the QAS system with a
new one, but in the logical component the new system is not inserted. In this case there will also be
some inconsistencies and the project will be locked as well.
4. You have changed the logical component settings in the project, i.e., change the QAS system role from
‘Target System’ to ‘Single System’. Similar to the third point, the project will be locked due to
inconsistencies.
As long as the locking is not caused by some “instability” of the network connections you should always
be able to do a ChaRM check and figure out the real root cause.
These are some suggestions to such kind of issues:
1) If possible, please keep stable RFC destinations to your managed systems, especially to those domain
controller systems.
2) In case there are RFC errors and the project is locked, you can find the root cause very easily by
performing a ChaRM check. And after the error is cleared please simply refresh the project to unlock it.
In solar_project_admin, select the project and go to "System Landscape" -> "Change Requests" -> Click
on Refresh icon.
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If there are other error messages shown during the refresh process, you must fixes those. In this way
you will be able to solve the issue immediately without delaying the project.
Check table /TMWFLOW/PROJMAP to see if the project is locked or not.
See also points:
5. Temporary inactive system flag in SMSY2
17. Error "No maintenance cycle is opened for the current system"
in this blog in relation with this point.
27. Several managed system with same SID
In Solman 7.0 we cannot differentiate distinct systems with the SID, even if they are located in different
domains.
In Solman 7.1 this issue will be solved by using the long SID functionality provided by SMSY, that is,
systems in different transport domains with the same SID can be managed by charm, you only need to
assign them to different technical system names in SMSY, see also note 1358071.
28. Incorrect use of SM_*_LOGIN RFC connection
In case of problems creating or completing maintenance cycles check that you are having the correct
RFC indicated under column "RFC for SAP Solution Manager" in the Client tab of your ABAP relevant
instance of your system in SMSY.
Ensure that you are always using the SM_*_TRUSTED RFC connection instead of the SM_*_LOGIN RFC
connection.
We have noticed that this change is done automatically when you are creating the RFC connection from
the LMDB, according to the LMDB colleagues the
behaviour is by design.
The "RFC for SAP Solution Manager" always take the last created RFC connection (login or trusted) in
LMDB:
You can do the following.
1. Create the trusted connection
2. Create the login connection. Both fields will be filled with "login" connection now.
3. Now update the trusted connection by selecting option "update XXXX_TRUSTED" from the drop down
list of "Trusted System RFC Destination" and click on "Execute", the RFC entered under "RFC for SAP
Solution Manager" will be the SM_*_TRUSTED connection.
ChaRM development is working in a solution for this.
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See also KBA 1832160 How to analyze issues when trying to close a ChaRM maintenance cycle