How To Fix BT170 - Sources of external programs cannot be displayed

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: BT - Background processing messages

• Message number: 170

• Message text: Sources of external programs cannot be displayed

What causes this issue?

You asked the system to display the source code of a program that is
not part of the SAP System. The background processing system can only
display the source code of programs written in ABAP/4.

System Response

No action taken.

How to fix this error?

To display the program's source code, you must use an editor in your
host system.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message BT170 - Sources of external programs cannot be displayed ?

  The SAP error message BT170, which states "Sources of external programs cannot be displayed," typically occurs when there is an issue with accessing or displaying the source code of external programs in the SAP system. This can happen for various reasons, and here are some common causes, potential solutions, and related information:
  Causes:
  
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to view the source code of external programs.
  Program Type: The program might not be an ABAP program or might be a non-ABAP object, which cannot be displayed in the same way as ABAP programs.
  Missing Source Code: The source code for the external program may not be available in the system, or it may not have been transported correctly.
  System Configuration: There may be configuration issues in the SAP system that prevent the display of external program sources.
  Transport Issues: If the program was recently transported, there may have been issues during the transport process that resulted in missing or incomplete source code.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Check Authorizations: Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to view the source code. This can be done by checking the user's roles and authorizations in transaction SU53 or SUIM.
  Verify Program Type: Confirm that the program is indeed an ABAP program and that it is intended to be displayed. If it is a different type of program, you may need to use a different method to access it.
  Check Source Code Availability: Use transaction SE80 or SE38 to check if the source code for the program exists. If it does not, you may need to retrieve it from a backup or transport it from another system.
  Review Transport Logs: If the program was recently transported, check the transport logs for any errors or warnings that may indicate issues with the transport.
  System Configuration: Consult with your SAP Basis team to ensure that the system is configured correctly to allow the display of external program sources.
  Contact SAP Support: If the issue persists and cannot be resolved through the above steps, consider reaching out to SAP Support for further assistance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as SE80 (Object Navigator), SE38 (ABAP Editor), and SU53 (Authorization Check).
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation and notes related to the specific version of SAP you are using, as there may be known issues or patches available.
  Community Forums: Check SAP Community forums or other online resources for similar issues and solutions shared by other users.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve the BT170 error in your SAP system.