How To Fix BRAIN168 - The settings for characteristic &1 and input mode &2 are incompatible

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: BRAIN -

• Message number: 168

• Message text: The settings for characteristic &1 and input mode &2 are incompatible

What causes this issue?

Characteristic &V1& cannot be included in the drilldown (CHANAV = &V2&;
CHASEL = &V4&).
This is not compatible with input mode &V2&, as this would force a
drilldown or filtering for the characteristic.

System Response

The query cannot be generated in this input mode.

How to fix this error?

Check characteristic &V1& and the query.

Procedure for System Administrators

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

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message BRAIN168 - The settings for characteristic &1 and input mode &2 are incompatible ?

  The SAP error message BRAIN168 indicates that there is an incompatibility between the settings for a characteristic and the input mode being used in a planning scenario. This typically occurs in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation) when working with planning functions or queries.
  Cause:
  The error can arise due to several reasons:
  
  Incompatible Characteristic Settings: The characteristic specified in the error message may have settings that do not align with the input mode being used. For example, if the characteristic is set to a certain type of input (like a key figure) but the input mode expects a different type (like a characteristic value).
  Incorrect Input Mode: The input mode specified may not be suitable for the characteristic. For instance, if the input mode is set to "manual entry" but the characteristic is configured for "automatic calculation."
  Planning Function Configuration: The planning function or query may not be correctly configured to handle the specified characteristic and input mode combination.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the BRAIN168 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Settings:
  
  Go to the characteristic settings in the SAP BW or BPC system.
  Verify that the settings for the characteristic (e.g., data type, input mode) are compatible with the intended use in the planning function or query.
  
  
  
  Review Input Mode:
  
  Check the input mode being used in the planning function or query.
  Ensure that it is appropriate for the characteristic in question. If necessary, change the input mode to one that is compatible.
  
  
  
  Adjust Planning Function/Query:
  
  If you are using a planning function, review its configuration to ensure that it is set up correctly for the characteristics and input modes involved.
  If you are using a query, check the query definition to ensure that it aligns with the characteristics and input modes.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on the characteristics and input modes you are working with.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making adjustments, test the planning function or query again to see if the error persists.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered and resolved similar issues.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as RSA1 (Data Warehousing Workbench) or BPC transaction codes for planning functions.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the incompatibility causing the BRAIN168 error in your SAP environment.