Troubleshooting Guide

This guide helps you resolve common issues when using ERPL with DuckDB and SAP systems.

Installation Issues

Extension Installation Fails

Problem: INSTALL 'erpl' command fails with an error.

Solutions:

1. Check DuckDB Version: Ensure you're using DuckDB 0.10.1

   SELECT version();

2. Verify Internet Connection: The extension is downloaded from the internet

   curl -I http://get.erpl.io

3. Try Manual Installation: Download and install manually

   INSTALL '/path/to/erpl.duckdb_extension';
   LOAD 'erpl';

Extension Not Found After Installation

Problem: LOAD 'erpl' returns "Extension not found".

Solutions:

1. Check Installation: Verify the extension was installed

   SELECT * FROM duckdb_extensions() WHERE extension_name = 'erpl';

2. Restart DuckDB: Close and reopen your DuckDB session

3. Check File Permissions: Ensure DuckDB can access the extension directory

Connection Issues

SAP Connection Fails

Problem: sap_connect() returns an error.

Common Causes and Solutions:

1. Invalid Host or System Number

   -- Verify your SAP system details
   SELECT sap_connect(
       host = 'correct-sap-server.com',  -- Check hostname
       system_number = '00',            -- Verify system number
       client = '100',                  -- Confirm client
       user = 'your-username',
       password = 'your-password'
   );

2. Network Connectivity Issues

   # Test network connectivity
   ping your-sap-server.com
   telnet your-sap-server.com 3200  # Default SAP port

3. SAP User Account Issues

   • Verify username and password
   • Check if account is locked
   • Ensure account has RFC authorizations

Permission Denied Errors

Problem: sap_read_table() returns permission errors.

Solutions:

1. Check RFC Authorizations: Contact your SAP administrator
2. Verify Table Access: Ensure your user can access the specific table
3. Test with Different Table: Try a table you know you have access to

Performance Issues

Slow Query Performance

Problem: SAP queries are running slowly.

Optimization Tips:

1. Use Filters: Limit data with WHERE clauses

   SELECT * FROM sap_read_table('KNA1') 
   WHERE LAND1 = 'DE'  -- Filter by country
   LIMIT 1000;

2. Select Specific Columns: Only retrieve needed fields

   SELECT KUNNR, NAME1 FROM sap_read_table('KNA1');

3. Use Pagination: Process data in chunks

   SELECT * FROM sap_read_table('KNA1') 
   LIMIT 1000 OFFSET 0;

Memory Issues

Problem: DuckDB runs out of memory with large SAP tables.

Solutions:

1. Increase Memory Limit: Set higher memory limit for DuckDB
2. Process in Batches: Use LIMIT and OFFSET for large tables
3. Optimize Queries: Use more selective WHERE clauses

SAP-Specific Issues

Table Not Found

Problem: sap_read_table('TABLENAME') returns "Table not found".

Solutions:

1. Check Table Name: Verify the exact table name (case-sensitive)
2. List Available Tables: Use sap_show_tables() to see what's available
3. Check Client: Ensure you're connected to the correct SAP client

Function Module Errors

Problem: Calling SAP function modules fails.

Common Issues:

1. Function Not Remote-Enabled: Verify the function module is RFC-enabled
2. Parameter Mismatch: Check function module interface
3. Authorization Issues: Ensure you have permission to call the function

Debugging Tips

Enable Verbose Logging

Enable detailed logging to diagnose issues:

SET log_level = 'debug';

Test Basic Connectivity

Start with simple tests:

-- Test basic connection
SELECT sap_connect(...);

-- List available tables
SELECT * FROM sap_show_tables() LIMIT 5;

-- Try a simple table read
SELECT * FROM sap_read_table('T000') LIMIT 1;

Check SAP System Status

Verify your SAP system is accessible:

# Check if SAP system is running
ping your-sap-server.com

# Test RFC port (usually 3200 + system number)
telnet your-sap-server.com 3200

Getting Additional Help

Self-Service Resources

1. Documentation: Check our complete documentation
2. Examples: Review key tasks for common scenarios
3. GitHub Issues: Search existing issues

Community Support

1. GitHub Discussions: Ask questions in GitHub Discussions
2. Stack Overflow: Tag questions with erpl and duckdb
3. LinkedIn: Connect with other users on LinkedIn

Professional Support

For enterprise support and consulting:

• Email: hello@data-zoo.de
• Contact Form: Contact us
• Consulting: Schedule a call

Error Code Reference

Common Error Codes

Error Code	Description	Solution
RFC_ERROR	General RFC communication error	Check network connectivity and SAP system status
AUTH_FAILED	Authentication failed	Verify username and password
PERMISSION_DENIED	Insufficient permissions	Contact SAP administrator for RFC authorizations
TABLE_NOT_FOUND	SAP table doesn't exist	Verify table name and client
FUNCTION_NOT_FOUND	Function module not found	Check function name and RFC enablement

Log Analysis

When reporting issues, include:

1. DuckDB Version: SELECT version();
2. ERPL Version: SELECT * FROM duckdb_extensions() WHERE extension_name = 'erpl';
3. Error Message: Complete error text
4. SAP System Info: Version, client, system number
5. Query: The exact SQL query that failed

This information helps us provide faster and more accurate support.