How To Fix AD281 - Foreign key maintenance is not possible for this field

AD281 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: AD - Data Dictionary application messages

• Message number: 281

• Message text: Foreign key maintenance is not possible for this field

What causes this issue?

Maintenance of a foreign key, that is, a foreign key for the value
table of a domain to which the field refers, is not possible for this
table field, since the table itself is the value table entered in the
domain. The field belongs to the table key, so that the definition of a
foreign key for the table means that the field would be checking
itself. As a result, no entries could be added to the value table.

System Response

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

How to fix this error?

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message AD281 - Foreign key maintenance is not possible for this field ?

  The SAP error message AD281, which states "Foreign key maintenance is not possible for this field," typically occurs when there is an attempt to maintain a foreign key relationship in a way that is not allowed by the system. This can happen for several reasons, and understanding the cause is essential for finding a solution.
  Causes of Error AD281
  
  
  Field Type Mismatch: The field you are trying to set as a foreign key may not be compatible with the field in the referenced table. For example, if one field is defined as a character type and the other as a numeric type, the foreign key relationship cannot be established.
  
  
  Field Attributes: The field may not have the necessary attributes to be used as a foreign key. For instance, it may not be defined as a key field in the database table.
  
  
  Table Configuration: The table you are trying to maintain may not be configured