How To Fix CC226 - You cannot delete (material exists)

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CC - ECM: Messages

• Message number: 226

• Message text: You cannot delete (material exists)

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message CC226 - You cannot delete (material exists) ?

  The SAP error message CC226 ("You cannot delete (material exists)") typically occurs when you attempt to delete a material or a material master record that is still being referenced in the system. This can happen in various contexts, such as when trying to delete a material from a specific view or when attempting to delete a material that has existing transactions or dependencies.
  Causes:
  
  Existing Transactions: The material is still being used in existing transactions, such as purchase orders, sales orders, production orders, or stock movements.
  Dependencies: The material may have dependencies in other modules, such as inventory management, production planning, or sales and distribution.
  Material Master Views: Certain views of the material master may still be active or in use, preventing deletion.
  Batch Management: If the material is batch-managed, there may be batches that are still active or in use.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check for Existing Transactions:
  
  Use transaction codes like ME23N (Display Purchase Order), VA03 (Display Sales Order), or CO03 (Display Production Order) to check if there are any open transactions related to the material.
  If there are open transactions, you will need to close or delete them before you can delete the material.
  
  
  
  Check Material Master Views:
  
  Go to transaction MM03 (Display Material) and check all views of the material master to ensure that there are no active records.
  If certain views are not needed, you may need to deactivate them first.
  
  
  
  Delete Dependent Objects:
  
  If the material is part of a bill of materials (BOM) or routing, you will need to delete those dependencies first.
  Use transaction CS03 (Display BOM) or CA03 (Display Routing) to check for dependencies.
  
  
  
  Batch Management:
  
  If the material is batch-managed, ensure that all batches are either deleted or set to inactive.
  
  
  
  Use Transaction MM06:
  
  If you cannot delete the material due to existing references, you can use transaction MM06 to mark the material as "obsolete" instead of deleting it. This will prevent it from being used in future transactions.
  
  
  
  Consult with Your SAP Administrator:
  
  If you are unsure about the dependencies or how to proceed, consult with your SAP administrator or a functional consultant who can help you identify the references and guide you through the deletion process.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  MM03: Display Material
  MM06: Change Material (to mark as obsolete)
  ME23N: Display Purchase Order
  VA03: Display Sales Order
  CO03: Display Production Order
  CS03: Display BOM
  CA03: Display Routing
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific guidance or updates related to this error message.
  
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for more details on material master data management and deletion processes.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the CC226 error and successfully delete the material if it is no longer needed.