How To Fix DPR_SHARED201 - &1 &2: Start constraint conflicts with a predecessor's date

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: DPR_SHARED - Development Projects: Messages for Shared Objects

• Message number: 201

• Message text: &1 &2: Start constraint conflicts with a predecessor's date

What causes this issue?

A constraint is set for the start of the project element.
During forward scheduling for the project element, the system calculates
a start date from the predecessor relationships. The system compares the
determined start date (earliest start) with the constraint for the start
date. The warning appears if the start date conflicts with the
constraint for the start date.

System Response

The system ignores the predecessor relationship and sets the fixed start
date of the project element as the calculated start.

How to fix this error?

Check whether the fixed start date is realistic.

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 DPR_SHARED201 - &1 &2: Start constraint conflicts with a predecessor's date ?

  The SAP error message DPR_SHARED201 indicates that there is a conflict with the start date of a task in a project due to a predecessor's date constraint. This typically occurs in the context of project management within SAP, particularly when using the SAP Project System (PS) or SAP Portfolio and Project Management (PPM) modules.
  Cause:
  The error arises when:
  
  A task (or activity) has a defined start date that conflicts with the finish date of its predecessor task. 
  The predecessor task has a finish date that is later than the start date of the current task, which violates the logical sequence of task execution.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Task Dependencies:
  
  Review the predecessor and successor relationships between tasks. Ensure that the predecessor task is scheduled to finish before the current task starts.
  
  
  
  Adjust Dates:
  
  Modify the start date of the current task to ensure it starts after the predecessor task has finished.
  Alternatively, if appropriate, you can adjust the finish date of the predecessor task if it is feasible to do so.
  
  
  
  Review Constraints:
  
  Check if there are any constraints set on the tasks that might be causing the conflict. Constraints such as "Must Start On" or "Must Finish On" can lead to conflicts if not managed properly.
  
  
  
  Recalculate Dates:
  
  Use the scheduling functions in SAP to recalculate the dates for the tasks. This can help in automatically adjusting the dates based on the dependencies.
  
  
  
  Check for Manual Changes:
  
  If manual changes were made to the dates, ensure that they are consistent with the project plan and dependencies.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on managing task dependencies and scheduling.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Project Management Best Practices: Understanding the principles of project scheduling and task dependencies can help prevent such errors in the future.
  SAP Notes and Support: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Training and Resources: Consider training sessions or resources on SAP Project Management to better understand how to manage tasks and dependencies effectively.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the DPR_SHARED201 error and ensure that your project tasks are scheduled correctly.