How To Fix 5W147 - Variable & exists in the work item text, but not in the container

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 5W - Messages for PD (Particularly Workflow)

• Message number: 147

• Message text: Variable & exists in the work item text, but not in the container

What causes this issue?

Variable &v1& is used in a work item text, but does not exist in the
container.

System Response

The task could cause workflow errors.

How to fix this error?

Correct the work item text or add the variable to the container.

Procedure for System Administrators

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 5W147 - Variable & exists in the work item text, but not in the container ?

  The SAP error message 5W147 indicates that a variable exists in the work item text but is not found in the container of the workflow. This typically occurs in SAP Business Workflow when there is a mismatch between the variables defined in the workflow and those that are actually available in the workflow container at runtime.
  Cause:
  
  Variable Definition Mismatch: The variable is defined in the work item text but has not been defined in the workflow container. This can happen if the variable was removed or renamed in the workflow definition but not updated in the work item text.
  Container Element Not Populated: The variable might be expected to be populated from a previous step in the workflow, but that step did not execute correctly or did not populate the variable as expected.
  Changes in Workflow: If the workflow was modified after the work item was created, the changes may not have been reflected in the existing work items.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Workflow Definition: Review the workflow definition to ensure that all variables used in the work item text are defined in the workflow container. You can do this by checking the workflow template in transaction SWDD (Workflow Builder).
  Update Work Item Text: If the variable is no longer needed, you can remove it from the work item text. If it is needed, ensure that it is correctly defined in the workflow container.
  Repopulate Variables: If the variable should be populated from a previous step, ensure that the step is executed correctly and that it populates the variable as expected.
  Test the Workflow: After making changes, test the workflow to ensure that the error does not occur again. You can use transaction SWI1 (Work Item Selection) to monitor the work items and check for errors.
  Check for Transport Issues: If the workflow was transported from a development environment to production, ensure that all necessary objects were transported correctly.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  SWDD: Workflow Builder - to edit and check workflow definitions.
  SWI1: Work Item Selection - to monitor and analyze work items.
  SWI2_FREQ: To check the frequency of work items and their statuses.
  
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for workflows to understand how to manage variables and containers effectively.
  Debugging: If the issue persists, consider debugging the workflow to trace the execution and see where the variable is expected to be populated.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error message 5W147 and ensure that your workflow operates correctly.