How To Fix SO338 - An error occurred in & document(s) when the expiration date was changed

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SO - SAPoffice: message texts

• Message number: 338

• Message text: An error occurred in & document(s) when the expiration date was changed

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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SO338 - An error occurred in & document(s) when the expiration date was changed ?

  The SAP error message SO338 indicates that there was an issue when attempting to change the expiration date of a document in the system. This error typically arises in the context of document management or workflow processes within SAP.
  Cause:
  The error can be caused by several factors, including:
  
  Document Locking: The document may be locked by another user or process, preventing changes from being made.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary permissions to change the expiration date of the document.
  Data Integrity Constraints: There may be business rules or data integrity constraints that prevent the expiration date from being changed.
  System Configuration: Incorrect configuration settings in the document management system or related modules may lead to this error.
  Workflow Status: The document may be in a status that does not allow changes to be made.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the SO338 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Document Locking:
  
  Verify if the document is currently locked by another user. You can use transaction codes like SM12 to check for locks and release them if necessary.
  
  
  
  Review User Authorizations:
  
  Ensure that the user attempting to make the change has the appropriate authorizations. You can check this using transaction SU53 to see if there are any authorization failures.
  
  
  
  Examine Business Rules:
  
  Review any business rules or constraints that may be preventing the change. This may involve checking configuration settings or consulting with a functional consultant.
  
  
  
  Check Document Status:
  
  Ensure that the document is in a status that allows for changes. If the document is in a completed or archived state, it may not be possible to change the expiration date.
  
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes:
  
  Look for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error. You can search the SAP Support Portal for updates or patches that may resolve the issue.
  
  
  
  Contact SAP Support:
  
  If the issue persists after trying the above steps, consider reaching out to SAP Support for further assistance. Provide them with the error message details and any relevant context.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as SO10 (for text management), SOST (for sending documents), and SARA (for archiving).
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation related to document management and workflow processes to understand the implications of changing expiration dates.
  Testing: If possible, test the change in a development or quality assurance environment before applying it in production to avoid disruptions.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the SO338 error and implement a suitable solution.