How To Fix KG857 - Characteristic '&1' requires '&2' (in lead column or gen. data selection)

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KG - CO-PA Planning

• Message number: 857

• Message text: Characteristic '&1' requires '&2' (in lead column or gen. data selection)

What causes this issue?

You have entered the characteristic "&V1&" in a lead column. However,
characteristic "&V1&" is dependent on characteristic "&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?

You need to specify the higher-level characteristic "&V2&" as well in
the layout. Limit it in the general selections or define another lead
column with this characteristic (by choosing "Edit -> Columns -> New
lead column").

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 KG857 - Characteristic '&1' requires '&2' (in lead column or gen. data selection) ?

  The SAP error message KG857 indicates that a characteristic in your data selection requires a specific value or condition to be met, which is not currently satisfied. This error typically occurs in the context of SAP's CO-PA (Controlling-Profitability Analysis) or other reporting tools where characteristics and their values are used to filter or analyze data.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Value: The characteristic specified in the error message (&1) is expected to have a value (&2) that is either not provided or not available in the data selection.
  Incorrect Configuration: The configuration of the characteristics in the data selection might be incorrect, leading to a mismatch between expected and actual values.
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the data that prevent the characteristic from being populated correctly.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Data Selection: Review the data selection criteria in your report or query. Ensure that the characteristic &1 is correctly defined and that the required value &2 is included in the selection.
  Update Characteristics: If the characteristic is supposed to have a value, ensure that the relevant data is populated in the master data or transactional data.
  Review Configuration: Check the configuration settings for the characteristics in the relevant SAP module (e.g., CO-PA). Ensure that they are set up correctly and that any dependencies are properly defined.
  Data Consistency Check: Run consistency checks on your data to identify any discrepancies that may be causing the issue. This may involve checking for missing or incorrect entries in the relevant tables.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on the characteristics and their expected values.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may need to use transaction codes like KE30 (for CO-PA reports) or KE24 (for CO-PA line item display) to analyze the data and characteristics.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message. SAP Notes can provide additional context or solutions.
  User Forums: Consider searching or posting in SAP community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the KG857 error and implement a solution to resolve it.