How To Fix PH081 - Specify an archiving date for payroll

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PH - PA: Archiving & Reorganization

• Message number: 081

• Message text: Specify an archiving date for payroll

What causes this issue?

You have not specified an archiving date, or you have deleted the
system default.
This can happen in the following situations:
You want to archive payroll results, and have chosen the archiving date
as the specified date.
You want to archive payroll results, and have chosen the retroactive
accounting limit as the specified date. The system used it to calculate
a default value for the archiving date.

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 an archiving date.

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 PH081 - Specify an archiving date for payroll ?

  The SAP error message PH081, which states "Specify an archiving date for payroll," typically occurs when you are trying to archive payroll data without providing a necessary archiving date. This date is essential for the system to determine which payroll data should be archived based on the specified criteria.
  Cause:
  The error is caused by the absence of an archiving date in the payroll archiving process. The archiving date is required to filter the payroll data that is eligible for archiving. Without this date, the system cannot proceed with the archiving operation.
  Solution:
  To resolve the PH081 error, follow these steps:
  
  
  Access the Archiving Transaction:
  
  Go to the transaction code related to payroll archiving (e.g., SARA for archiving).
  
  
  
  Select the Appropriate Object:
  
  Choose the relevant archiving object for payroll (e.g., payroll results).
  
  
  
  Specify the Archiving Date:
  
  In the selection screen, look for the field labeled "Archiving Date" or similar.
  Enter a valid date that indicates the cutoff for the payroll data you wish to archive. This date should typically be before the current date and should correspond to the payroll periods you want to archive.
  
  
  
  Execute the Archiving Process:
  
  After entering the archiving date, execute the archiving process again.
  
  
  
  Check for Additional Errors:
  
  If the error persists, check for any other required fields or settings that may need to be configured.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Archiving in SAP: Archiving is a process used to remove data from the database to improve performance and manage data volume. In SAP, archiving is often done for various modules, including payroll, to ensure that historical data is retained while freeing up space.
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  SARA: General archiving transaction.
  PA03: Maintain payroll area settings.
  
  
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for detailed instructions on archiving payroll data and understanding the implications of archiving on reporting and data retrieval.
  
  
  Testing: After resolving the issue, it is advisable to test the archiving process in a development or quality assurance environment before executing it in production.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the PH081 error and successfully archive payroll data in SAP.