How To Fix K9017 - Obligatory characteristic "&" has not been defined

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: K9 - CO Planning Processor

• Message number: 017

• Message text: Obligatory characteristic "&" has not been defined

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message K9017 - Obligatory characteristic "&" has not been defined ?

  The SAP error message K9017, which states "Obligatory characteristic '&' has not been defined," typically occurs in the context of Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) when a required characteristic is missing in the configuration of your CO-PA settings. This error indicates that a mandatory characteristic that is expected in the data structure has not been defined or is not available in the current context.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Characteristics: The characteristic that is indicated by the placeholder "&" is not defined in the operating concern or the data structure you are working with.
  Configuration Issues: There may be a misconfiguration in the CO-PA settings, where certain characteristics are marked as obligatory but have not been set up properly.
  Data Source Issues: The data source from which you are trying to pull information may not include the required characteristic.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Configuration:
  
  Go to the CO-PA configuration settings in SAP (Transaction code: KEA0).
  Verify that the characteristic indicated in the error message is defined in the operating concern you are using.
  Ensure that all obligatory characteristics are properly configured and activated.
  
  
  
  Define Missing Characteristics:
  
  If the characteristic is indeed missing, you will need to define it. This can be done in the operating concern settings.
  Navigate to the characteristics section and add the required characteristic.
  
  
  
  Review Data Sources:
  
  Check the data sources that are being used for CO-PA reporting. Ensure that they include the necessary characteristics.
  If you are using a custom data source, make sure it is designed to include all obligatory characteristics.
  
  
  
  Transport Requests:
  
  If changes were made in a development environment, ensure that they are transported to the production environment correctly.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making the necessary changes, test the report or transaction that was generating the error to confirm that the issue has been resolved.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: KEA0 (Define Operating Concern), KEA1 (Define Characteristics), KEA2 (Define Value Fields).
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for detailed guidance on configuring CO-PA and managing characteristics.
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address specific issues related to this error message.
  
  If the problem persists after following these steps, it may be beneficial to consult with your SAP support team or refer to SAP community forums for additional insights.