How To Fix KU357 - Reference characteristic for field &-& not found

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: KU - Costing: Rollup

• Message number: 357

• Message text: Reference characteristic for field &-& not found

What causes this issue?

An internal error occurred.

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?

Please inform your system administrator.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message KU357 - Reference characteristic for field &-& not found ?

  The SAP error message KU357, which states "Reference characteristic for field &-& not found," typically occurs in the context of SAP's classification system, particularly when dealing with characteristics and classes in the SAP Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or SAP Variant Configuration (VC) modules.
  Cause:
  The error usually arises due to one of the following reasons:
  
  
  Missing Reference Characteristic: The reference characteristic that is expected to be linked to the specified field is not defined in the system. This could happen if the characteristic was deleted or not created properly.
  
  
  Incorrect Configuration: The configuration of the class or characteristic may be incorrect, leading to a mismatch between expected and actual characteristics.
  
  
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the data, such as missing entries in the classification tables or issues with the master data.
  
  
  Authorization Issues: Sometimes, the user may not have the necessary authorizations to access the characteristic or class.
  
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the KU357 error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Definition:
  
  Go to the transaction code CT04 (Characteristic) and verify if the reference characteristic exists.
  If it does not exist, you may need to create it or restore it if it was deleted.
  
  
  
  Review Class Configuration:
  
  Use transaction code CL02 (Change Class) to check the class configuration and ensure that the reference characteristic is correctly assigned.
  
  
  
  Check for Data Inconsistencies:
  
  Use transaction code CL30N to analyze the classification data and check for any inconsistencies or missing entries.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check:
  
  Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to access the characteristics and classes involved. You may need to consult with your SAP security team.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review any relevant documentation or notes from SAP that may provide additional context or solutions for this specific error.
  
  
  
  Debugging:
  
  If the issue persists, consider debugging the program or transaction that is generating the error to identify the exact point of failure.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message. You can search for notes using the SAP Support Portal.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues and what solutions they have found.
  Training and Documentation: Review SAP training materials or documentation related to classification and variant configuration to ensure proper understanding and usage of characteristics and classes.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the KU357 error in your SAP system.