How To Fix WO820 - The specified work item & does not exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WO - WF: Messages for Workflow Wizards

• Message number: 820

• Message text: The specified work item & does not exist

What causes this issue?

You have specified a work item ID which does not exist.

System Response

Processing was terminated with an error.

How to fix this error?

Check the transfer of the work item ID.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WO820 - The specified work item & does not exist ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation for the SAP error message WO820: The specified work item & does not exist:
  
  Error Message
  WO820: The specified work item & does not exist
  
  The ampersand (&) is a placeholder for the actual work item ID that was specified.
  
  
  Cause
  This error occurs when a workflow tries to access or process a work item that cannot be found in the system. Possible reasons include:
  
  Work item already processed or deleted: The work item might have been completed, withdrawn, or deleted by another user or process.
  Incorrect work item ID: The work item ID passed to the workflow or function module is incorrect or does not exist.
  Work item expired: The work item might have expired and been removed from the system.
  Inconsistent workflow data: There might be inconsistencies or corruption in the workflow runtime data.
  Authorization issues: The user or process trying to access the work item does not have the necessary authorization, causing the system to behave as if the work item does not exist.
  
  
  Solution
  
  
  Verify the work item ID:
  
  Check the work item ID passed to the workflow or function module.
  Use transaction SWI1 (Work Item Selection) or SWI5 (Work Item Display) to search for the work item.
  If the work item is not found, it might have been processed or deleted.
  
  
  
  Check workflow logs:
  
  Use transaction SWI2_FREQ or SWI2_DIAG to analyze workflow logs and identify what happened to the work item.
  Look for any errors or inconsistencies related to the work item.
  
  
  
  Check for expired work items:
  
  Work items can expire based on workflow configuration.
  Use transaction SWI6 to check for expired work items.
  
  
  
  Recreate or restart the workflow:
  
  If the work item is missing due to deletion or corruption, consider restarting the workflow or recreating the work item if possible.
  
  
  
  Check authorizations:
  
  Ensure the user or process has the necessary authorizations to access the work item.
  Use transaction SU53 after the error occurs to check for missing authorizations.
  
  
  
  Technical investigation:
  
  If the problem persists, check the workflow runtime tables such as SWWWIHEAD (work item header) to see if the work item exists.
  Use debugging or system traces to analyze the issue further.
  
  
  
  
  Related Information
  
  
  Transactions:
  
  SWI1 - Work Item Selection
  SWI5 - Work Item Display
  SWI6 - Expired Work Items
  SWI2_FREQ - Workflow Log (Frequency)
  SWI2_DIAG - Workflow Log (Diagnosis)
  SU53 - Authorization Check
  
  
  
  Tables:
  
  SWWWIHEAD - Work Item Header Table
  SWWWIREF - Work Item Reference Table
  
  
  
  Notes and Documentation:
  
  SAP Notes related to workflow errors and work item inconsistencies.
  SAP Help Portal documentation on Workflow and Work Items.
  
  
  
  
  If you provide the context in which this error occurs (e.g., during a specific workflow step, custom development, or standard SAP process), I can help tailor the solution further.