How To Fix EC438 - &1 is a customer menu; no original menu exists

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EC - Development environment: Menu Painter

• Message number: 438

• Message text: &1 is a customer menu; no original menu exists

What causes this issue?

The menu was created in a customer system. Therefore, no original
version of the menu can be displayed.

System Response

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

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EC438 - &1 is a customer menu; no original menu exists ?

  The SAP error message EC438 indicates that the system is trying to access a customer menu, but it cannot find the original menu associated with it. This typically occurs when a custom menu has been created or modified, and the original menu structure has been altered or deleted.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Original Menu: The original menu that the custom menu is based on has been deleted or is not available in the system.
  Transport Issues: If the custom menu was transported from one system to another (e.g., from development to production), the original menu might not have been transported correctly.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to access the original menu.
  Configuration Changes: Changes in the configuration or updates to the SAP system may have affected the menu structure.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Menu Configuration:
  
  Verify if the original menu exists in the system. You can do this by navigating to the menu path in the SAP GUI.
  If the original menu is missing, you may need to recreate it or restore it from a backup.
  
  
  
  Review Transport Requests:
  
  If the issue arose after a transport, check the transport logs to ensure that all necessary objects were included in the transport request.
  If the original menu was not transported, you may need to transport it from the development system.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check:
  
  Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to access the original menu. You can check this using transaction code SU53 or by reviewing the user's roles and authorizations.
  
  
  
  Recreate the Custom Menu:
  
  If the original menu cannot be restored, you may need to recreate the custom menu based on the current menu structure.
  
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes:
  
  Check the SAP Support Portal for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error message or provide additional guidance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may use transaction codes like SE43N (Area Menu) or SE80 (Object Navigator) to manage and view menus.
  SAP Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for more details on menu management and customization.
  Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the EC438 error and implement a solution to resolve it.