Tag: SNOTE

SNOTE revamp

After many years of faithful service, SNOTE got a revamp from SAP.

Questions that will be answered in this blog are:

  • How does the new revamp of SNOTE look like?
  • How can I get this new revamp of SNOTE?
  • Can I download latest versions of OSS notes in batch mode?

If you update main SNOTE OSS note 1668882 – Note Assistant: Important notes for SAP_BASIS 730,731,740,750,751,752,753,754,755,756, you will get this message:

New revamp SNOTE

OSS note 3051466 – Simplified Note Assistant: SNOTE Revamp describes the main functions and background of the revamp of SNOTE.

Main changes listed in the note:

  • A new Home screen, where the user work list and Note Browser is integrated in a single screen. The work list and search results are displayed in tabs to improve usability
  • Possibility to perform a Note Search for Valid Notes in SAP ONE Support Launchpad, and then download it from the search results 
  • Provision to mark/unmark Notes as your ‘Favorite’
  • Option to set up background jobs which will automatically look for and if required, download newer version of Notes which are already in your system
  • Implementation of Notes has been streamlined with lesser pop-ups and better error handling
  • Improved display of Manual Text during a Note implementation. It will now also be displayed during de-implementation of a Note.
  • Changes in the Note Display screen, including a compact header section, provision to display only valid corrections and only the actions that will be possible for the given Note will be displayed
  • An improved display of Note Log 
  • Provision to launch reports which will show the details of all the prerequisite and successor Notes, or the list of repository objects affected by the Note
  • Ability to customize the Note Assistant using the ‘Note Assistant User Settings’. The Note download procedure can also be provided here
  • Additionally, the tool will now automatically remember some of the user choices made in the user interface

Starting SNOTE now looks like this:

The settings button shows easily you can set your own preferences:

Updating OSS notes versions is possible now via the menu Download latest version of Notes, and then you can choose to run in foreground or (new great function) in background.

For the last update run you now can get a nice overview of the results of the updates:

Installation of new SNOTE revamp version

The new revamp version of SNOTE is standard in S4HANA 2021. You can also install it separately.

Steps to follow:

  1. First apply the prerequisite notes listed in OSS note 3051466
  2. Make sure the TCI file of OSS note 3051466 is placed in your system (read more on TCI notes in this blog)
  3. Apply OSS note 3051466
  4. Apply OSS note 3092620 – SNOTE – Adapting Download of Latest Version of SAP Notes in Background for Revamped Note assistant
  5. Check if newer bug fix notes are present (search for SNOTE Revamp as key word in component BC-UPG-NA)

Regularly update note 3093855 – Note Assistant: Important SAP Notes for the Revamped Note Assistant as well. This is containing all fixes for the revamped SNOTE.

SNOTE tips & tricks

This blog will give tips and tricks for the SAP SNOTE transaction. Questions that will be answered are:

  • How to update SNOTE itself?
  • How to check if there are new versions available for notes?
  • What is TCI?
  • Where to find tips on finding correct OSS notes?
  • How do I apply a note during upgrade in the shadow system?
  • What is the new SNOTE revamp?

If you are looking for way to check which OSS notes are needed, read the ANST blog: the automated notes search tool.

Notes for SNOTE itself

Also SNOTE itself can have bugs or has new functions. Download and implement most recent version of OSS note 1668882 – Note Assistant: Important notes for SAP_BASIS 730,731,740,750,751 to update SNOTE itself.

For the revamped SNOTE also note 3093855 – Note Assistant: Important SAP Notes for the Revamped Note Assistant is required to be updated.

Downloading and implementing new versions of OSS notes

SAP regularly updates its own OSS notes. To check in your system if there are new updates for OSS notes relevant to you go to transaction SNOTE. Then choose “Goto -> SAP Note Browser ->Execute (F8)”, and then choose “Download Latest Version of SAP Notes” in the application toolbar. This will download all the latest versions. Check for the status “Obsolete version implemented” in the implementation state column.

Issues with OSS note downloads

In rare cases OSS note download and extractions might fail.

Please check these OSS notes:

Activation of inactive objects after implementing OSS note

In rare cases after implementing an OSS note some of the ABAP objects are in an inactive state. To activate them, select the menu SAP note and then Activate SAP note manually.

Or you can run program SCWB_NOTE_ACTIVATE to activate the coding of the note:

SCWB_NOTE_ACTIVATE

See OSS note 1882419 – How to correct syntax errors.

TCI: transport based correction instructions

Transport based correction instructions contain notes that are larger than normal OSS notes. This tool leverages the SPAM transaction to apply these large packages.

Relevant OSS notes:

Start with reading the PDF document attached to OSS note 2187425: TCI for customer. This contains the exact instructions to enable TCI based correction instructions.

The TCI only recently has a rollback function. Please check if you can update/patch to the version where the rollback works. See the PDF document in OSS note 2187425 on the undo function.

Applying TCI note

There are 2 ways to upload TCI note.

Basis way: you will need SPAM access rights and 000 actions are involved. Upload the TCI file in SPAM in client 000. Then apply the note via SNOTE in main client. The note tool will ask you to confirm to use the TCI mechanism.

ABAP way: you will need SPAM access rights. In transaction SNOTE use menu option Goto / Upload TCI. After uploading the file, choose Decompress. Now apply the note via SNOTE. The note tool will ask you to confirm to use the TCI mechanism.

During the implementation, it can be that you are forced to delete all BI queues.

Transporting obsolete TCI packages

When you upgraded earlier to S4HANA or other recent version, some of the TCI notes might be obsolete. There is an issue moving this through the landscape. Read and apply the solution from OSS note 3116396 – How to Adjust Obsolete TCI Notes in Downstream Systems for the fix.

TCI notes bug fixes

Bug fixes for TCI notes:

DDIC objects

For enabling de-implementation of DDIC objects apply oss note 2840923 – SNOTE: Enable De-implementation of DDIC Correction Instructions.

Digitally signed oss notes

For digitally signed oss notes see the special  blog.

KBA notes

Some notes don’t contain coding updates, but are KBA’s: Knowledge Base Articles. You have to read the note which contains manual instructions or explanation in detail.

KBA article note

Finding OSS notes

Tools for finding OSS notes:

  • ANST (advanced notes search tool): see blog
  • ANST for web applications and FIORI: see blog
  • Notes for error messages: see blog
  • Short dump analysis: see blog

Special note programs

For special use cases SAP has special programs to check for recent OSS notes.

Use cases:

  • SAP Screen Personas, run transaction /PERSONAS/HEALTH. See blog.
  • SLT DMIS plug in, per use case different program. See blog.
ScenarioReport name
Object Based Transformation (OBT) CNV_NOTE_ANALYZER_OBT
ABAP Integration for SAP Data Intelligence (DI)CNV_NOTE_ANALYZER_DI
S4HANA Migration Cockpit (MC)CNV_NOTE_ANALYZER_MC_EXT
SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT) Replication ServerCNV_NOTE_ANALYZER_SLT
Near Zero Downtime Technology (NZDT)CNV_NOTE_ANALYZER_NZDT

Being notified upon OSS note updates

If you want to be notified when a certain OSS note receives an update, follow the instructions as described in OSS note 2478289 – How to set up notifications for SAP Notes and/or KBAs with Expert Search filters.

SNOTE revamp

In newer netweaver versions SNOTE is revamped. You can apply this version earlier if you want to use it. Read more on the SNOTE revamp in this blog.

Applying notes in shadow during upgrade

In rare cases you might need to apply and OSS note in the shadow system during a system upgrade. Basis team will usually use the SUM tool. Applying notes to shadow during upgrade can be needed to solve upgrade stopping bugs.

Always handle with care. If you are not experienced with upgrades, let a senior handle it.

The procedure to do this is described in OSS note 2207944 – How to implement a SAP note during System update using SUM (ABAP only).

Bug fixes for SNOTE

SNOTE itself might have issues. Use the button Check Note Assistant to see if any new notes or note updates of generic SNOTE notes are needed: