Video Tutorial: The Excel Barcode Add-in

by Nate Schubert

Microsoft Excel is one of the most common software applications that can be used to generate a broad range of linear and 2D barcode types such as Code 128, Intelligent Mail, Interleaved 2 of 5, Data Matrix and PDF417 among others. While it is possible to install an ActiveX barcode generator into Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel or Access, fonts are an option that allow for a greater flexibility across operating systems and applications that ActiveX simply cannot match.

Even though fonts may be a better implementation than another component such as an ActiveX Control or stand-alone barcode image generator, that does not necessarily mean they are an out-of-the-box solution. With the exception of self-checking barcodes like Code 39 and Codabar, all other barcode types require that the data first be encoded into a special text string that will result in a readable barcode when combined with the appropriate font.

There are many barcode font encoder tools available for use with IDAutomation barcode fonts, but the most popular encoder tool for Microsoft Excel is the Barcode Add-in for Excel 2003, 2007 and 2010. This free add-in will only work with IDAutomation fonts, and has multiple installation options for 32 and 64-bit systems. Once the add-in is installed, it is easily accessible from Excel and will work for any IDAutomation fonts that are currently installed on the system.

You can view a video walkthrough tutorial for the Excel Barcode Add-in to learn more about installation and use of this excellent font encoder tool.

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The Excel Barcode Add-in

by Nate Schubert

Microsoft Excel is one of the most common software applications that can be used to generate a broad range of linear and 2D barcode types such as Code 128, Intelligent Mail, Interleaved 2 of 5, Data Matrix and PDF417 among others. While it is possible to install an ActiveX barcode generator into Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel or Access, fonts are an option that allow for a greater flexibility across operating systems and applications that ActiveX simply cannot match.

Even though fonts may be a better implementation than another component such as an ActiveX Control or stand-alone barcode image generator, that does not necessarily mean they are an out-of-the-box solution. With the exception of self-checking barcodes like Code 39 and Codabar, all other barcode types require that the data first be encoded into a special text string that will result in a readable barcode when combined with the appropriate font.

There are many barcode font encoder tools available for use with IDAutomation barcode fonts, but the most popular encoder tool for Microsoft Excel is the Barcode Add-in for Excel 2003, 2007 and 2010. This free add-in will only work with IDAutomation fonts, and has multiple installation options for 32 and 64-bit systems. Once the add-in is installed, it is easily accessible from Excel and will work for any IDAutomation fonts that are currently installed on the system.

You can view a video walkthrough tutorial for the Excel Barcode Add-in to learn more about installation and use of this excellent font encoder tool.

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How to troubleshoot a background job running for long duration in sap?

This article answers how to troubleshoot a background job running for a long duration

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1) First of all identify the job that is long running and identify details like job class, workprocess that is executing the job

How to identify long running background jobs

2) Click on the job to view the display job screen. In the screen, click on job log to understand what is being performed by the job currently. This may give details like job is currently extracting some data packages or processing data packages etc

3) Identify the executing server and process id of the job from the step 1 and goto transaction SM50 of the respective executing server to view more details about the background job running.

Figure out the status of the job like On Hold or running from the process overview. If the job is On Hold, find out the reason for On Hold by examing the "Reason" column of SM50 transaction. Reason for On Hold could be due to CPIC/RFC/DEBUG/ENQ/PRIV/UPD etc.

Double click on the reason column for detailed information on the same and troubleshoot accordingly. If reason is RFC, check out which RFC it is referring to and cross check whether destination system is up or not and any other problems with that system.

• If it is ENQ, check out any lock issues like lock overflow etc


• If it is PRIV, check out for memory bottlenecks


• If it is UPD, check out whether any update issues


• If it is CPIC, check out for any network , gateway, message server and other communication problems

4) After performing step3, if you figure out job is not on Hold and it is in running state, then examine report column to identify what report/program is being executed by the job. Once you got the report/program details, figure whether it sap program or custom program and take actions accordingly.

5) Also examine Action and table columns in SM50 transaction of respective executing server to identify what is the action( roll in/roll out /Sequential read/Physical read/insert/update/delete etc)  being carried out by the job currently and what is the table on which action is being carried out.

If it is sequential read, figure out the cost of that sequential etc and consider for indexing etc. If it is physical read, check out whether there are too many swaps and consider resizing buffers accordingly. If you observed delay is due to high roll in/roll out, identify reasons for the same and tune buffer/memory parameters accordingly.

6) Once you get the table details on which action is being carried out, figure out        

•     How many records are existing in the table ?


•     Is this taking long time due to volume of records ?


•     Are there proper indexes on the table ?(If no proper index, consider index creation  by taking help of DBA )


•     Is the table having upto date statistics ? (If statistics are out of date,

              consider updating statistics of that table)

7) Consider debugging the process in SM50 ( Program/Session -> Program ->   Debugging ) to figureout the issue

8) Using ST05 or ST12, a trace can be taken for background job to figure out where exactly time is being consumed and to identify various cpu/memory bottlenecks or any buffer issues.

9) STAT/STAD transcation can be used to figure out what is the reason for high response time and actions can be taken accordingly

10) By taking help of ABAP er, even ABAP run time analysis can be done using SE30 transaction

By following the above steps, you can pin point the issue and take actions accordingly to minimize runtime of long running background jobs.

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How to find out long running jobs in SAP ?

This article answers the following queries ?

• How to find out long running jobs in SAP ?


• How to find out executing server, job class, periodicity or frequency of a background job ?


• How to find out release or start details of a background job ?


• How to find out program name or command being executed in a background job ?


• How to find out workprocess number that is executing the background job?

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How to find out long running jobs in SAP ?

Goto SM37 transaction and select the active job status between any 2 given date/time and list them. In the output, sort the jobs based on duration column in descending order and identify the jobs that are running for longer duration 

All other questions can be answered from the below :

Goto transaction SM37 and list the jobs based on status and time interval.

Select any job for which you want to figure out the details. Double click on the job,  which pops up "display job screen". In that screen, click on job details tab to view

• Job name


• Job class (i.e A, B and C)


• Status of the job


• Exec. Target (server/instance on which job is being run currently)


• Job frequency (hourly, monthly , weekly etc)


• Workprocess that is executing the job


• Client on which job is running


• Release time of the job


• Schedule start of the job

  

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How to add or extend datafiles in sap system based on oracle database ?

This article answers the below queries :

• What is the database administration tool supported by SAP for oracle database?


• What is BRTOOLS ?


• How to access BRTOOLS ?


• How to add or extend datafiles in sap system based on oracle database

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What is BRTOOLS?

BRTOOLS is the database administration tool supported by SAP for oracle database.

How to access BRTOOLS ?

BRTOOLS can be accessed by logging into database host as ora<sid> user and calling brtools at the command prompt.

How to add or extend datafiles in sap system based on oracle database?

Once brtools is called at command prompt, following menu will be displayed

BR*Tools main menu

1 = Instance management
2 - Space management
3 - Segment management
4 - Backup and database copy
5 - Restore and recovery
6 - Check and verification
7 - Database statistics
8 - Additional functions
9 - Exit program

Standard keys: c - cont, b - back, s - stop, r - refr, h - help

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Select option 2 - Space management from the above query and press c to continue.

It displays another screen as below :

Database space management

1 = Extend tablespace
2 - Create tablespace
3 - Drop tablespace
4 - Alter tablespace
5 - Alter data file
6 - Move data file
7 - Additional space functions
8 - Reset program status

Standard keys: c - cont, b - back, s - stop, r - refr, h - help

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Select Option 1- Extend tablespace and press continue.

In the next screen, you will be prompted to enter tablespace name, size/location of new datafile to be added, initial filesize, maximum filesize, autoextend (yes/no). Please provide all the relevant details and you can see an SQL query is being built based on the inputs given by you.

Once all the inputs are provided, press continue to execute the command and the datafile will be added.

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Update got deactivated. What are the reasons for update deactivation. How to activate the update?

This article answers the following queries ?

• How to check the update status ?


• What is the reason for update deactivation ?


• How to activate or deactivate the update ?


• What is the parameter to be set to switch off automatic update deactivation ?


• How to troubleshoot, if update got deactivated ?


• What happens for the updates that are in progress, if update got deactivated ?

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Update status check :

Update status can be checked in transaction SM13.

Reasons for update deactivation :

Update will get deactivated in cases of serious database problems.

Some of the examples of update deactivation and solutions for those are given below :

 1) Update will get deactivated when oraarch is full

Solution : Trigger archivelog backup and ensure sufficient space is left in oraarch and then activate the update manually

 2) When some critical tablespaces are 100% full and database is not able to perform some operations

Solution : Monitor the database and findout the tablespaces which are 100% full.  Add necessary datafiles and ensure there is enough free space left out in them. Then activate the update manually

How to add datafiles in sap system based on oracle database ?

 How to activate or deactivate an update in sap ?

Use transaction SM14 and goto update tab. There update status can be viewed with a push button. If it is in deactivated status, click it to activate  and viceversa.

How to switch off automatic update deactivation ?

In RZ10, set the parameter rdisp/vb_stop_active to 1 and activate the profile to switch off automatic update deactivation incase of database problems.

How to change SAP parameter ?

How to troubleshoot, if update got deactivated ?

Please perform the following steps if udpate got deactivated :

•  Check all the tablespaces and ensure figureout if any tablespace is 100% full. If so, add necessary space and activate the update as mentioned above

• Check if oraarch is full. Trigger archivelog backup and ensure there is enough space and activate the update again

• Check SM21 log and ST22 dumps

• Check workprocess trace for any other issues

  

What happens for the updates that are in progress, if update got deactivated ?

If update got deactivated all the updates that are in progress or waiting to get executed, won't be cancelled. They will be assigned either init or auto status. Once the database issue got fixed and update is activated again, all these updates which are in init or auto status will resume again

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How to configure Early Watch Alert report

To configure Early watch alert some specific settings to be done at managing system (Solution manager system) and satellite system( or managed system – for which EWA report to be generated)

Following are the steps to configure EWA in a satellite system :

1)      Check whether latest versions of ST-A, ST-PI, ST-A/PI packages are installed in the managed/satellite system

(This check can be done going to system->status -> Component information display in any sap screen)

2)       If they are installed, run RTCCTOOL report from SE38 transaction code of satellite system.

Check the output of the report. If there are some errors or warnings in the output of the report, please take corrective actions and run the report again and ensure there are no errors

3)      Setup RFC connection between your satellite system and the solution manager system

An RFC connection can be made between 2 systems using Transaction code SM59

4)      Setup RFC connection between your solution manager and the SAP service market place

5)      Assign the solution monitoring roles to the users

6)      Setup your satellite system in a solution landscape of the solution manager(SMSY)

7)      Make sure SLD is configured and working fine for satellite system (using Rz70 and SLDCHECK transactions)

8)      Activation of SDCCN in satellite system (Goto SDCCN transaction. Then click on Utilities -> Activate)  then confirm for SDCC_OSS destination creation

9)      In satellite system, goto SDCCN transaction and navigate to Goto -> Settings -> Task specific.

In the resulted screen, select RFC destination and provide the solution manager RFC from the satellite system and set solution manager RFC as the master system.

10)   Addition of satellite system in solution manager system in SDCCN :

Goto SMSY transaction in solman system and then navigate to Environment -> Solution Manager Operations -> Adminstration SDCCN to add the new service data control centre to the solution manager.

Click on add system button to add the new SDCC to the solution manager. When prompted, please select the respective system and client from the resulting screen and confirm

11)   Early watch service session activation for satellite system:

In the solution manager system, execute transaction code solution_manager  and navigate to operations -> Earlywatch Alert and press create button. This prompts you to confirm the date and time to run the report. Please provide the details and confirm to trigger the generation of the report

12)   Login to satellite system, goto transaction code SDCCN and press create button which displays a screen to select a task to be executed. Select request session data task  and click continue. You will be prompted to enter the schedule time to run the report. Click now to execute it immediately. After that you can see an early watch session running in SDCCN.

13)   After completion of this session run successfully, an Earlywatch Alert will be generated and this can be viewed in Solution_manager of Solution manager system.

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How to delete an SAP lock ?

This article answers following queries :

• What is a SAP lock ?


• Different types of SAP locks ?


• Difference between Write lock(E) and Enhanced write lock(X) ?


• How to monitor SAP locks ?


• How to delete SAP locks ?

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SAP lock is set by the executing workprocess when a user/job wants a change access to data.

Whenever a lock to be set the respective workprocess checks in the locktable whether a respective lock conflicts the existing entries in the locktable. If so, a lock is refused. If there is no conflict, then a lock is set.

There are different types of locks :

Write locks (E) : This is also known as exclusive lock mode as the lock data can be edited by only one user. Any other requests from workprocesses to set another write lock or read lock are rejected. A cumulate lock can be applied on the lock data by the same lock owner again.

Read locks (S) : This is also known as shared lock mode as several users can have read access to the locked data at the same time. Additional read lock requests are entertained even if they are from different users. However a write lock is rejected.

Enhanced write locks (X) : This is also known as exclusive non-cumulative lock mode. An enhanced write lock can be requested only once even if it is by the same transaction.

Difference between write locks(E) and Enhanced write lock(X) is write locks can be set and released by the same transaction several times but X type locks can also be set once even by the same transaction.

Optimistic locks (O) : These locks are set up when the users displays the data in change mode. Several optimistic locks can be setup on the same data. Optimistic locks are read locks(S) at first and converted to write lock (E) when the users wants to save the data. If an optimistic locks on a data is changed to write lock(E), all other optimistic locks on that data will be deleted.

Locks that are set by an application program are released by the program itself or they are released by the update program once the database has been changed.

Transaction code SM12 can be used to monitor SAP locks.

Here you have option of selecting locks based on following parameters

• tablename


• lock argument


• client


• username

In case, as part of monitoring, if you encounter some old sap locks and after thorough analysis, you would like to delete these, it can be done in the following ways :

• Select the locks and delete the lock from SM12


• Identify the user who has set the respective lock and end the user session using SM04 transaction code

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What is the difference between dynamic and static parameter

This article answers following queries :

• What is a SAP parameter?


• Different types of SAP Parameters?


• How to identify whether a parameter is dynamic or static ?

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In SAP, parameters are used to set the configuration and define the functionality of an sap system like number of workprocesses, buffer size, locktable size etc.

Basically there are 2 types of parameters :

• Static


• Dynamic

Static are the parameters those won't take effect immediately the value is set. Restart of an sap system is required for them to take effect.

Dynamic are the parameters those will take effect immediately in the run time. Restart of an sap system is not required for them to take effect.

Parameter can be differentiated whether it is dynamic or static by checking in RZ11 transaction of SAP.

 In Rz11, type the parameter and display it. In the screen , there will be a check box with description as "Dynamically switchable". If that check box is ticked, it means that it is dynamic parameter and value can changed in run time without restart of the system. If it is not ticked, then it is static parameter and it needs restart of a sap system for the changes to take effect. 

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How to change the number of workprocesses

This article answers the following queries:

• What is a workprocess ?


• What are the different types of workprocesses and their functionality ?


• How to increase/decrease the number of workprocesses?

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A work processes is used to execute a particular type of job in an sap system.

There are different types of workprocesses as mentioned below :

DIA   (Dialog workprocess) : Used for execution of dialog steps triggered by active users. For every dispatcher atleast 2 dialog workprocesses to be configured

UPD  (Update workprocess) : Used for execution of update tasks. Atleast one update workprocess to be configured per SAP system. Also, more than one UPD can be configured for a dispatcher

BTC  (Background workprocess): Used for executing background jobs. Atleast 2 background workprocesses to be configured for an SAP system

SPO   (Spool workprocess) : Used for passing sequential data to printers. Atleast one spool workprocess to be configured for an sap system.

UP2   (Update2 workprocess) : This is similar to UPD workprocess. There is small difference in functionality based on criticality of the update.

ENQ  (Enqueue workprocess) : This is required to administer locktable in the shared memory. Locktable contains database locks for ABAP stack of an sap system. Only one enqueue process to be configured for an SAP system.

To increase/decrease the number of workprocesses, value to be changed accordingly for the following parameters as per workprocess in RZ10 Transaction.

rdisp/wp_no_dia  (for dialog workprocess)

rdisp/wp_no_btc  ( for background workprocess)

rdisp/wp_no_spo  (for spool workprocess)

rdisp/wp_no_enq  (for enqueue workprocess)

rdisp/wp_no_vb    (for update workprocess)

rdisp/wp_no_vb2  (for update2 workprocess)

In RZ10 transaction, select the profile of the instance, for which workprocess number to be changed and edit the profile through extended maintenance and save the changes done and activate the profile.

Please note that as this parameter is not dynamic one, restart of the application server is required for the changes to become effective.

What is the difference between dynamic and static parameter

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