How To Fix DPR_APPROVAL040 - Signature is not possible: user certificate is not valid

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: DPR_APPROVAL - Development Projects: Approval Messages

• Message number: 040

• Message text: Signature is not possible: user certificate is not valid

What causes this issue?

A valid user certificate is required for signing an approval document.
However, your user does not have a valid user certificate assigned
to it.

System Response

The signature is not possible.

How to fix this error?

Contact your system administrator.

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 DPR_APPROVAL040 - Signature is not possible: user certificate is not valid ?

  The SAP error message DPR_APPROVAL040 indicates that there is an issue with the user certificate being used for digital signatures in the SAP system. This error typically arises in the context of document approvals or workflows that require digital signatures, particularly in the SAP Document Management System (DMS) or SAP Portfolio and Project Management (PPM).
  Cause:
  
  Invalid User Certificate: The user certificate may have expired, been revoked, or is not properly installed in the user's personal certificate store.
  Certificate Trust Issues: The certificate authority (CA) that issued the user certificate may not be trusted by the SAP system.
  Configuration Issues: There may be misconfigurations in the SAP system regarding the digital signature settings or the trust relationship with the CA.
  User Profile Issues: The user profile may not be correctly set up to use digital signatures, or the user may not have the necessary authorizations.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Certificate Validity:
  
  Verify that the user certificate is valid and has not expired. You can check this in the certificate management tool of your operating system or browser.
  If the certificate is expired or revoked, obtain a new certificate from the appropriate certificate authority.
  
  
  
  Install/Update Certificate:
  
  Ensure that the user certificate is correctly installed in the personal certificate store of the user’s operating system or browser.
  If necessary, re-import the certificate to ensure it is recognized by the SAP system.
  
  
  
  Trust Configuration:
  
  Ensure that the CA that issued the user certificate is trusted by the SAP system. This may involve importing the CA's root certificate into the SAP system's trust store.
  
  
  
  User Profile and Authorizations:
  
  Check the user profile in SAP to ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to perform digital signatures.
  Review the user’s roles and authorizations to ensure they include the necessary permissions for document approval and digital signatures.
  
  
  
  SAP Notes and Support:
  
  Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  If the issue persists, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Digital Signatures in SAP: Digital signatures are used to ensure the authenticity and integrity of documents. They rely on public key infrastructure (PKI) and require valid user certificates.
  Certificate Management: Familiarize yourself with the certificate management tools available in your operating system and how they interact with SAP.
  SAP Security Configuration: Understanding the security configuration in SAP, including trust relationships and authorization management, can help in troubleshooting similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error message DPR_APPROVAL040 and successfully use digital signatures in your SAP environment.