How To Fix >5724 - External document numbers withing the selected documents are not unique

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: >5 -

• Message number: 724

• Message text: External document numbers withing the selected documents are not unique

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message >5724 - External document numbers withing the selected documents are not unique ?

  The SAP error message "5724 External document numbers within the selected documents are not unique" typically occurs in the context of document processing, such as during the posting of invoices or when handling external documents in SAP. This error indicates that there are duplicate external document numbers within the set of documents you are trying to process.
  Cause:
  
  
  Duplicate External Document Numbers: The primary cause of this error is that the external document numbers (e.g., invoice numbers, reference numbers) you are trying to process are not unique. This can happen if:
  
  Multiple documents have been assigned the same external document number.
  There is a data entry error where the same number has been entered for different documents.
  
  
  
  Configuration Issues: Sometimes, the configuration settings in SAP regarding document number ranges or number assignment may lead to conflicts.
  
  
  Data Migration Issues: If data has been migrated from another system, there may be duplicates that were not caught during the migration process.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Identify Duplicates: 
  
  Use transaction codes like SE16 or SE11 to query the relevant tables (e.g., BKPF for accounting documents) to find the duplicate external document numbers.
  You can also use reports or custom queries to identify duplicates based on the external document number.
  
  
  
  Correct the Duplicates: 
  
  Once you have identified the duplicates, you will need to either change the external document numbers to ensure uniqueness or delete the duplicate entries if they are not needed.
  If the duplicates are in the system due to a data migration, you may need to clean up the data accordingly.
  
  
  
  Review Configuration: 
  
  Check the configuration settings for document number ranges in the relevant modules (e.g., FI, MM) to ensure that they are set up correctly and do not allow for duplicates.
  
  
  
  Reprocess the Documents: 
  
  After resolving the duplicates, attempt to reprocess the documents that triggered the error.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as:
  
  SE16: Data Browser for table queries.
  FB03: Display Document to view existing documents.
  FBL1N/FBL3N: Vendor/Customer line item display to check for related documents.
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message. You can search the SAP Support Portal for specific notes that may address this issue.
  
  
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation or help files related to document management and external document number handling for best practices.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and ensure that your external document numbers are unique within the selected documents.