How To Fix CL081 - You cannot delete this because subordinate classes exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CL - Classification

• Message number: 081

• Message text: You cannot delete this because subordinate classes exist

What causes this issue?

You want to delete a class or characteristic.
However, subordinate classes are still allocated to this class, so you
cannot delete the class or characteristic. This would lead to
inconsistencies in <DS:GLOS.characteristic_inheritance>characteristic
inheritance</>.

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?

<ZH>Delete characteristic</>
Choose <ZH>Edit -> Special functions -> Delete char w. values</> to
delete the characteristic from a <DS:GLOS.class_hierarchy>class
hierarchy</>. You can only do this if no values are assigned to the
characteristic in the class hierarchy. This function is only available
on the initial screen of class maintenance.
If your hierarchy is very large or has large numbers of allocations, it
may be advisable to run this function in the background, in order to
avoid runtime errors.
If the characteristic has values assigned to it in subordinate classes
or for objects allocated to the classes, it cannot be deleted. In
this case, you can only try to first delete the characteristic values in
the class hierarchy and then delete the characteristic.
<ZH>Delete class</>
You can only delete the class after deleting all its object allocations
from the class hierarchy.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message CL081 - You cannot delete this because subordinate classes exist ?

  The SAP error message CL081, which states "You cannot delete this because subordinate classes exist," typically occurs when you attempt to delete a class in the ABAP Workbench (transaction SE24) that has subclasses or derived classes associated with it. In object-oriented programming within SAP, a class can have subclasses that inherit its properties and methods. If you try to delete a parent class that has subclasses, the system prevents this action to maintain the integrity of the class hierarchy.
  Cause:
  
  The class you are trying to delete has one or more subclasses that depend on it.
  The class is part of a hierarchy, and deleting it would break the relationship with its subclasses.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Identify Subordinate Classes:
  
  Use transaction SE24 to display the class you want to delete.
  Check the "Subclasses" tab to see which subclasses are derived from the class.
  
  
  
  Delete Subordinate Classes:
  
  If you are sure that you no longer need the subclasses, you can delete them first. 
  Navigate to each subclass and delete them using transaction SE24.
  
  
  
  Delete the Parent Class:
  
  Once all subclasses have been deleted, you can then proceed to delete the parent class.
  
  
  
  Alternative Approach:
  
  If you do not want to delete the subclasses, consider marking the parent class as inactive instead of deleting it. This way, you can preserve the class structure without affecting the subclasses.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Class Hierarchy: Understanding the class hierarchy in ABAP is crucial. Classes can be organized in a parent-child relationship, where a parent class can have multiple subclasses.
  Documentation: Always refer to the SAP documentation for best practices regarding class management and object-oriented programming in ABAP.
  Transport Requests: If you are working in a development environment, ensure that any changes you make (deleting classes) are properly recorded in transport requests for consistency across environments.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the CL081 error and manage your classes effectively in SAP.