SAP Admin Tips: How to Enable Save Layout Option within VA05

Like so many SAP transactions, VA05 provides users with the ability to change the current layout of the list they are viewing. The only issue? The option to save the layout is "grayed out" by default.

Note: The above image reflects the available options even if the user has SAP_ALL, SAP_NEW, or access to S_ALV_LAYO.

Thankfully, fixing this issue is fairly simple and does not require assigning the user with access to Authorization Object S_ALV_LAYO (Provides access to change layouts globally, and should never be assigned to End Users).

In order to do so, you will need to assign a parameter to the user's profile. This can be done from within SU01 if you are an administrator, or SU3 if you are the end user. The available parameter values are as follows:

* SD_VARIANT_MAINTAIN "A" - Can be changed throughout the system.
* SD_VARIANT_MAINTAIN "U" - Can be changed at the user level.

For security purposes, users should be locked down to user level changes only.

After saving the changes, the user can log back into the system and run VA05. Now they should have the option to save their layouts.

As you can see in the following image, they will be locked down to User-specific changes only.

There you have it. Like I said in the beginning, this is a fairly quick and easy resolution.

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I'm Back Baby! (Recap & My First ABAP Program)

It's been AGES since my last update on here. So what's changed? I now hold the job title of "Security Administrator." I've advanced in my knowledge of Windows Server 2003/2008, Active Directory (GPOs, etc.), Microsoft Exchange 2007/2010, Microsoft SQL Server, PowerShell, and MANY other IT and InfoSec subjects.

My most recent endeavors have involved SAP, the German-based Business Suite. Today's task: Begin my first foray into SAP's proprietary programming language known as ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming).

Why would I want to do this?
Well, I already wear the SAP Basis & Security hats, so why not add another one to the mix?

My first program is a spin-off on the traditional "Hello, World!" with an addition of User Input plus System Variable Output (read: system time).


REPORT zptb00_hello_world.
PARAMETERS:
p_frstnm(15) TYPE c. "Prompts for Name"

WRITE: / 'Hello', p_frstnm, ', it is currently', 41 sy-uzeit, 'CST'.
WRITE / 'Clearly, ABAP is not voodoo.'.
WRITE 'And is easy peasy.'.

Prompting for my Name:

Final Output:

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New Tool: Duplicate File Finder

My uncle just created a neat little tool in his free time that compares the contents of files, by way of an MD5 checksum, in order to discover duplicate files on your system. It's fairly handy for finding duplicate images. Feel free to download it here and give it a try. You'll need .Net Framework 2.0 in order to run it though.

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