How To Fix CM_SUB_DATA017 - Referencing or inheriting with specification type & is not permitted

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: CM_SUB_DATA - Substance Data (Header, ID, Reference, Materials)

• Message number: 017

• Message text: Referencing or inheriting with specification type & is not permitted

What causes this issue?

Each <DS:GLOS.F87B3E882F18D4119B510060B0671ACC>specification</> is
assigned a <DS:GLOS.3526BF63AFAB52B9E10000009B38F974>specification type
</>. In Customizing, you specify for each specification type the type of
specifications that can be used as sources in references and
inheritances. This means that a specification can only be assigned
specifications of particular specification types in references and
inheritances.
The specification you assigned in a reference or inheritance belongs to
a specification type for which the required reference or inheritance
with the current specification is not possible for the following
reasons:
You specified a specification as the reference or source specification
for the current specification. However, you have not specified a
permitted source specification type for the specification type of the
current specification in Customizing.
You specified a specification as the target specification for the
current specification. However, you have not specified a permitted
source specification type for the specification type of the specified
target specification in Customizing.

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?

You cannot assign a reference, source, or target specification. If you
want to assign a corresponding specification, contact your system
administrator.

Procedure for System Administrators

INCLUDE EHS_NA_CHECK_CUSTOMIZING OBJECT DOKU ID TX

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message CM_SUB_DATA017 - Referencing or inheriting with specification type & is not permitted ?

  The SAP error message CM_SUB_DATA017 typically occurs in the context of the SAP system when there is an issue with referencing or inheriting a specification type that is not allowed. This error is often related to the configuration of material specifications, classification, or data management within the SAP system, particularly in the context of SAP's Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or Material Management (MM) modules.
  Cause:
  The error message CM_SUB_DATA017 is triggered when:
  
  Invalid Specification Type: You are trying to reference or inherit a specification type that is not permitted by the system. This could be due to the specification type being incorrectly configured or not allowed for the operation you are attempting.
  Configuration Issues: The specification types may not be properly set up in the system, or there may be restrictions on how certain types can be used in relation to others.
  Data Integrity Issues: There may be inconsistencies or errors in the data that prevent the system from processing the reference or inheritance correctly.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the CM_SUB_DATA017 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Specification Type Configuration:
  
  Review the configuration of the specification types involved. Ensure that the specification type you are trying to reference or inherit is correctly set up in the system.
  Verify that the specification type is allowed for the operation you are attempting.
  
  
  
  Review Inheritance Rules:
  
  Check the inheritance rules defined for the specification types. Ensure that the type you are trying to inherit from allows for inheritance and that you are following the correct hierarchy.
  
  
  
  Data Validation:
  
  Validate the data you are working with. Ensure that there are no inconsistencies or errors in the data that could be causing the issue.
  If necessary, clean up or correct any data issues.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific details on the specification types and their allowed operations. This can provide insights into what is permissible and what is not.
  
  
  
  Seek Support:
  
  If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with an SAP expert who can provide more tailored assistance based on your specific configuration and use case.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional guidance on configuration and troubleshooting.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes related to specification management, such as CL02 (Change Class), CL03 (Display Class), or other relevant transactions that may help in managing specifications.
  Training and Documentation: Consider training sessions or documentation on SAP PLM or MM modules to better understand how specification types work and how to manage them effectively.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the CM_SUB_DATA017 error and implement a solution to resolve it.