How To Fix KE/AD503 - Selection criteria for line items are not specific enough

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KE/AD -

• Message number: 503

• Message text: Selection criteria for line items are not specific enough

What causes this issue?

The system will try to process line items. However, the selection
criteria specified are not sufficient and could therefore lead to a
long runtime.

System Response

You may experience long runtimes.

How to fix this error?

The function you have executed selects line items from the actual data
table in Profitability Analysis (CO-PA), CE1xxxx (xxxx = operating
concern). If your data volume is very large, this data selection is
likely to take a long time if you do not specify more detailed
selection criteria. You should therefore check your entries.
Recommendation: Specify a record type, a period/year, or a record type
and reference document number. SAP provides indexes for these
combinations.

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 KE/AD503 - Selection criteria for line items are not specific enough ?

  The SAP error message KE/AD503 "Selection criteria for line items are not specific enough" typically occurs when you are trying to execute a report or transaction that requires specific selection criteria for line items, but the criteria provided are too broad or vague. This can happen in various contexts, such as when working with CO (Controlling) reports or line item displays.
  Cause:
  
  Insufficient Selection Criteria: The selection criteria you have entered do not narrow down the results sufficiently. For example, if you are trying to filter by a cost center but have not specified a particular range or specific cost center, the system may not be able to process the request.
  Missing Mandatory Fields: Certain fields may be required for the report or transaction to run successfully, and if they are left blank, the system will throw this error.
  Too Many Line Items: If the selection criteria would result in an excessively large number of line items being processed, the system may reject the request to prevent performance issues.
  
  Solution:
  
  Refine Selection Criteria: Review the selection criteria you have entered and make them more specific. For example, instead of selecting a range of cost centers, specify a single cost center or a smaller range.
  Check Mandatory Fields: Ensure that all mandatory fields are filled in. Refer to the documentation or help text for the report to identify which fields are required.
  Limit the Date Range: If applicable, narrow down the date range for the report to reduce the number of line items being processed.
  Use Additional Filters: Utilize additional filters such as company code, controlling area, or other relevant fields to further narrow down the selection.
  Consult Documentation: Check the SAP documentation or help files for the specific report or transaction you are using to understand the required selection criteria.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: This error can occur in various transaction codes related to CO reports, such as KSB1 (Actual Line Items), KOB1 (Order Line Items), etc.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or updates related to the specific transaction or report you are using.
  User Authorization: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to access the data you are trying to retrieve.
  Performance Considerations: If you are working with a large dataset, consider running the report during off-peak hours or using background processing if available.
  
  By refining your selection criteria and ensuring all necessary fields are filled, you should be able to resolve the KE/AD503 error and successfully execute your report or transaction.