How To Fix FC501 - Archive index life must be greater than or equal to secondary index life

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: FC - FI configuration error messages

• Message number: 501

• Message text: Archive index life must be greater than or equal to secondary index life

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message FC501 - Archive index life must be greater than or equal to secondary index life ?

  The SAP error message FC501 indicates that there is a discrepancy between the archive index life and the secondary index life in the context of data archiving. This error typically arises when the retention period for the archive index (the metadata that allows access to archived data) is set to a value that is less than the retention period for the secondary index (which is used to access the archived data).
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  The archive index life (the duration for which the archive index is retained) is set to a value that is shorter than the secondary index life (the duration for which the secondary index is retained).
  This situation can arise due to incorrect configuration settings in the archiving object or during the setup of the archiving process.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the FC501 error, you need to ensure that the archive index life is set to a value that is greater than or equal to the secondary index life. Here are the steps to do this:
  
  
  Check Current Settings:
  
  Go to the transaction code SARA (Archive Administration).
  Select the relevant archiving object and check the settings for both the archive index life and the secondary index life.
  
  
  
  Adjust the Archive Index Life:
  
  If the archive index life is shorter than the secondary index life, you will need to increase the archive index life.
  This can typically be done in the configuration settings of the archiving object.
  
  
  
  Modify the Configuration:
  
  Navigate to the configuration settings for the archiving object.
  Update the archive index life to be equal to or greater than the secondary index life.
  
  
  
  Save Changes:
  
  After making the necessary adjustments, save the changes and exit the configuration.
  
  
  
  Re-run the Archiving Process:
  
  Once the settings are corrected, you can re-run the archiving process that was previously failing due to this error.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Archiving Objects: Each archiving object in SAP has specific settings for retention periods, which can be configured based on business requirements.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes like SARA (for archiving administration) and SARI (for archiving information) to manage archiving processes effectively.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help guides for detailed information on configuring archiving objects and understanding retention periods.
  
  By ensuring that the archive index life is appropriately set, you can avoid the FC501 error and ensure smooth data archiving processes in your SAP system.