How To Fix WL420 - Workflow '&' wait step & object &: Element '&' not in container/empty

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WL - Workflow: run-time messages

• Message number: 420

• Message text: Workflow '&' wait step & object &: Element '&' not in container/empty

What causes this issue?

A wait step could not be activated since the object required (its ID)
is not located in the workflow container under the name '&V4&' which
was specified for it in the workflow definition.

System Response

The workflow was set to error status and suspended.

How to fix this error?

Make sure that an object is entered in the variable &V4& before the
wait step is called. Check:
the container variable &V4& is written correctly.
the binding for this variable is defined correctly.
whether the variable has been assigned a value during the workflow
execution before the wait step was called.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WL420 - Workflow '&' wait step & object &: Element '&' not in container/empty ?

  The SAP error message WL420 indicates that there is an issue with a workflow step in SAP Business Workflow. Specifically, the message states that a wait step is looking for an element that is either not present in the container or the container is empty. This can occur in various scenarios, such as when a workflow is expecting a certain data element to be populated but it is not available at the time the workflow is executed.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Data: The workflow is expecting a specific data element to be present in the workflow container, but it is missing or has not been populated.
  Incorrect Workflow Configuration: The workflow definition may not be correctly set up to ensure that the required data is available at the wait step.
  Timing Issues: The workflow may be trying to access the data before it has been populated, leading to an empty container at the time of execution.
  Errors in Previous Steps: If there were errors in previous steps of the workflow that prevented data from being set correctly, this could lead to the wait step failing.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Workflow Container: Review the workflow container to ensure that the expected elements are present. You can do this by using transaction code SWI1 (Work Item Selection) to analyze the workflow instance.
  Debugging: Use transaction SWI1 to find the specific workflow instance and then use transaction SWI2_DIAG to debug the workflow. This will help you identify where the data is missing.
  Review Workflow Definition: Check the workflow definition in transaction SWDD (Workflow Builder) to ensure that all necessary data elements are being populated correctly before the wait step is reached.
  Add Error Handling: Implement error handling in the workflow to manage cases where expected data is not available. This could involve adding checks or alternative paths in the workflow.
  Check Previous Steps: Ensure that all previous steps in the workflow are executing successfully and populating the necessary data. If there are any issues, resolve them first.
  Consult Documentation: Review SAP documentation or notes related to the specific workflow you are working with for any known issues or additional troubleshooting steps.
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  SWI1: Work Item Selection - to view and analyze work items.
  SWI2_DIAG: Workflow Diagnosis - to debug workflow instances.
  SWDD: Workflow Builder - to create and modify workflows.
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to the specific workflow or error message.
  
  
  Workflow Logs: Review workflow logs for additional details on the execution path and where the error occurred.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the WL420 error and implement a solution to resolve it.