How To Fix COM_PRODUCT_CUSTMSG012 - Attribute alternative ID must begin with a letter

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: COM_PRODUCT_CUSTMSG - Product: Customer-Specific Messages

• Message number: 012

• Message text: Attribute alternative ID must begin with a letter

What causes this issue?

The entry you made does not begin with a letter. Attribute aliases must
begin with a letter.
Attribute aliases correspond to characteristic IDs in the SAP system.
Characteristic IDs must begin with a letter. If you intend to transfer
this data from the CRM system to an SAP system and want to avoid
extensive mapping, attribute aliases should also begin with a letter.

How to fix this error?

Start your entry with a letter.

Procedure for System Administrators

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

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message COM_PRODUCT_CUSTMSG012 - Attribute alternative ID must begin with a letter ?

  The SAP error message COM_PRODUCT_CUSTMSG012 indicates that there is an issue with the format of the "Alternative ID" attribute for a product. Specifically, the error states that the Alternative ID must begin with a letter. This is a validation rule in SAP to ensure that identifiers follow a specific format, which is important for data integrity and consistency.
  Cause:
  The error is triggered when the Alternative ID provided for a product does not start with an alphabetic character (A-Z, a-z). This could happen due to:
  
  Manual entry errors where the user mistakenly starts the ID with a number or special character.
  Data import processes where the source data does not conform to the required format.
  System integrations where the Alternative ID is generated or modified incorrectly.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you should:
  
  
  Check the Alternative ID: Review the Alternative ID you are trying to use and ensure that it starts with a letter. For example, instead of using "12345" or "#ID001", use "A12345" or "ID001".
  
  
  Modify the ID: If the ID does not meet the criteria, modify it to start with a letter. Ensure that the rest of the ID follows any other formatting rules that may apply.
  
  
  Data Validation: If you are importing data, ensure that the source data is validated before import. You may need to implement checks to ensure that all Alternative IDs conform to the required format.
  
  
  Review Integration Logic: If the Alternative ID is being generated or modified by an integration, review the logic to ensure it adheres to the naming conventions.
  
  
  Testing: After making the necessary changes, test the entry again to confirm that the error has been resolved.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to the SAP Help Portal or specific documentation related to the product master data management for more details on naming conventions and data validation rules.
  Data Governance: Implementing data governance practices can help prevent such issues in the future by ensuring that all data entries conform to established standards.
  Error Handling: Consider implementing error handling in your data entry or import processes to catch such issues early and provide meaningful feedback to users.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and ensure that your Alternative IDs are correctly formatted.