How To Fix FMSHERLOCK037 - Error in database; deletion of old document failed

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: FMSHERLOCK -

• Message number: 037

• Message text: Error in database; deletion of old document failed

What causes this issue?

An entry in the database table FMSherlock could not be deleted.

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?

Procedure for System Administrators

Open an OSS message under the component PSM-FM-PO-CA.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message FMSHERLOCK037 - Error in database; deletion of old document failed ?

  The SAP error message FMSHERLOCK037 indicates that there was an error in the database when attempting to delete an old document. This error typically arises in the context of financial document management or archiving processes within SAP.
  Causes:
  
  Database Locking Issues: The document you are trying to delete may be locked by another process or user, preventing the deletion.
  Referential Integrity Violations: There may be dependencies or references to the document in other tables, which prevents its deletion.
  Database Corruption: There could be issues with the database itself, such as corruption or inconsistencies.
  Insufficient Authorizations: The user attempting the deletion may not have the necessary permissions to perform this action.
  Configuration Issues: There may be configuration settings in the SAP system that are preventing the deletion of documents.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Check for Locks: Use transaction codes like SM12 to check for any locks on the document. If a lock is found, you may need to wait for it to be released or contact the user who has locked it.
  Review Dependencies: Investigate if there are any dependent documents or records that reference the document you are trying to delete. You may need to delete or update these references first.
  Database Consistency Check: Run database consistency checks or use transaction codes like DB02 to check for any inconsistencies in the database.
  User Authorizations: Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to delete documents. You may need to consult with your SAP security team.
  Consult SAP Notes: Check the SAP Support Portal for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error. There may be patches or updates available that resolve the issue.
  Contact SAP Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to SAP Support for further assistance, especially if you suspect database corruption or other underlying issues.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as SE11 (Data Dictionary), SE16 (Data Browser), and SM37 (Job Monitoring) to help diagnose the issue.
  System Logs: Check system logs (transaction SM21) for any additional error messages or warnings that may provide more context about the failure.
  Backup and Recovery: Ensure that you have a backup of your database before performing any deletion operations, especially if you suspect corruption.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and take appropriate action to resolve it.