Understanding the Purpose of USER_REL_IMPORT in PRGN_CUST

How a Simple Parameter Can Safeguard Role Assignments in SAP S/4HANA and Ensure Seamless Role Transport in CUA Landscapes.

Managing roles and user assignments in SAP S/4HANA is no easy feat—especially in complex, multi-system landscapes. When roles are transported across environments, even a small misstep can lead to broken authorizations, overwritten assignments, or system-wide inconsistencies.

USER_REL_IMPORT—a powerful yet often overlooked parameter in the PRGN_CUST table. This simple switch can make the difference between clean, centralized role management and a security nightmare. In this article, we dive deep into what USER_REL_IMPORT does, why it matters, and how to use it to keep your SAP environment compliant, consistent, and under control.

Managing user roles and assignments across a distributed SAP S/4HANA landscape can be complex—especially in Central User Administration (CUA) environments. SAP provides several tools to streamline these processes, and one such critical configuration is the “USER_REL_IMPORT” parameter in the “PRGN_CUST” table. This article explores its purpose, configuration steps, and best practices for ensuring consistent and secure user-role assignments.

What Is the PRGN_CUST Table?

The PRGN_CUST table is a customizable configuration table in SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA used for role administration. It contains system-wide parameters that influence how roles and authorizations are managed. By setting values in this table, administrators can control various behaviors, including how user assignments are handled during role transport.

Purpose of the USER_REL_IMPORT Parameter

The “USER_REL_IMPORT” parameter in the PRGN_CUST table determines how user-role relationships are imported during role transports between systems. Specifically, it governs whether user assignments included in role transports are applied in the target system.

Why Set USER_REL_IMPORT to "NO"?

Setting “USER_REL_IMPORT = NO” instructs the system not to import user assignments along with roles. This is particularly recommended when:

• You are using Central User Administration (CUA) and user-role assignments are maintained centrally.

• You want to prevent local overwrites or inconsistencies in user data in child systems.

• You aim to avoid transporting assignments for users that do not exist in the target system.

Common Issues Without USER_REL_IMPORT = NO parameter

Transporting user assignments without controlling them via USER_REL_IMPORT can lead to several issues:

1. Assignments to Non-existent Users: Role transports may include user assignments for users that don’t exist in the target system, resulting in errors. This requires a manual cleanup using transaction PFUD.

2. Incorrect CUA Client Validation: During import, the system may incorrectly validate CUA settings based on client 000 instead of the active client, leading to misalignment in assignment handling.

3. Overwritten Assignments: If user assignments are transported and applied in child systems, it can overwrite local assignments. In CUA environments, this undermines the central system's authority and creates inconsistencies.

How to Configure USER_REL_IMPORT?

Follow these steps to configure the USER_REL_IMPORT setting:

1. Go to transaction SM30.

2. Enter table/view name: `PRGN_CUST`.

3. Click on "Maintain".

4. Add a new entry:

Parameter: `USER_REL_IMPORT`

Value: `NO`

5. Save your changes.

Conclusion

The `USER_REL_IMPORT` parameter in the PRGN_CUST table plays a pivotal role in controlling how user-role assignments are handled during role transports. Setting it to "NO" is essential in Central User Administration scenarios to prevent unauthorized or unintended changes in user assignments across systems.

By correctly configuring this parameter and following best practices, SAP administrators can ensure secure, consistent, and centrally governed role management throughout the SAP S/4HANA landscape.