How To Fix EU171 - The hierarchy is locked at present by &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EU - Development Environment

• Message number: 171

• Message text: The hierarchy is locked at present by &

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EU171 - The hierarchy is locked at present by & ?

  The SAP error message EU171 indicates that a hierarchy is currently locked by a user or process, preventing any modifications or updates to that hierarchy. This can occur in various SAP modules, particularly in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP ERP systems where hierarchies are used for reporting and data organization.
  Cause:
  
  User Lock: A user is currently editing or has locked the hierarchy for maintenance or updates.
  System Lock: A background job or process is running that has locked the hierarchy.
  Transaction Lock: A transaction that involves the hierarchy is currently being processed, preventing other transactions from accessing it.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Identify the Locking User/Process:
  
  Use transaction code SM12 to check for user locks. You can filter by the object type and the user who is locking the hierarchy.
  If you find a user lock that is no longer needed, you can delete the lock entry (if you have the necessary authorizations).
  
  
  
  Check Background Jobs:
  
  Use transaction code SM37 to check for any background jobs that might be running and locking the hierarchy. If a job is found, you may need to wait for it to complete or, if appropriate, cancel the job.
  
  
  
  Wait for Completion: If the lock is due to a legitimate process, you may need to wait until the process completes.
  
  
  Contact the User: If a specific user is locking the hierarchy, you may want to contact them to understand why the lock is in place and if they can release it.
  
  
  System Administration: If you are unable to resolve the issue, it may be necessary to involve your SAP Basis team or system administrator to investigate further.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes like SM12 (for user locks), SM37 (for job monitoring), and SE11 (for data dictionary objects) to help diagnose the issue.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation or notes related to hierarchy management and locking mechanisms for more detailed guidance.
  User Authorizations: Ensure that users have the appropriate authorizations to manage hierarchies and understand the locking behavior in your specific SAP environment.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the lock and take appropriate action to resolve the EU171 error message.