How To Fix CHANGE_RETENTION018 - You are not authorized to start the file conversion for &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CHANGE_RETENTION - Change Expiration Date of Archiving Sessions

• Message number: 018

• Message text: You are not authorized to start the file conversion for &1

What causes this issue?

You are not authorized to start the file conversion for the archiving
object &1.

System Response

Processing is terminated.

How to fix this error?

Contact your system administrator to request the required authorization.

Procedure for System Administrators

The authorization object S_ARCHIVE with the activity 01 (add or create)
must be assigned to your user. The corresponding archiving object (field
ARCH_OBJ) and work area (field APPLIC) must also be assigned.

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 CHANGE_RETENTION018 - You are not authorized to start the file conversion for &1 ?

  The SAP error message CHANGE_RETENTION018 indicates that a user is not authorized to start the file conversion for a specific object or file. This error typically arises in the context of data management, particularly when dealing with file conversions in SAP systems.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is a lack of appropriate authorizations for the user attempting to perform the file conversion. This can happen due to:
  
  Missing Authorization Objects: The user may not have the necessary authorization objects assigned to their user profile.
  Role Configuration: The roles assigned to the user may not include the necessary permissions for file conversion tasks.
  Profile Restrictions: The user’s profile may have restrictions that prevent them from executing certain functions related to file conversion.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the CHANGE_RETENTION018 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check User Authorizations:
  
  Use transaction code SU53 immediately after the error occurs to check the authorization check that failed. This will provide insight into which specific authorization is missing.
  Review the user’s roles and profiles in transaction SU01 (User Maintenance) to ensure they have the necessary permissions.
  
  
  
  Assign Necessary Authorizations:
  
  If you identify missing authorizations, you may need to assign the appropriate roles or authorization objects to the user. Common authorization objects related to file conversion may include:
  
  S_DATASET: Authorizations for accessing files.
  S_PROGRAM: Authorizations for executing programs.
  
  
  Consult with your SAP security team or administrator to ensure the user has the correct roles assigned.
  
  
  
  Role Adjustment:
  
  If the user is part of a specific role that is supposed to have access, check if the role needs to be adjusted to include the necessary authorizations for file conversion.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making changes to the user’s authorizations, have the user attempt the file conversion again to verify that the issue has been resolved.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific guidance or updates related to this error message. SAP Notes can provide additional context or solutions based on the version of SAP you are using.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation related to user authorizations and file conversion processes to understand the requirements better.
  Support: If the issue persists after checking authorizations, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the authorization issue causing the CHANGE_RETENTION018 error.