How To Fix PEP206 - Variant (line &2) missing for background program &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PEP - Schedule Manager: Messages

• Message number: 206

• Message text: Variant (line &2) missing for background program &1

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PEP206 - Variant (line &2) missing for background program &1 ?

  The SAP error message PEP206, which states "Variant (line &2) missing for background program &1," typically occurs when a background job is scheduled to run with a specific variant that is either missing or not properly defined in the system. This can happen for various reasons, such as the variant being deleted, not being created, or being assigned incorrectly.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Variant: The specified variant for the background job does not exist in the system.
  Incorrect Job Configuration: The job might be configured to use a variant that has been deleted or is not available in the specified client.
  Authorization Issues: The user running the job may not have the necessary authorizations to access the variant.
  Transport Issues: If the variant was transported from another system, it may not have been included in the transport request.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Variant Existence:
  
  Go to transaction code SE38 or SA38 and enter the program name (&1 from the error message).
  Click on the "Variants" button to see if the specified variant exists.
  If it does not exist, you will need to create it.
  
  
  
  Create or Modify the Variant:
  
  If the variant is missing, create a new variant with the required parameters.
  If the variant exists but is not configured correctly, modify it to ensure it has the correct settings.
  
  
  
  Check Job Configuration:
  
  Go to transaction code SM37 to check the job details.
  Verify that the job is configured to use the correct variant.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check:
  
  Ensure that the user who is executing the job has the necessary authorizations to access the variant.
  
  
  
  Transport Check:
  
  If the variant was supposed to be transported, check the transport logs to ensure it was included in the transport request.
  
  
  
  Re-schedule the Job:
  
  After making the necessary changes, re-schedule the background job to see if the error persists.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  SE38 or SA38: To manage and execute ABAP programs.
  SM37: To monitor background jobs.
  SE11: To check the data dictionary for any related tables or structures.
  
  
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for more details on managing background jobs and variants.
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address specific issues related to this error message.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the PEP206 error and ensure that your background job runs successfully.