How To Fix AB008 - Summary report and sorting by value field not practical together

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: AB -

• Message number: 008

• Message text: Summary report and sorting by value field not practical together

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message AB008 - Summary report and sorting by value field not practical together ?

  The SAP error message AB008, which states "Summary report and sorting by value field not practical together," typically occurs when you attempt to generate a summary report in SAP that includes sorting by a value field. This situation arises because summary reports are designed to aggregate data, and sorting by value fields can lead to ambiguous or impractical results.
  Cause:
  
  Summary Report Nature: Summary reports aggregate data (e.g., totals, averages) and do not retain individual line item details. Sorting by a value field can conflict with the aggregated nature of the report.
  Data Structure: The underlying data structure may not support sorting by value fields when the report is set to summarize data.
  Report Configuration: The configuration of the report may not allow for sorting on value fields when summary data is being displayed.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Change Report Settings: Modify the report settings to either:
  
  Remove the sorting by value field.
  Change the report type to a detailed report instead of a summary report if sorting is essential.
  
  
  
  Use Different Report Types: If you need both summary and sorting, consider using a different report type that allows for detailed data display and sorting.
  
  
  Custom Report Development: If standard reports do not meet your needs, consider developing a custom report using ABAP or using SAP Query tools that allow for more flexible data manipulation.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Review SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on the report you are using, as different reports may have unique configurations.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or updates related to this error message.
  User Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or user groups where similar issues may have been discussed.
  Training and Documentation: Ensure that users are trained on the limitations and capabilities of the reporting tools within SAP to avoid such errors in the future.
  
  By addressing the configuration and understanding the nature of summary reports, you can effectively resolve the AB008 error and generate the desired reports.