How To Fix KU306 - Characteristic & has an invalid format

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KU - Costing: Rollup

• Message number: 306

• Message text: Characteristic & has an invalid format

What causes this issue?

The characteristic's format is invalid. The characteristic cannot be
included in the hierarchy as a summarization characteristic.
Allowed formats are:
character format
numerical format without decimal places and without plus/minus sign

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?

Choose a characteristic that has a valid format.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message KU306 - Characteristic & has an invalid format ?

  The SAP error message KU306, which states that "Characteristic & has an invalid format," typically occurs in the context of SAP's classification system, particularly when dealing with characteristics in classification or variant configuration.
  Cause:
  The error is usually caused by one of the following issues:
  
  Incorrect Data Type: The characteristic may be defined with a specific data type (e.g., numeric, alphanumeric) that does not match the format of the value being entered.
  Length Exceeded: The value being entered may exceed the maximum length defined for the characteristic.
  Invalid Characters: The value may contain characters that are not allowed based on the characteristic's definition (e.g., special characters in a numeric field).
  Missing Required Fields: If the characteristic is required and not filled in correctly, it may trigger this error.
  Configuration Issues: There may be issues with the configuration of the characteristic in the classification system.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the KU306 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Definition:
  
  Go to the characteristic definition in the SAP system (transaction code CT04).
  Verify the data type and length of the characteristic.
  Ensure that the value you are trying to enter matches the expected format.
  
  
  
  Validate Input Data:
  
  Ensure that the value being entered does not exceed the defined length.
  Check for any invalid characters that may not be allowed in the characteristic.
  
  
  
  Review Required Fields:
  
  Make sure that all required fields are filled out correctly and that the values conform to the expected formats.
  
  
  
  Test with Different Values:
  
  Try entering different values that conform to the expected format to see if the error persists.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review any relevant documentation or help files related to the classification system and characteristics in SAP.
  
  
  
  Check for Customizations:
  
  If your organization has custom developments or enhancements, check if any custom logic is affecting the characteristic validation.
  
  
  
  Contact Support:
  
  If the issue persists after checking the above points, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting SAP Notes for any known issues related to this error.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: 
  
  CT04: Characteristic maintenance
  CL02: Class maintenance
  
  
  SAP Notes: Search for relevant SAP Notes in the SAP Support Portal that may address specific issues related to this error.
  Documentation: Review SAP Help documentation for classification and variant configuration for more detailed information on characteristics and their formats.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the KU306 error in SAP.