How To Fix F5838 - Special G/L indicator & not defined or incorrect

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: F5 - Document Editing

• Message number: 838

• Message text: Special G/L indicator & not defined or incorrect

What causes this issue?

Posting key "&v2&" (account type "&v3&") has been programmed for
special G/L transactions. However, either no attributes have been
defined for special G/L transaction "&v1&", or the classification is
incomplete (down payment, bill of exchange, other).

System Response

Incorrect definition in FI customizing tables.

How to fix this error?

Maintain the entry for account type "&v3&" and special G/L transaction
"&v1&" using the FI customizing functions.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message F5838 - Special G/L indicator & not defined or incorrect ?

  The SAP error message F5838 indicates that there is an issue with the Special G/L indicator in the context of financial transactions. This error typically arises when the system cannot find a valid configuration for the specified Special G/L indicator in the transaction you are trying to process.
  Cause:
  
  Undefined Special G/L Indicator: The Special G/L indicator you are trying to use is not defined in the system.
  Incorrect Configuration: The Special G/L indicator may be defined, but it is not configured correctly for the transaction type you are attempting to execute.
  Missing Master Data: The relevant master data (like vendor or customer accounts) may not be set up to use the specified Special G/L indicator.
  Transaction Type Issues: The transaction type you are using may not support the specified Special G/L indicator.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Special G/L Indicator Configuration:
  
  Go to the SAP transaction code OBXR (for defining Special G/L indicators).
  Verify that the Special G/L indicator you are using is defined and correctly configured.
  
  
  
  Review Account Settings:
  
  Check the master data for the relevant accounts (e.g., vendor or customer accounts) to ensure they are set up to use the Special G/L indicator.
  Use transaction codes like FK03 (for vendor) or FD03 (for customer) to review the account settings.
  
  
  
  Transaction Type Validation:
  
  Ensure that the transaction type you are using is compatible with the Special G/L indicator. You can check this in the configuration settings for the specific transaction type.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or help files related to Special G/L indicators for any specific requirements or configurations that may be necessary.
  
  
  
  Contact SAP Support:
  
  If the issue persists after checking the above points, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Special G/L Indicators: These are used in SAP to differentiate between various types of transactions, such as down payments, guarantees, or other special transactions that require different accounting treatment.
  Configuration Transactions: Familiarize yourself with relevant configuration transactions like OBY6 (for defining special G/L transactions) and OBXK (for defining special G/L indicators).
  Error Logs: Check the application log or error logs for more detailed information about the error, which can provide additional context for troubleshooting.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue related to the F5838 error message in SAP.