Data Loss / Data Inconsistencies

[Former Member]

Hi All,

First of all let share my experience with u all , one of my colleague has changed the existing data element ( Z-Data element ) which is used in lot of tables , he has changed the length of the field without knowing the affect which is going to be there on the DB level ...and bcoz of this change we have lost lot of data .

Can any one share some precautions/ur experience/tips where we can find this kind of situations , so that it will be a check list for all new ABAPers

1 . In what conditions data loss will occur

2. In what conditions data Inconsistencies will occurs .

Thanks in advance for ur great help.

[Former Member]

Hi,

Tcode SE14 will help to avoid inconsistency of a table.

[jayanthi_jayaraman]

Hi,

Tcode SE14 will help to avoid inconsistency of a table.

[Former Member]

hi,

You can add the fields to the structure of ztable in Tcode SE11, where as to make the existing data consistent we have to activate the table in SE14.

SE14 is to adjust the table.

regards,

Santosh

[Former Member]

Hi Jayanti,Santosh...

thanx for ur quick reply.

Could u plz answer the following questions also.

1 . In what conditions data loss will occur

2 . In what conditions data Inconsistencies will occurs .

This could be a great help for us.

[Former Member]

hi Ramana,

Check this out

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/b8/ca4ba904e5904e955ff0aa29451ec7/content.htm

Regards,

Santosh

[jayanthi_jayaraman]

Hi,

Inconsistency can happen if you are adding a primary key to a custom table after you inserted some records.

[Former Member]

Hi Ramana,

By Changing a dataelement, it will effect all the places where the dataelement is used.

1. By using SE14 all the tables,views can be adjusted.

2. All Datadictionary object like structures, table types and lockobjects ...etc needs to activate.

3. All the programs and screens whereever the dataelement is using, we need to activate the program.

Please the following procedure to avoid the situations.

<b>1. Find out all the programs and DDIC objects using where used list.

2. Inform to the owners of particular object, So they can activate the objects.</b>

If dataelement length will be decreased the data in the databasetable might lost. So, take precaution while decreasing the length of the field.

Regards

Bhupal Reddy

[Former Member]

Hi ramana,

1. In what conditions data loss will occur

Data loss will normally, Never Occur.

Data will still be there in tables.

(it will occur only if we , using SE14, use the option

of activating/adjusting the table with the option of 'Delete data')

2. In what conditions data Inconsistencies will occurs

In your case, where data element length was increased.

(The new data will go with new length - thats ok.

But when we want to work with old data,

when saving, it will go with new length)

(If conversion routines are not there, for ZERO padding etc,

then probably in SE11, one table would show data with filteration,

But, then the INNER JOINS will not work properly with 2 or more tables)

regards,

amit m.