How To Fix CI013 - Group counter & used in maintenance item(s): Deletion not possible

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CI - Plant maintenance task list messages

• Message number: 013

• Message text: Group counter & used in maintenance item(s): Deletion not possible

What causes this issue?

You tried to delete a group counter (GC) which is used in one or more
<GL:maintenance_item>maintenance items</>.

System Response

INCLUDE 'KEINE-FUNKTION' OBJECT DOKU ID TX LANGUAGE E

How to fix this error?

If you want to delete this group counter, proceed as follows:
Check in which maintenance items the group counter is used.
Then decide whether you really want to delete the task list group
counter. If so, proceed with step 3.
Delete the reference entries to the task list group counter in the
individual maintenance items.
Delete the task list group counter.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message CI013 - Group counter & used in maintenance item(s): Deletion not possible ?

  The SAP error message CI013, which states "Group counter & used in maintenance item(s): Deletion not possible," typically occurs when you attempt to delete a group counter that is still being referenced by one or more maintenance items in the system. This is a common issue in SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) or SAP Controlling (CO) modules, where group counters are used to manage and track maintenance activities.
  Cause:
  
  Active References: The group counter you are trying to delete is still linked to existing maintenance items, such as maintenance orders, notifications, or other related documents.
  Data Integrity: SAP enforces data integrity rules to prevent the deletion of objects that are still in use, which helps maintain the consistency of the database.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Identify References:
  
  Use transaction codes like IW38 (for maintenance orders) or IW29 (for notifications) to check if there are any active maintenance items that reference the group counter.
  You can also use the SE16 transaction to query the relevant database tables (e.g., AFKO, AFVC, QMEL) to find any entries linked to the group counter.
  
  
  
  Delete or Modify References:
  
  If you find any active maintenance items that are using the group counter, you will need to either delete those items (if they are no longer needed) or modify them to remove the reference to the group counter.
  Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to make these changes.
  
  
  
  Check for Dependencies:
  
  Sometimes, there may be dependencies or linked objects that also need to be addressed. Make sure to check for any related documents or processes that might be using the group counter.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or consult with your SAP support team for any specific guidelines related to your organization's use of group counters and maintenance items.
  
  
  
  Retry Deletion:
  
  Once you have removed all references to the group counter, you can attempt to delete it again.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as IW31 (Create Maintenance Order), IW32 (Change Maintenance Order), and IW39 (Display Maintenance Order) to manage maintenance items effectively.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or additional guidance related to this error message.
  User Authorizations: Ensure that you have the appropriate authorizations to delete maintenance items and group counters in your SAP environment.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the CI013 error and successfully delete the group counter if it is no longer needed.