How To Fix >3864 - No approval possible due to lock by &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: >3 - Lock management messages

• Message number: 864

• Message text: No approval possible due to lock by &1

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message >3864 - No approval possible due to lock by &1 ?

  The SAP error message "3864 No approval possible due to lock by &1" typically indicates that a particular document or object is currently locked by another user or process, preventing the current user from approving it. This locking mechanism is a part of SAP's concurrency control to ensure data integrity and prevent conflicts when multiple users are trying to access or modify the same data simultaneously.
  Cause:
  
  
  Document Locking: The document or object you are trying to approve is locked by another user or process. This could be due to:
  
  Another user is currently editing or approving the document.
  A background job or process is holding a lock on the document.
  The document is in a state that requires it to be locked for approval.
  
  
  
  Transaction Lock: The transaction you are using may have a lock mechanism that prevents other users from making changes until the current transaction is completed.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Lock Entries: Use transaction code SM12 to check for lock entries. You can look for the user or process that is holding the lock on the document. If you find a lock that is no longer needed, you can delete it (if you have the necessary authorizations).
  
  
  Wait and Retry: If the lock is held by another user, you may need to wait until that user completes their task and releases the lock. You can communicate with the user to find out when they expect to finish.
  
  
  Contact System Administrator: If you are unable to resolve the issue, or if the lock seems to be persistent and not released, contact your SAP system administrator. They can investigate further and may need to release the lock if it is stuck.
  
  
  Review Workflow: If the document is part of a workflow, ensure that the workflow is functioning correctly and that there are no issues causing the lock.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Lock Management: Understanding how SAP handles locks can help in troubleshooting. Locks are typically managed at the database level, and SAP uses various types of locks (e.g., exclusive, shared) depending on the operation being performed.
  User Authorizations: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to approve the document. Sometimes, lack of permissions can also lead to confusion regarding locks.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as:
  
  SM12 - Display and manage lock entries.
  SM21 - System log for checking any related errors or warnings.
  SWI1 - Work item selection to check for workflow-related issues.
  
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the lock and take appropriate action to resolve the error message.