How To Fix KQ542 - Costing variant & (standard cost estimate) cannot be deleted

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KQ - Error Messages for Customizing Product Costing

• Message number: 542

• Message text: Costing variant & (standard cost estimate) cannot be deleted

What causes this issue?

You are attempting to delete all costing variants for the standard cost
estimate. This is not allowed.

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

System Response

The system makes sure there is always at least one costing variant for
the standard cost estimate.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message KQ542 - Costing variant & (standard cost estimate) cannot be deleted ?

  The SAP error message KQ542 indicates that a costing variant and its associated standard cost estimate cannot be deleted. This typically occurs when there are dependencies or references to the costing variant or the standard cost estimate in the system. Here are the potential causes, solutions, and related information for this error:
  Causes:
  
  Active Cost Estimates: The costing variant may be linked to active cost estimates that are still in use.
  Dependencies: There may be other objects (like material master records, production orders, etc.) that reference the costing variant or standard cost estimate.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to delete the costing variant or standard cost estimate.
  System Settings: Certain system settings or configurations may prevent the deletion of cost estimates or variants.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check Active Cost Estimates:
  
  Use transaction code CK11N or CK40N to check if there are any active cost estimates associated with the costing variant. If there are, you may need to delete or archive them first.
  
  
  
  Review Dependencies:
  
  Investigate if there are any materials, production orders, or other objects that are using the costing variant. You can use transaction codes like MM03 (Material Master) to check for dependencies.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check:
  
  Ensure that the user attempting to delete the costing variant has the necessary authorizations. You may need to consult with your SAP security team to verify this.
  
  
  
  System Configuration:
  
  Check the configuration settings in the controlling (CO) module to see if there are any restrictions on deleting costing variants or cost estimates.
  
  
  
  Use Transaction CKR1:
  
  If you need to delete a cost estimate, you can use transaction CKR1 to reverse the cost estimate before attempting to delete the costing variant.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or help files related to costing variants and cost estimates for any specific guidelines or restrictions.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Costing Variants: These are used to define how costs are calculated in SAP. They include settings for valuation methods, cost component structure, and more.
  Standard Cost Estimates: These are predefined costs for materials or products that are used for planning and controlling purposes.
  Transaction Codes:
  
  CK11N: Create Cost Estimate
  CK40N: Change Cost Estimate
  CKR1: Reverse Cost Estimate
  MM03: Display Material Master
  
  
  
  If the issue persists after following these steps, it may be beneficial to consult with your SAP support team or refer to SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.