Analysing the ABAP/4 short dumps

In the SAP R/3 system when serious program error occurs, the system terminates the current program and generates an ABAP/4 short dump. The ABAP/4 short dump is basically a list containing explanation about the possible causes of error. Short dumps are kept in a table called SNAP. It is the job of the administrator to regularly check the dump entries (if any) in the system on a daily basis, and take necessary corrective action by consulting with the user who has generated the short dump. Perform the following sequence of actions in order to view and analyze the short dumps in the system:

• From the SAP R/3 main screen choose the option Tools -> Administration, Monitor -> Dump Analysis. Alternately execute the transaction ST22.

• On the following ‘ABAP/4 Dump Analysis’ screen we can view the number of dumps generated in the current day and the previous day.

• Select the current day, and click the ‘Display list’ icon.

• On the following screen we will get a list of the short dumps. Double click on any one of them to go to the corresponding dump analysis screen. Read the short dump analysis and come up with a solution (if possible). If we are unable to solve the problem ourselves, then we should communicate the problem to SAP Helpdesk and send them a copy of the relevant portion of the dump analysis report.
If we want to keep a particular dump for further analysis, then we can prevent it from being deleted by periodic background housekeeping jobs by selecting the dump in the list of dumps and choosing the menu option Short Dump -> Keep/Release.