How To Fix COM_PRODUCT_CUSTMSG018 - Do not start a category ID with an underscore

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 018

• Message text: Do not start a category ID with an underscore

What causes this issue?

The entry you made begins with an underscore.
Categories correspond to classes. Classes are not allowed to begin with
an underscore in the SAP system. If you intend to transfer this data
from the CRM system to an SAP system and want to avoid extensive
mapping, categories should not begin with an underscore.

How to fix this error?

Start your entry with an alphanumeric character.

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_CUSTMSG018 - Do not start a category ID with an underscore ?

  The SAP error message COM_PRODUCT_CUSTMSG018 indicates that there is an issue with the naming convention of a category ID in the SAP system. Specifically, the error states that a category ID should not start with an underscore (_). This is a validation rule in SAP to ensure that category IDs follow a specific format and do not begin with characters that may be reserved or have special meanings in the system.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the category ID you are trying to create or modify begins with an underscore. This is against the naming conventions set by SAP, which typically reserve certain characters for specific uses or to avoid conflicts.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you should:
  
  
  Rename the Category ID: Change the category ID so that it does not start with an underscore. For example, if your current category ID is _Category1, you could rename it to Category1 or Cat1.
  
  
  Check Naming Conventions: Ensure that any new category IDs you create adhere to SAP's naming conventions. Generally, category IDs should start with a letter and can include numbers and other characters, but not special characters like underscores at the beginning.
  
  
  Update References: If the category ID is referenced elsewhere in your system (e.g., in product assignments, reports, etc.), make sure to update those references to reflect the new category ID.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for guidelines on naming conventions for various objects within the system.
  SAP Community: You can search for discussions or posts related to this error in the SAP Community forums, where other users may have encountered and resolved similar issues.
  Testing: After making the changes, test the functionality to ensure that the category ID works as expected without triggering the error message.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and successfully create or modify your category ID in SAP.