How To Fix EARC_EN071 - contract &1 cannot be archived; invoicing document &2 depends on it

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EARC_EN - IS-U: Archiving Master Data

• Message number: 071

• Message text: contract &1 cannot be archived; invoicing document &2 depends on it

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EARC_EN071 - contract &1 cannot be archived; invoicing document &2 depends on it ?

  The SAP error message EARC_EN071 indicates that a contract cannot be archived because there is an invoicing document that depends on it. This typically occurs in the context of data archiving in SAP, where certain business objects (like contracts) cannot be archived if they are still referenced by other objects (like invoicing documents).
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the contract you are trying to archive is still linked to one or more invoicing documents. Invoicing documents may include invoices, credit memos, or other billing-related documents that reference the contract. SAP enforces referential integrity, meaning that you cannot archive a contract if it is still in use or referenced by other documents.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Identify Dependencies: 
  
  Use transaction codes like SE16 or SE11 to check the database tables related to contracts and invoicing documents. You can look for tables such as VBRK (Billing Document: Header Data) and VBRP (Billing Document: Item Data) to find any invoicing documents that reference the contract.
  
  
  
  Review Invoicing Documents:
  
  Check the invoicing documents that are linked to the contract. You may need to review the status of these documents to determine if they can be canceled or if they are still valid.
  
  
  
  Cancel or Delete Invoicing Documents:
  
  If the invoicing documents are no longer needed, you can cancel or delete them. Ensure that you follow your organization's policies and procedures for handling invoicing documents.
  
  
  
  Archive Related Documents:
  
  If applicable, archive the invoicing documents first before attempting to archive the contract again.
  
  
  
  Retry Archiving:
  
  Once you have resolved the dependencies, attempt to archive the contract again using the appropriate archiving transaction (e.g., SARA).
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Archiving Process: Familiarize yourself with the archiving process in SAP, including the configuration and the necessary prerequisites for archiving contracts and related documents.
  Transaction Codes: Common transaction codes related to archiving include:
  
  SARA: Archive Administration
  SARI: Archive Information System
  SARE: Archive Object Management
  
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help guides for specific details on archiving contracts and handling dependencies.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the EARC_EN071 error and successfully archive the contract.