This blog contains experience gained over the years of implementing (and de-implementing) large scale IT applications/software.

SAP Language Pack Enabling for Login in R/3 Enterprise 4.7

In an SAP system you can see what language packs are installed using transaction SMLT.
Sometimes however, you may find that you are unable to log into the system using one of the languages that are installed.  You get prompted to select a valid language.
This is usually due to a miss-configuration of the zcsa/installed_languages profile parameter.

You can check the system language configuration using the report RSCPINST.
You should note that the zcsa/installed_languages parameter should be set in the DEFAULT profile *only*.

Some useful SAP notes on language packs:

73606 “Supported Languages and Code Pages”
352941 “Languages and Support Packages”
533888 “Example for Language Import and Errors”

How to Check If You’re Using the 6.40 Extension Set 2.0 SAP Kernel

With SAP R/3 Enterprise 4.7 came the 6.40 Kernel.
There are two releases of this kernel, 6.40 Extension Set 1.10 and 6.40 Extension Set 2.0.

When you need to patch the Kernel, you need to know which one to download.
You can tell by executing the “disp+work” binary on UNIX or Windows:

$ id
<sid>adm

$ disp+work

--------------------

  disp+work information
  --------------------
  kernel release                640
  kernel make variant           640_EX2        <<< EXT 2.0
  DBMS client library

$ disp+work

--------------------

  disp+work information
  --------------------
  kernel release                640
  kernel make variant           640_REL        <<< Not EXT 2.0
  DBMS client library