Oracle Listener doesn't starts after DB instance installation

During the installation of Netweaver 7.3 on Oracle 19, we faced a scenario where the SWPM stopped while installing the primary application server at the stage where it tends to restart the SAP instance. Further investigation led to the log which suggested that the application host was unable to connect to the database

"R3trans -d" was failing

On checking further it was revealed that the Listener was not running and when an attempt was made to start the listener, it failed

Currency conversion in SAP Datasphere

Currency conversion is a fundamental capability across most SAP products, playing a vital role in enabling accurate financial reporting and analysis across different currencies. Whether you're working within the traditional BW environment or leveraging the modern features of SAP Analytics Cloud, there are various techniques available to handle currency conversion effectively.

In this blog, I’ll take you through a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to modeling currency conversion in SAP Datasphere, helping you unlock the full potential of this essential feature.

Disclaimer: All the data created are for demo purposes, the approach is used to demo the functionality of the currency conversion in SAP Datasphere, not intended for production design or usage.

Automating Username Generation for Employee BP Records mandatory in SAP EHS

In the context of SAP EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety), ensuring that all employees have a unique Business Partner (BP) record is crucial for effective management and compliance. Each employee must have a username to be assigned as part of their BP data, which is essential for proper system integration and user access.

This guide demonstrates how to create an ABAP program that automatically generates usernames for employees. The usernames are derived from the first letter of the employee’s first name and their last name, followed by a numeric suffix to ensure uniqueness if similar usernames already exist. This is particularly useful in the SAP EHS module, where each employee's BP record requires a unique identifier.

MFS Testing strategy for smooth transition and reliable performance

It is crucial to test the MFS solution thoroughly before Go Live to ensure a smooth transition and reliable performance. Different projects require different test strategies. Below, I share some general approaches I followed in various MFS implementation projects.

During the build phase, we usually use an ABAP program (SCWM/MFS_TEST_MFS_RECEIVE2 or a custom program) to test our solution. However, this does not provide visibility into how the PLC would react to different situations. Therefore, we use emulation software where the warehouse automation layout is modelled and all possible logic is implemented. In SIT, we typically use this emulation software to test the MFS solution.

Many cases, existing PLC logic is changed to ensure it can work with MFS solution. Even sometimes a master PLC is introduced which communicate with lower-level PLC or hardware’s & then communicate with MFS with telegram messages. So, it is important to test these PLC changes. For this we usually place the new version of PLC software in place of the existing Legacy PLC & do the test with MFS. These kind of test needs warehouse down time.

Many warehouses run 24/7 & getting a down time is a big challenge. So, it is very crucial to plan these kinds of tests in detail so we can utilize this downtime to the fullest. This is also a great opportunity to test all your warehouse automation & integration with other software’s.

We usually try to replicate a day after Go Live in the testing environment which gives us a very good visibility & confidence how the EWM/MFS solution would work in production environment.

Operational test Planning:

We need to ensure following key items are addressed before we start operational testing for Warehouse Automation with MFS.

Master data: Need to ensure all the master data such as products, packaging specifications, any other data entries are in place in test system so you can use these production data for these tests. These test data also need to be available in other software test system. You may need to block bins not part of the agreed test scope so to ensure testing process does not mess up current legacy production inventory.

Network issues: Network team need to set up the firewall rules so Test MFS system can communicate with Test PLC without any issues. Similarly, connection between Test EWM/MFS system, Test Fleet management software which controls the AGV & any other application which we would like to test as part of end to end operational test needs to be in place.

Resources: It is crucial to have resources from business teams and all other applications available during planning & execution of operational test. All warehouse key resources should be trained on the new MFS processes so they can participate actively and appreciate the test results..

Test Scenarios: You need to have test cases covering both happy paths and all exception scenarios. Decide how to recreate exception scenarios. For example, to simulate a "No Read" scenario from a scanner, you might need to cover the scanners so the PLC sends telegrams accordingly.

Test Cases/Pallets: Ensure you have enough cases and pallets with all possible data variations. For partial pallet scenarios, have partial pallets ready. Also, include oversize pallets, mixed pallets, etc. Decide the entry and exit points of these pallets, Cases for each test. For instance, in the Goods Receipt process, determine where pallets should enter and where they should be stored. If cases are used to build pallets, decide where cases need to enter the system and where pallets should come out.

Rollback Approach: It is critical to have a solid roll back plan so after the test everything is brought back to BAU status. 

Operational Test Execution:

During the test, all the test results, observations need to recorded correctly. Not everything goes as planned, so need to be able to change the approach on the fly with due consideration to overall design architecture.

After Test execution:

During the test, things move very fast & so many transaction data gets posted. So after the completion of the test, it is important to analyze the data to see of anything has any abnormal posting. Log all defects & track for its closure.

It is very critical to complete the rollback steps before handing over to business. Such as replacing the test PLC with current production PLC, changing the IP address at MFS. Network team reverting the Firewall rules. If any test EWM labels are used, it is necessary to replace with actual labels. If any BAU labels are damaged, ensure to reprint them in current legacy software. Do a stock count & ensure they are in right places. Sometimes you need to bring back the pallets, cases to its original positions or manually adjust the new position of these stock in legacy WMS application.

Extract blob data (PDF) from CAPM using python library of Document information extraction service

Introduction:

Document Information Extraction helps you to process large amounts of business documents that have content in headers and tables. You can use the extracted information, for example, to automatically process payables, invoices, or payment notes while making sure that invoices and payables match. After you upload a document file to the service, it returns the extraction results from header fields and line items. 

Use case:

1. Extract the documents (invoice detail) from an application where it is maintained as an attachment, and it is stored as a blob object in HANA database tables. 

2. Before the data is imported into a HANA database, transform the information that was retrieved from the blob object into a format that can be utilized for further analysis. 

Create trusted RFC with specific technical user

As the SAP Basis administrator, we understand how to set up a trusted RFC connection between ABAP systems. This allows us to connect to the target system using our current user credentials, without needing to input them again, as shown in the screenshot. I hope this blog post finds you in good health. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

But what if we want to use a specific technical user and still want to benefit from trusted RFC? Actually, we can do it with the same method and I will show you how in this blog post.

Fiori PO Approver app Accept and Reject button customization from ECC backend

Many time there are custom requirements for which it requires the need of creating Enhancement in standard SAP functionality.

Overview: PO Approvers are maintained in Release Strategy. Once the PO is generated it is set to be approved by PO approvers based on the levels maintained in PPOME structure. Only then the PO will be set to 03 status in EKKO.

Pre-requisite: All the roles and authorization must be given to the approvers to access the PO Approval Tile in SAP Fiori.

Analytical Query CDS View creation and consumption in RSRT along with publishing OData Services

Introduction

In this blog you will learn about the creation of Query CDS Views for Analytical purpose and their consumption in RSRT tool, along with the required steps that needs to be followed to achieve it. Once after the Analytical query creation, I have tried replicating one of my project scenarios to have better understanding on defining key figures/ measures in CDS views. In the end blog explains about the process needs to be followed to expose the given Query CDS view into OData service links. The Query CDS Views are created specifically for Analytical reporting purposes within SAP systems. They can be optimized for certain reporting scenarios, analytical queries, aggregations and further can be integrated with SAP FIORI tool providing much better visual reporting experience.

Creation of query CDS view:

For the creation of query CDS view we must follow 3 basic steps as mentioned below:

SAP BW Bridge In SAP Datasphere: Connectivity Between S/4HANA System & BW Bridge

Introduction:

SAP BW bridge is a functional enhancement of SAP Datasphere and enables ABAP-based data extraction and staging capabilities within SAP Datasphere. It provides customers who are running SAP Business Warehouse or SAP BW/4HANA with access to the public cloud as it offers SAP BW capabilities directly in SAP Datasphere.

SAP BW Bridge for SAP Datasphere is a feature that makes certain elements from the on-premise SAP BW system available in the cloud. In order to transfer these elements to SAP Datasphere, SAP also supplies the appropriate conversion tools. SAP BW Bridge is a cost-effective and simple way to switch from an on-premise SAP BW system to SAP Datasphere.

Domain name migration for SAP ABAP system.

Migrating the SAP instances from one domain to another domain is always tedious task for administrators.

To overcome these challenges, I'm going to explain how we can successfully migrate our SAP ECC system from old domain (example.com) to new domain (example2.xyz).

ABAP Console Reloaded

You know the ABAP console of ADT that allows to use out->write in the main method of classes that implement interface if_oo_adt_classrun in order to write the content of ABAP data objects to a text console.

You might also know the interface if_demo_output implemented by class cl_demo_output that also offers a method write that does mostly the same.

What you might don’t know is the fact that the implementations of the ABAP console in ADT and of cl_demo_output are two sides of the same coin. When the ABAP console was introduced some years ago, its internal implementation was copied from cl_demo_output and cl_demo_output_stream (the latter produces an output-friendly XML). But since ADT used an early stage of cl_demo_output, it missed its continuous improvements that took place in the meantime. An example is the implicit retrieval of the data object’s name if no name is passed explicitly.

Custom Code Remediation

Overview:

Since, it was introduced twenty years ago, SAP ECC (Enterprise Central Component) has been a widely used Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tool. But as digitalization, cloud computing, and the demand for real-time data processing have increased, SAP ECC has become antiquated and unable to satisfy the needs of modern business. New and enhanced functionality to run the business processes simpler, faster and smarter, will only be available on S/4 HANA.

ABAP OO Design: 7 Basic OO Principles Summary

There many blog posts about OO principles. The reason for me to write also a blog post on this subject is because it can be a struggle to get out of all these blog posts a clear unambiguous understanding of the terms and the relationship between the terms. So this blog post is focused on how to remember them and the principles cohesion. And also to give some information about relative class names.

Overview

The basic OO principles are:

◉ Instantiation

◉ Access principles (Horizontally principles)

A simple dashboard using SAP CPQ’s Custom Table API and python app

This blog post will give you an overview of how you can make use of CPQ’s Custom Table API to build your own custom dashboard using python programming.

Use case:

Consider a simple use case wherein we have a list of of quotes stored in some custom table and the requirement is to create a graphical representation for the total count of quotes for each status. So we will be using a bar and a pie chart for this example.

SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) deployment options with S/4 HANA

Introduction: 

Nowadays, SAP S/4 HANA is taking up rapidly, many companies face the challenges while deciding right SAP EWM solution for their businesses. This blog carries the functional information between SAP S/4 HANA EWM deployment options and will help you to decide right EWM solution which depends on enterprise structure, current system landscape, future automation plan and cost etc.

Objective:

The objective of this blog is to get clear understanding of SAP S/4 HANA EWM deployment options to Customer’s, Consultant’s, and partner. Also, this article contains few important point’s which are needs to take into consideration while choosing the EWM deployment option. All the information is based on latest releases of SAP S/4 HANA EWM.

Selection Screen Variants – Part II

In my previous blog we discussed about types of variants, protection of variants and tables storing variant values and directory.

This blog will cover the details about the variant attributes and their usage.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Extensibility – Engraving sample scenario – Technical Setup – Custom analytics Part-4

This blog is part of a blog series focusing on SAP S/4HANA Extensibility. It is one of 5 blog posts taking care of the technical setup of extensibility with a focus on In-App Extensibility.

Custom Analytics

In order to get some analytical insights about which engravings have been ordered in which month i will now setup some custom analytics.

Step By Step Process To Unlocking The Users Password Using Gateway Service(OData) When ever it is locked

In this blog I want to explain about how to unlock the users password when it is locked using OData and Resetting the users password by giving temporary password which is been sending through mail.

Step 1. Go to t-code SEGW to create service.

Use SAP Cloud Connector + SAP Cloud Platform + Java to consume function in ABAP On-Premise system

Recently I was assigned to a prototype development which needs to consume some function modules in ABAP On-Premise system.

SAP Cloud for Customer is a cloud solution whose OData service / Web Service could directly be consumed by other application in the Internet. And the prototype I am working on recently needs to consume function modules in ABAP On-Premise system hosted in Corporate Network, which is not directly available for Internet application.

Solution Manager 7.2 SP 06 Upgrade Planning – Java Stack Part-2

Solution Manager 7.2 implementations have been gaining momentum. Recently I was a part of Solution Manager 7.2 on HANA support package 06 upgrade for a customer and I want to share how I planned the upgrade via Maintenance Planner for an already existing Solution manager Java System.