How To Fix EARC397 - Import date must be earlier than retention period date (&2) calculated

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EARC - IS-U: Archiving

• Message number: 397

• Message text: Import date must be earlier than retention period date (&2) calculated

What causes this issue?

You have entered <LS>Retention Period in Days</> and <LS>Date of Import
</> as selection criteria.
These entries contradict each other.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Enter a date interval as an import date that is earlier than the
retention period date calculated.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EARC397 - Import date must be earlier than retention period date (&2) calculated ?

  The SAP error message EARC397 indicates that there is an issue with the import date of a document or data being processed in relation to the retention period date. Specifically, the error states that the import date must be earlier than the retention period date that has been calculated.
  Cause:
  This error typically occurs in scenarios where:
  
  Retention Period Configuration: The retention period for the data or document has been set in such a way that it does not allow for the import date to be later than the retention period date.
  Data Entry Error: The user may have inadvertently entered an import date that is later than the retention period date.
  System Configuration: There may be a misconfiguration in the system settings related to retention periods and data imports.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the EARC397 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  Check Import Date: Verify the import date you are trying to use. Ensure that it is indeed earlier than the retention period date.
  Review Retention Period Settings: 
  
  Navigate to the relevant configuration settings in SAP where retention periods are defined.
  Check if the retention period is set correctly and if it aligns with your business requirements.
  
  
  Adjust Dates: If the import date is incorrect, adjust it to a date that is earlier than the retention period date.
  Consult Documentation: Review SAP documentation or help resources related to retention periods and data imports for any specific guidelines or best practices.
  Contact SAP Support: If the issue persists and you cannot identify the cause, consider reaching out to SAP support for assistance. They may provide insights based on your specific system configuration.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Retention Management: Understanding how retention periods are managed in SAP can help prevent similar issues in the future. Familiarize yourself with the relevant modules and settings.
  Data Archiving: If you are working with data archiving, ensure that the archiving strategy aligns with your data retention policies.
  User Training: Providing training to users on how to correctly enter dates and understand retention policies can help minimize errors.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the EARC397 error and ensure that your data imports comply with the defined retention periods.