How To Fix FCO_COPA204 - Characteristic &1 (&2) is only realigned, if not filled -> See long text

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: FCO_COPA - SFIN message class for CO-PA relevant issues

• Message number: 204

• Message text: Characteristic &1 (&2) is only realigned, if not filled -> See long text

What causes this issue?

You want to realign characteristic &V1& (&V2&). Since operating concern
&V3& is (also) defined for account-based profitability analysis, you can
activate this type of profitability analysis in a controlling area and
fiscal year. In this case account-based line items are posted to G/L
line item table ACDOCA.
The characteristics in table ACDOCA are realigned as well in most cases.
However, certain characteristics are only updated in table ACDOCA if
they are initial, as otherwise this could lead to undesired side
effects. Such characteristics are:
Account assignments COPA_KOSTL (cost center), PSPNR (WBS element),
RKAUFNR (internal order), KAUFN / KDPOS (sales order and sales order
item) and KSTRG (cost object)
Fields KNDNR (customer), VKORG (sales organization), VTWEG (distribution
channel), SPART (division), WERKS (plant) and FKART (billing type)
Note that
characteristics KAUFN and KDPOS can only be filled in table ACDOCA by
using option <LS>Rederivation of ACDOCA Characteristics for Attributed
Line Items</>. Changes in profitability segments could lead to undesired
side effects as these are used in logistical processes. Hence these two
characteristics cannot be selected for setting fixed values or
rederivation.
characteristic KNDNR (customer) is <LS>always</> updated in case the
ACDOCA line item contains a true account assignment to profitability
segment.

System Response

Characteristic &V1& is only updated in segment level table &V4& but not
in table ACDOCA in case a value is already contained in the ACDOCA line
item to be realigned.

How to fix this error?

Note that this behavior leads to differences between your costing-based
and account-based profitability reporting regarding characteristic &V1&,
in case both types of profitability analysis are activated. The
costing-based reporting will show the realigned values whereas
account-based reporting will still show the originally posted values.
More information can be found in the online help under <LS>Profitability
Analysis -> Simplified Profitability Analysis -> Structures and Master
Data -> Master Data -> Realignment</>.

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 FCO_COPA204 - Characteristic &1 (&2) is only realigned, if not filled -> See long text ?

  The SAP error message FCO_COPA204 indicates that a characteristic in the Controlling Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) module is being realigned, but it cannot be realigned because it is already filled with data. This typically occurs during the process of data transfer or when attempting to adjust characteristics in CO-PA.
  Cause:
  The error arises when:
  
  You are trying to realign a characteristic that already has values assigned to it in the CO-PA data.
  The system is set to only allow realignment of characteristics that are not filled with data.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can consider the following steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Values: Review the characteristic mentioned in the error message to see if it has existing values. If it does, you may need to decide whether to clear these values or to proceed with a different approach.
  
  
  Data Cleansing: If the characteristic needs to be realigned, you may need to clear the existing data associated with it. This can be done through:
  
  Deleting the existing entries in the CO-PA data.
  Using the appropriate transaction codes (like KE4S for CO-PA data transfer) to manage the data.
  
  
  
  Adjust Realignment Settings: If the characteristic should be allowed to be realigned even when filled, you may need to adjust the settings in the configuration. This typically involves:
  
  Accessing the configuration settings for CO-PA.
  Modifying the settings related to the realignment of characteristics.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Review the long text associated with the error message for additional context and specific instructions related to your SAP version.
  
  
  SAP Notes and Support: If the issue persists, check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address this specific error. You can search the SAP Support Portal for updates or patches that may resolve the issue.
  
  
  Testing in Development: If you are making changes to the configuration or data, it is advisable to test these changes in a development environment before applying them to production.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as KE4S (for CO-PA data transfer) and KE30 (for CO-PA reports).
  SAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for CO-PA for detailed information on characteristics, realignment processes, and data management.
  User Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or user groups where similar issues may have been discussed, providing insights or solutions from other users' experiences.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to address the FCO_COPA204 error effectively.