How To Fix KP261 - Process special periods and normal periods separately

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KP - CO-OM Planning

• Message number: 261

• Message text: Process special periods and normal periods separately

What causes this issue?

You called up activity price calculation for periods &V3& through &V4&.
This period range in fiscal year variant &V1&, controlling area &V2&,
contains both standard periods and special periods.
For technical reasons, actual activity price calculation cannot process
special periods and standard periods at the same time.

System Response

The SAP System cannot calculate the actual activity prices.

How to fix this error?

Run actual price calculation separately for special and standard
periods.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message KP261 - Process special periods and normal periods separately ?

  The SAP error message KP261, which states "Process special periods and normal periods separately," typically occurs in the context of controlling (CO) when you are trying to execute a transaction that involves cost center accounting or internal orders. This error indicates that the system is set up to handle special periods (like year-end closing periods) and normal periods (like regular monthly periods) separately, and the transaction you are attempting to perform is not compliant with this setup.
  Cause:
  
  Configuration Settings: The error is often caused by the configuration settings in the controlling area. The system is configured to treat special periods differently from normal periods, and the transaction you are trying to execute does not adhere to this configuration.
  Posting in Special Periods: You may be trying to post to a special period while the system expects you to handle it in a different manner, or you may be trying to process both normal and special periods in a single transaction.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Configuration: Review the configuration settings in the controlling area. Ensure that the settings for special periods are correctly defined. You can do this by navigating to:
  
  SPRO ? Controlling ? General Controlling ? Master Data ? Cost Center ? Define Cost Center Categories
  Ensure that the settings for special periods are appropriate for your business processes.
  
  
  
  Separate Processing: If you are trying to process both normal and special periods in the same transaction, you will need to separate these processes. Execute transactions for normal periods and special periods independently.
  
  
  Transaction Codes: Make sure you are using the correct transaction codes for the type of posting you are trying to perform. For example, use KP26 for normal periods and KP27 for special periods.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or your internal guidelines for handling special periods in controlling. This can provide insights into best practices and specific configurations that may be required.
  
  
  User Authorization: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to perform postings in both normal and special periods.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific patches or updates related to this error message. Sometimes, there may be known issues or fixes provided by SAP.
  Training and Documentation: Consider training sessions or documentation on SAP CO module best practices, especially regarding period-end closing processes.
  Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with an SAP expert who can provide more tailored assistance based on your specific system configuration and business processes.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the KP261 error and ensure that your postings are processed correctly in SAP.