How To Fix COIS016 - A variant from another transaction (&2) was selected

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: COIS - Messages for the Order Information System

• Message number: 016

• Message text: A variant from another transaction (&2) was selected

What causes this issue?

The report PPIO_ENTRY is used by different transactions. The scope of
functions of the individual transactions is controlled via the variant.
In the variant you define the transaction to which it belongs. For
technical reasons it is not possible to display only those variants that
belong to transaction &V1& when the user is selecting a variant.
Therefore, the system can only check whether the user has chosen a
suitable variant after the selection has been made.
You are working in transaction &V1& of the information system or mass
processing and have selected variant &V3& of transaction &V2&.

System Response

The system carries out an authorization check for transaction &V2& which
is defined in variant &V3&. If an (old) variant that does not contain a
transaction is loaded, the system checks whether the user has
authorization for transaction COHV:
If you do <ZH>not</> have authorization for transaction &V2& the system
issues this message as an error message and terminates the transaction.
If you have authorization for transaction &V2& the system issues this
message as a default as a information message; you can also define the
message category yourself. This prevents the system from loading a
variant of another transaction.
You can use transaction <DS:TRAN.SE38>SE38</> to define for which
transaction the system carries out an authorization check for variant
&V3& of report PPIO_ENTRY.
You can define the category of the message that is issued by the system
when the user chooses a variant of another transaction in the
Customizing activity <DS:TRAN.OPJB>OPJB</>. You can choose from the
following settings:
SPACE: The system does not issue a message and loads the selected
variant, provided that the user has authorization for the transaction
maintained in the variant.
S: The system loads the variants and issues a success message, provided
that the user has authorization for the transaction maintained in the
variant (default setting).
E: The system terminates the transaction when the user tries to load a
variant from another transaction.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message COIS016 - A variant from another transaction (&2) was selected ?

  The SAP error message COIS016 indicates that a variant from another transaction has been selected, which is not allowed in the current context. This typically occurs in the context of using variants in SAP transactions, particularly in the Controlling (CO) module.
  Cause:
  The error arises when:
  
  You attempt to use a variant that was created for a different transaction or context.
  The system is designed to restrict the use of variants to ensure that the data and settings are appropriate for the specific transaction you are executing.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the COIS016 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check the Transaction Context: Ensure that you are using the correct transaction for the variant you are trying to apply. Variants are often specific to certain transactions, and using them in the wrong context will trigger this error.
  
  
  Select the Correct Variant: 
  
  Go to the transaction where you are encountering the error.
  Instead of using the variant that caused the error, select a variant that is specifically created for that transaction.
  If you do not have a suitable variant, you may need to create a new one that is appropriate for the current transaction.
  
  
  
  Create a New Variant: If necessary, create a new variant for the current transaction:
  
  Navigate to the transaction.
  Set the desired parameters.
  Save the settings as a new variant.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation: If you are unsure about which variants are applicable for your transaction, refer to the SAP documentation or help resources related to the specific transaction you are using.
  
  
  User Authorization: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to access and use the variants in the transaction.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with the transaction codes related to the variants you are working with. Each transaction may have its own set of variants.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or updates related to the error message COIS016.
  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 resolve the COIS016 error and continue with your work in SAP.