How To Fix D9438 - Data record for ALE pointer is missing and thus cannot be deleted

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: D9 - Environment Management System

• Message number: 438

• Message text: Data record for ALE pointer is missing and thus cannot be deleted

What causes this issue?

There is no corresponding data record for the ESTALE pointer in the
table &V3& with RECN_LOC = &V1& and ACTN_LOC = &V2&.

System Response

The data record is not deleted.

How to fix this error?

INCLUDE NA_SYSADMIN1 OBJECT DOKU ID TX

Procedure for System Administrators

A data inconsistency may exist in your system. Check if the link for the
ESTALE pointer mentioned above is still correct. To do this, perform the
following:
Determine corresponding EH<(>&<)>S table for the key &V3&. You can use
the constants from the include CBUI26 in package CBUI to help you.
Start the transaction SE16 or SE16N in the current system (ALE target
system) and search for the data record RECN = &V1& and ACTN = &V2& in
the EH<(>&<)>S table determined above. This data record should be
missing.
Start the transaction SE16 or SE16N in the current system (ALE target
system) and search for the data record RECN_LOC = &V1&, ACTN_LOC = &V2&,
and TABLENAME = &V3& in the table ESTALE. If no data record is found,
you can ignore the warning. Otherwise, your system data is inconsistent.
In this case, you should create a support message.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message D9438 - Data record for ALE pointer is missing and thus cannot be deleted ?

  The SAP error message D9438, which states "Data record for ALE pointer is missing and thus cannot be deleted," typically occurs in the context of Application Link Enabling (ALE) and indicates that the system is trying to delete a data record related to an ALE pointer, but it cannot find the corresponding data record in the database.
  Cause:
  
  
  Missing Data Record: The primary cause of this error is that the data record that the system is trying to delete does not exist in the database. This could happen due to:
  
  Manual deletion of records that were supposed to be linked.
  Incomplete or failed data transfer processes.
  Data inconsistencies or corruption in the database.
  
  
  
  Incorrect Configuration: There may be issues with the configuration of the ALE settings, leading to mismatches in the expected data records.
  
  
  Transport Issues: If the ALE configuration or related objects were transported incorrectly between systems, it could lead to missing records.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check for Missing Records: 
  
  Use transaction codes like WE02 or WE05 to check the status of the ALE messages and see if there are any inconsistencies.
  Verify if the data record that the system is trying to delete actually exists in the relevant tables.
  
  
  
  Recreate Missing Records: If you find that the data record is indeed missing, you may need to recreate it. This could involve:
  
  Re-running the relevant ALE distribution or data transfer process.
  Manually entering the missing data if applicable.
  
  
  
  Review Configuration: 
  
  Check the ALE configuration settings in transaction ALE or BD64 to ensure that everything is set up correctly.
  Ensure that the logical systems and distribution model are correctly defined.
  
  
  
  Database Consistency Check: 
  
  Run consistency checks on the database to identify and resolve any inconsistencies that may be causing the issue.
  
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes: 
  
  Look for relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error. SAP frequently updates its knowledge base with solutions for known issues.
  
  
  
  Contact SAP Support: If the issue persists after trying the above solutions, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes related to ALE, such as WE02, WE05, BD64, and BD87.
  ALE Documentation: Review SAP documentation on ALE for a better understanding of how it works and how to troubleshoot related issues.
  System Logs: Check system logs for any additional error messages or warnings that may provide more context about the issue.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the D9438 error and implement a suitable solution.