Performance issues
Quick answer
Enforce ABAP performance rules (no SELECT-in-loop, filter/aggregate in the database), keep indexes and statistics current, and size the system for the workload.
Key takeaways
- Transactions or reports are slow, jobs run long, or the system feels sluggish.
- Measure before tuning: ST03 (workload analysis) shows where time goes (database, CPU, wait) by transaction; ST05 (SQL trace) and…
- Expensive SQL, SELECT in loops, SELECT *, missing indexes.
- Watch out: Guessing instead of reading the log/dump.
Symptom
Transactions or reports are slow, jobs run long, or the system feels sluggish.
Start here: read the evidence
Measure before tuning: ST03 (workload analysis) shows where time goes (database, CPU, wait) by transaction; ST05 (SQL trace) and SAT (runtime analysis) find the expensive statements; SM50/SM66 show work-process contention.
Likely causes, in order
- Expensive SQL, SELECT in loops, SELECT *, missing indexes.
- Custom code inefficiency (nested loops, huge internal tables).
- Database, missing indexes, outdated statistics.
- Work-process/memory contention or under-sizing.
How to fix it
- Baseline with ST03 to find the worst offenders.
- Trace with ST05/SAT to find the cause.
- Fix the code/SQL (or add an index); size buffers/processes.
- Re-measure to confirm the improvement.
Preventing recurrence
Enforce ABAP performance rules (no SELECT-in-loop, filter/aggregate in the database), keep indexes and statistics current, and size the system for the workload. Most performance problems are preventable custom-code or database issues.
Common pitfalls
- Guessing instead of reading the log/dump.
- Fixing the symptom, not the root cause.
- Changing several things at once.
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Check your understanding
Which statement is true of Performance issues?
- A. Backing up an SAP system protects its most valuable asset, the database, and the configuration needed to…
- B. Transactions or reports are slow, jobs run long, or the system feels sluggish.
- C. SAP learning paths (learning journeys) are the structured routes SAP provides to prepare for a certification…
Show answer
B. Transactions or reports are slow, jobs run long, or the system feels sluggish.
Covered in the “Symptom” section of this lesson.
Which of these also applies to Performance issues?
- A. Not handling RFC exceptions (system down/unreachable).
- B. Order not released, cannot execute.
- C. Most performance problems are preventable custom-code or database issues.
Show answer
C. Most performance problems are preventable custom-code or database issues.
Covered in the “Preventing recurrence” section of this lesson.
Which part of the Learn SAP curriculum covers Performance issues?
- A. SAP interview questions
- B. SAP troubleshooting
- C. SAP tables
Show answer
B. SAP troubleshooting
This lesson sits in the SAP troubleshooting section of the Learn SAP course.