How To Fix CL212 - Characteristic &2 cannot be deleted from class &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CL - Classification

• Message number: 212

• Message text: Characteristic &2 cannot be deleted from class &1

What causes this issue?

You are trying to delete characteristic &V2& with change number &V3&
from class &V1&. The date for this change number is within the permitted
scope of changes to this characteristic assignment.

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

This error message can appear even though you do not intend to delete
the characteristic from the class: The position of the characteristic in
the list of characteristics for a class can be changed by the deletion
or movement of other characteristics. If these changes are carried out
using change management, a position change consists of a deletion in the
old position, and an addition in the new position.
In some cases, especially with changes in the past whereby the affected
characteristic was deleted at a later time, a change like this can
generate invalid states. Then error CL 212 occurs, and the change cannot
be executed.

System Response

Deletion is not permitted and is not carried out.

How to fix this error?

Choose a change number whose date is after &V4& (latest validity date of
a change to this characteristic assignment).

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message CL212 - Characteristic &2 cannot be deleted from class &1 ?

  The SAP error message CL212 indicates that a characteristic cannot be deleted from a class. This typically occurs in the context of SAP's classification system, where characteristics are used to define the properties of classes and objects.
  Cause:
  The error message CL212 can be triggered by several reasons, including:
  
  
  Usage in Objects: The characteristic you are trying to delete is still being used in one or more objects (e.g., materials, equipment, etc.). If a characteristic is assigned to any object, it cannot be deleted from the class.
  
  
  Dependencies: There may be dependencies or links to other classes or characteristics that prevent deletion.
  
  
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to delete the characteristic from the class.
  
  
  System Settings: Certain system settings or configurations may restrict the deletion of characteristics.
  
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Check Usage: 
  
  Use transaction code CL03 (Display Class) to check if the characteristic is assigned to any objects. If it is, you will need to remove it from those objects first.
  You can also use transaction CL20 (Class Overview) to get a list of all classes and their characteristics.
  
  
  
  Remove from Objects: 
  
  If the characteristic is used in any objects, you will need to go to those objects and remove the characteristic before attempting to delete it from the class.
  
  
  
  Check Dependencies: 
  
  Ensure that there are no dependencies or links to other characteristics or classes that might be preventing the deletion.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check: 
  
  Verify that you have the necessary authorizations to delete characteristics. You may need to contact your SAP security administrator if you suspect authorization issues.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation: 
  
  Review SAP documentation or consult with your SAP support team for any specific configurations that might affect the deletion of characteristics.
  
  
  
  Use Transaction CL02: 
  
  If you have confirmed that the characteristic is not in use and you have the necessary authorizations, you can try to delete it using transaction CL02 (Change Class).
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  CL01: Create Class
  CL02: Change Class
  CL03: Display Class
  CL20: Class Overview
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address specific issues related to this error message.
  
  
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and take appropriate action to resolve it.