How To Fix BT031 - Period values are not permitted when specifying a previous job

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: BT - Background processing messages

• Message number: 031

• Message text: Period values are not permitted when specifying a previous job

What causes this issue?

You have specified that your background job is to be automatically
rescheduled. However, this option is not available for jobs that are
scheduled to start when a predecessor job has been processed.

System Response

Job not scheduled.

How to fix this error?

If your job must follow a predecessor job and must be automatically
repeated, you can use of the following alternatives:
Have the predecessor job schedule this job. That way, each time the
predecessor job runs, this job will be scheduled. See the
documentation on the background programming interface in the SAP
Development Workbench library.
Reschedule this job using one of the other start options, such as date
and time. Automatic rescheduling is supported for these start options.
If you wish your job to repeat according to a particular time period,
then you must schedule your job with a start time and date.
Reschedule this job manually after it has run. When you reschedule the
job, you can specify a start date and time. Or you can have the job's
start depend upon a predecessor job again. You can then also specify a
rescheduling interval for the job.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message BT031 - Period values are not permitted when specifying a previous job ?

  The SAP error message BT031 ("Period values are not permitted when specifying a previous job") typically occurs in the context of background job scheduling in SAP. This error indicates that there is a conflict between the job scheduling parameters you are trying to set and the previous job you are referencing.
  Cause:
  The error arises when you attempt to schedule a new job that references a previous job, but you also specify a period value (like daily, weekly, etc.) for the new job. In SAP, when you reference a previous job, the system expects that the new job will inherit the scheduling parameters of that job, and therefore, you cannot specify additional period values.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Remove Period Values: If you are referencing a previous job, ensure that you do not specify any period values for the new job. Instead, let the new job inherit the scheduling parameters from the previous job.
  
  
  Create a New Job: If you need to set specific period values for the new job, consider creating a new job without referencing the previous job. This way, you can define the scheduling parameters as needed.
  
  
  Check Job Definitions: Review the definitions of both the previous job and the new job to ensure that they are set up correctly and that there are no conflicting parameters.
  
  
  Use Job Variants: If you need to run the same job with different parameters, consider using job variants instead of creating a new job.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You can use transaction codes like SM37 (to monitor jobs) and SM36 (to schedule jobs) to manage background jobs in SAP.
  Job Scheduling Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help files for detailed information on job scheduling and the parameters that can be set.
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address specific issues or provide additional guidance related to job scheduling and error messages.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the BT031 error and successfully schedule your background job in SAP.