How To Fix PU018 - Header &1: Was already edited by an external job

PU018 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PU - Upgrade and Transport Log Messages

• Message number: 018

• Message text: Header &1: Was already edited by an external job

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PU018 - Header &1: Was already edited by an external job ?

  The SAP error message PU018 ("Header &1: Was already edited by an external job") typically occurs in the context of HR (Human Resources) or payroll processing when a particular infotype or record is being accessed or modified by multiple processes or users simultaneously. This can lead to data consistency issues, and SAP prevents changes to avoid conflicts.
  
  Cause:
  
  Concurrent Access: The error usually arises when an infotype record (like employee data) is being edited by another user or background job at the same time.
  Locking Mechanism: SAP uses a locking mechanism to ensure data integrity. If a record is locked by another process, any attempt to edit it will result in this error.
  Long-running Jobs: If a background job is taking a long time to process, it may hold the lock on the record longer than expected.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  Wait and Retry: If the error is due to a temporary lock, waiting for a few moments and