How To Fix 5W160 - There is only one object of this type - no need to sort

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 5W - Messages for PD (Particularly Workflow)

• Message number: 160

• Message text: There is only one object of this type - no need to sort

What causes this issue?

You can only change the display sequence for objects of the same object
type (you can determine, for example, the display sequence for all
positions in a subtree). As the subtree you have selected only contains
one object of the same type, it does not make sense to sort.

System Response

No sort or change in data will take place.

How to fix this error?

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 5W160 - There is only one object of this type - no need to sort ?

  The SAP error message 5W160 ("There is only one object of this type - no need to sort") typically occurs in the context of SAP when you are trying to sort a list or a selection of objects, but the system has determined that there is only one object available for processing. As a result, sorting is unnecessary because there is nothing to compare or order.
  Cause:
  
  Single Object: The primary cause of this error is that the operation you are attempting to perform (like sorting) is being applied to a dataset that contains only one object. Since sorting requires at least two objects to establish an order, the system raises this message.
  Selection Criteria: The selection criteria you have used may be too restrictive, leading to only one object being returned.
  Data State: The data state or the context in which you are operating may inherently only have one object available.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Selection Criteria: Review the selection criteria you are using to ensure that they are not overly restrictive. If you expect multiple objects, adjust the criteria to include more options.
  Review Data: Verify the data you are working with to confirm that there should indeed be multiple objects available. If there is only one object, then the message is expected and can be ignored.
  Modify Sorting Logic: If you are developing or customizing a report or program, you may want to add a check to see if the number of objects is greater than one before attempting to sort. This can prevent the error from occurring in the first place.
  Ignore the Message: If the presence of only one object is acceptable for your use case, you can simply ignore the message, as it does not indicate a critical error.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to SAP's official documentation or help resources for more details on error messages and their meanings.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues and what solutions they have found.
  Debugging: If you are a developer or have access to debugging tools, you can trace the execution to see where the sorting operation is being called and why it is being applied to a single object.
  
  In summary, the error message 5W160 is a notification that sorting is unnecessary due to the presence of only one object. Adjusting your selection criteria or handling the situation programmatically can help mitigate this message.