How To Fix KE542 - Higher-level characteristic &1 not contained in operating concern &2

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KE -

• Message number: 542

• Message text: Higher-level characteristic &1 not contained in operating concern &2

What causes this issue?

A system error has occurred.
Characteristic "&V3&" is dependent on characteristic "&V1&". However,
characteristic "&V1&" is not contained in "&V2&".

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?

Contact the relevant support hotline. In your problem message, add the
first 10 pages of the short dump.

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 KE542 - Higher-level characteristic &1 not contained in operating concern &2 ?

  The SAP error message KE542, which states "Higher-level characteristic &1 not contained in operating concern &2," typically occurs in the context of Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) when there is a mismatch or misconfiguration related to the operating concern and its characteristics.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Characteristics: The higher-level characteristic (e.g., a characteristic that is supposed to be part of the operating concern) is not defined in the operating concern configuration.
  Incorrect Configuration: The operating concern may not be set up correctly to include the necessary characteristics that are required for the analysis.
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the data being processed, such as trying to post data that references characteristics not included in the operating concern.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Operating Concern Configuration:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for the operating concern in SAP (Transaction code: OKKP).
  Verify that the higher-level characteristic mentioned in the error message is included in the operating concern. If it is missing, you may need to add it.
  
  
  
  Adjust Characteristics:
  
  If the characteristic is not relevant for the operating concern, consider whether it should be removed from the data being processed or if the operating concern needs to be adjusted to include it.
  
  
  
  Review Data Posting:
  
  Check the data that is being posted to ensure that it aligns with the characteristics defined in the operating concern. If the data references a characteristic that is not included, it will lead to this error.
  
  
  
  Transport Requests:
  
  If changes were made in a development environment, ensure that the transport requests are correctly moved to the production environment, and that the configuration is consistent across environments.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or notes related to CO-PA configuration for any specific guidelines or updates that may pertain to your version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: 
  
  OKKP - Configuration of Operating Concerns
  KE4S - Create Profitability Segment
  KE5S - Display Profitability Segment
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the KE542 error and ensure that your operating concern is correctly configured to handle the required characteristics.