How To Fix CE017 - Formula & becomes recursive: It is referred to in formula &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CE - CAPP messages

• Message number: 017

• Message text: Formula & becomes recursive: It is referred to in formula &

What causes this issue?

You are changing the formula &V1&. As an origin for the characteristic
&V4& in this formula, you have specified the formula &V2&. However,
formula &V2& contains at least one characteristic which is directly or
indirectly obtained from the formula &V1&.

How to fix this error?

Please enter another formula as an origin in formula &V1&.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message CE017 - Formula & becomes recursive: It is referred to in formula & ?

  The SAP error message CE017 indicates that there is a recursive reference in a formula within a planning application, typically in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation). This error occurs when a formula references itself directly or indirectly, leading to an infinite loop in calculations.
  Cause:
  
  
  Direct Recursion: The formula directly references itself. For example, if you have a formula like =A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H + I + J + K + L + M + N + O + P + Q + R + S + T + U + V + W + X + Y + Z + A, it directly includes A, which causes recursion.
  
  
  Indirect Recursion: The formula references another formula that, in turn, references the original formula. For example, if Formula A references Formula B, and Formula B references Formula A, this creates a circular reference.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Review the Formula: Check the formula for any direct or indirect references to itself. Ensure that the formula does not include its own variable or any other formula that leads back to it.
  
  
  Refactor the Formula: If recursion is necessary for your calculations, consider breaking down the formula into smaller, non-recursive components. You may need to create intermediate calculations or use different logic to achieve the desired result without recursion.
  
  
  Use Alternative Logic: If the recursive logic is essential, explore alternative methods to achieve the same outcome without using a recursive formula. This might involve using aggregation functions or restructuring your data model.
  
  
  Testing: After making changes, test the formula to ensure that it produces the expected results without triggering the CE017 error.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation for specific guidelines on formula creation and limitations in the context of your SAP application (BW, BPC, etc.).
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights and solutions from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  Debugging Tools: Utilize debugging tools available in SAP to trace the formula execution and identify where the recursion occurs.
  
  By addressing the recursive reference in your formula, you should be able to resolve the CE017 error and ensure that your calculations function correctly.