Checking the Status of Background Processing

Use

If you have scheduled OCS Packages to be imported in the background, you can check the status of the scheduled background job in Job Administration. This may be necessary, for example, if the system is shut down while a background job is running, causing the background processing to change to an inconsistent state.

Support Package Manager and Add-On Installation Tool do not allow you to change the parameters of a background job after it has been scheduled. If you want to modify a background job later (to change the start time of the import, for example) or if you want to delete the job entirely, you can do this in Job Administration.

Prerequisites

In the start options, you have specified that you want at least one module to be processed in the background.

To make changes to a background job that has been scheduled by another user, you need the relevant authorization.

Procedure

The job scheduled for background processing is called OCS_QUEUE_IMPORT.

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1. Call Job Administration by choosing the Environment menu in the import tool, or by calling transaction SM37

2. Select job OCS_QUEUE_IMPORT.

3. You have the following options:

○ Check the status of the job

○ Check the job log

○ Make changes to the job

○ Delete the job

Alternatively, choose System ® Own Jobs to display your own jobs. Here you can see an overview of jobs you have scheduled in the past, together with their status. Choose Job Selection to go to Job Administration.

Result

The import tool copies the changes from Job Administration. If you have deleted a background job, the status of the package queue changes accordingly. In the import tool, you can restart or reschedule the import of the OCS queue either in dialog or in the background, depending on your requirements.

You can find more information on background processing in Job Administration, under Help ® Application Help.

Importing a Queue

Support Package Manager offers you two scenarios for importing Support Packages or queues:

● Test scenario

Before starting the import process, use the test scenario to detect any conflicts or problems (for example, repairs that have not been released), or any requirement for modification adjustments.

This scenario helps you to estimate and minimize the time and effort needed to import Support Packages. This scenario does not import any data into the system. If errors do occur, you can continue the import without correcting them.

You must choose the test scenario explicitly.

After the test scenario has run, the queue is empty, and you need to define it again. You then have to choose the standard scenario explicitly.

● Standard scenario

The standard scenario imports all Support Packages in the queue. If errors occur, you have to resolve them before you can continue with the import.

If you have chosen the standard scenario, you can also choose between the conventional import mode and the import mode downtime-minimized in order to reduce the downtime.

Prerequisites

You have already defined the queue.

Importing a Queue in the Test Scenario

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1. To set the test scenario, choose Extras ®Settings.

2. On the Import Queue tab page, choose Test and define the other settings for the import.

3. Choose Support Package ® Import Queue.

You can also use this function to restart a terminated import.

The status line informs you of the progress of the test import and the current Support Package Manager phase. You may have to perform a modification adjustment during the import (with transactions SPDD or SPAU). Note that the modification adjustment is only available in display mode. You can only perform it if you are importing the Support Packages in the standard scenario.

Importing a Queue in the Standard Scenario

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1. To set the standard scenario, choose Extras ®Settings.

2. On the Import Queue tab page, choose Standard and define the other Settings for the import.

3. Choose the import mode you require.

4. Choose Support Package ® Import Queue.

You can also use this function to restart a terminated import.

5. A dialog box appears, enabling you to select the Start Options. Define the start options you require and confirm the dialog box.

Support Package Manager continues processing with your chosen import mode and start options.

Conventional Import Mode

If you have accepted the default start options, Support Package Manager now performs the entire process in the dialog. The status line informs you of the progress of the import and the current Support Package Manager phase. At this stage, your system should no longer be in production operation.

If you have selected a start time or Continue Manuallyfor module Import 2, your system can stay in production operation until module Import 2 starts.

Import Mode Downtime-Minimized

If you have accepted the default start options, your system can remain productive, as Support Package Manager tells you explicitly when to stop production operation.

Support Package Manager runs through the normal preparations and checks (module Preparation). It then runs through the import for inactive objects that can be performed while your system is in production operation (module Import 1).

The development environment is blocked at the start of module Import 1, in order to prevent modifications being made to objects, which could put the consistency of the system at risk.

Support Package Manager then displays a dialog box prompting you to stop production operation for the next import module (Import 2).

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○ To stop the import and change the state of the system, choose Cancel.

Terminate any background jobs that are running. Prompt all users to close any transactions they are working in and to log off from the SAP System.

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○ To proceed with the import, choose Continue.

This module (Import 2) activates the inactively imported objects and imports the remaining objects from the Support Packages in the queue.

Once this module has been completed, Support Package Manager informs you that you can restart production operation in your system.

This applies only if you have made either no or very few modifications to SAP objects.

6. If you have made modifications to SAP objects, Support Package Manager prompts you to perform a modification adjustment.

You must adjust Dictionary objects immediately (with transaction SPDD). As far as Repository objects are concerned, you can either adjust them now or later (with transaction SPAU). To do this, proceed as described under Adjusting Modifications.

7. To complete the import process, choose Import Queue again.

During the next import module (Clean Up), post processing steps are performed. The import process is complete.

Checking Logs

Use

Support Package Manager contains various types of logs.

During queue definition, you can use the queue calculation log for troubleshooting purposes. After successfully importing the queue, you should always check the import log and the action log.

Queue Calculation Log

The queue calculation log displays detailed information for queue calculation. The log is structured hierarchically. The highest package occupies the highest position. Among other things, this log lists the prerequisites for importing the package. This allows you to determine which prerequisites have not been met, thus preventing a successful queue calculation.

If analyzing the log does not solve your problem, you can save it using the print function. You can then send a problem message to SAP and include the log as an attachment.

Import Log

The import log displays logs for Support Package Manager phases that are used by transport control program tp.

Assigning the SPAM Phases to Log Files

Phase	Log file
DISASSEMBLE_PATCH	Create cofile
TEST_IMPORT	Test import
IMPORT_OBJECT_LIST	Command file import
CREATE_VERS_BEFORE	Object version creation
DDIC-IMPORT	Dictionary import
DDIC_ACTIVATION	Dictionary activation
INACTIVE_IMPORT	Inactive import of program code and program texts (Only for import mode downtime-minimized)
IMPORT_PROPER	Import Transport steps that are independent of requests (Dictionary distribution, activation of inactive runtime objects, and so on)
XPRA_EXECUTION	XPRA/method execution
ABAP_GENERATION	ABAP/screen generation

Meaning of the Return Codes

Return Code	Meaning
0 or 4	System information and warnings Warnings are generally not critical for the system. You should still check them, however, since sequence errors can occur sometimes.
Greater than 4	Serious errors that must be corrected before you can successfully import the Support Package.

Action Log

The action log contains information about the actions that take place during the individual phases while importing the current queue. It also includes information about the point at which a phase was stopped, as well as detailed error information.

Procedure

To display the logs for the current queue, choose Goto ® on the initial screen in Support Package Manager, followed by one of the following menu options.

Function	Menu Option
Queue Calculation Log	Queue Calculation Log
Import Logs	Import Log ® Queue
Action Log	Action Log

Rules for the Queue

The following rules apply when you create a queue:

● Support Packages for a selected component are placed in the queue in the correct order.

● If Support Packages in the queue are related to Support Packages for another component (additional predecessor relationship, Conflict Resolution Transport required), additional Support Packages are added to the queue until all the predecessor relationships are met.

Make sure that Support Package Manager takes into account the configuration of your SAP System and only adds to the queue Support Packages that may be imported into your system.

Defining the Support Package Queue

Use

The queue specifies which Support Packages Support Package Manager imports into your system, and in which order.

If the queue is not completely defined, you need to define the queue from the available Support Packages.

If the queue is already completely defined, it is only displayed; and you cannot change the selection. However, you can delete the queue in its entirety by choosing Delete Queue.

You can only delete the queue if module Import 1 has not yet started (up to phase SCHEDULE_RDDIMPDP).

Support Package Manager makes sure that only Support Packages that are appropriate for your system appear in the queue. Support Packages that are meant for another release or add-on do not appear in the queue, even if you have loaded them into your SAP system. For more information, see Rules for the Queue.

You have to define the queue before importing Support Packages.

Prerequisites

You have used the Support Package Manager to load the relevant Support Packages into your SAP System.