How To Fix 29664 - Item category & is not a material or text item

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 29 - Bills of Material

• Message number: 664

• Message text: Item category & is not a material or text item

What causes this issue?

You are entering user-specific setting for BOM maintenance.
You have entered &V1& as the default item category for material or text
items. However, this item category is neither a material item nor a
text item.

How to fix this error?

Please display a list of the item categories defined in your company.
To do this, look at the settings in Customizing (Bills of material)
<LS>Item data -> Item categories</>.
For a material item, you can only use an item category for which
material entry is defined.
For a text item, you can only enter an item category which contains the
<LS>text item</> indicator.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 29664 - Item category & is not a material or text item ?

  The SAP error message 29664, which states "Item category & is not a material or text item," typically occurs in the context of sales documents, such as sales orders or quotations, when the system encounters an item category that is not recognized as a valid material or text item. This can happen for several reasons, and understanding the cause is essential for finding a solution.
  Causes:
  
  
  Incorrect Item Category Configuration: The item category may not be properly configured in the system. It might not be linked to a valid material type or may not be set up to allow for the type of item being processed.
  
  
  Missing Material Master Data: If the item category is supposed to reference a material, the material master data may be missing or not properly maintained.
  
  
  Incorrect Document Type: The document type being used may not support the item category in question.
  
  
  Custom Item Categories: If custom item categories have been created, they may not have been set up correctly to handle the expected materials or text items.
  
  
  User Input Error: The user may have mistakenly entered an incorrect item category when creating the document.
  
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check Item Category Configuration:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for item categories in the SAP system (Transaction code: VOV4).
  Ensure that the item category in question is correctly defined and linked to the appropriate material types.
  
  
  
  Verify Material Master Data:
  
  Check if the material associated with the item category exists in the material master (Transaction code: MM03).
  If the material is missing, create it or ensure it is correctly maintained.
  
  
  
  Review Document Type Settings:
  
  Check the document type settings to ensure that the item category is allowed for the specific document type being used (Transaction code: VOTXN).
  
  
  
  Examine Custom Item Categories:
  
  If using custom item categories, review their configuration to ensure they are set up to handle the expected materials or text items.
  
  
  
  Correct User Input:
  
  If the error is due to user input, correct the item category in the sales document and reprocess.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as VA01 (Create Sales Order), VA02 (Change Sales Order), and VA03 (Display Sales Order) to navigate through sales documents.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation or help files for detailed information on item categories and their configurations.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and implement the appropriate solution. If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team for further assistance.