How To Fix 29004 - Alternative & does not exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 29 - Bills of Material

• Message number: 004

• Message text: Alternative & does not exist

What causes this issue?

You see this error message in one of the following situations:
You want to change or display a specific alternative of the BOM.
You want to create, change or display a plant allocation for a specific
alternative BOM.
However, the alternative you entered does not exist.

How to fix this error?

You have two options:
Enter another alternative.
Delete the alternative you entered by entering "!" at the beginning of
the field <ZH>Alternative</>.
Press ENTER. You see the alternative overview for this BOM, listing all
existing alternatives. You can select one or more alternatives from the
list as required.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 29004 - Alternative & does not exist ?

  The SAP error message "29004 Alternative & does not exist" typically occurs in the context of material management or production planning when the system is unable to find a specified alternative item or configuration. This error can arise in various scenarios, such as during the creation of production orders, sales orders, or when trying to access a specific alternative BOM (Bill of Materials) or routing.
  Causes:
  
  Missing Alternative: The specified alternative item or configuration does not exist in the system.
  Incorrect Configuration: The configuration settings for the material or BOM may not be set up correctly.
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the master data, such as missing entries in the material master or BOM.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to access the alternative item.
  Incorrect Input: The user may have entered an incorrect alternative number or identifier.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check Alternative Configuration:
  
  Verify that the alternative item or configuration exists in the system. You can do this by checking the material master or BOM.
  Use transaction codes like CS03 (Display BOM) or MM03 (Display Material) to check the details.
  
  
  
  Create Missing Alternatives:
  
  If the alternative does not exist, you may need to create it. This can be done using transaction codes like CS01 (Create BOM) or MM01 (Create Material).
  
  
  
  Review Configuration Settings:
  
  Ensure that the configuration settings for the material are correct. This includes checking the configuration profiles and dependencies.
  
  
  
  Check Authorizations:
  
  Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to access the alternative item. This may involve checking user roles and permissions.
  
  
  
  Correct Input:
  
  Double-check the input values for any typos or incorrect entries. Ensure that the alternative number is entered correctly.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance related to the error message and the context in which it occurs.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as CS01, CS02, CS03, MM01, MM02, MM03, and CO01 for creating and managing BOMs and materials.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with an SAP expert for further assistance.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and implement a solution to resolve it.