How To Fix M2478 - & : hierarchy not maintained

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: M2 - LIS: Generating and updating info structures

• Message number: 478

• Message text: & : hierarchy not maintained

What causes this issue?

For statistical updating, assigning an update rule to a specific
hierarchial level in the document processing is important. This
information is necessary for generating the update. What is decided
in the course of updating statistical data from the application is from
which levels in the document processing information is needed for the
statistics.
For example, when indicating a source field MCVBAP-NETWR the system
recognizes that information from the item of the sales document is
needed for the statistical update. Assigning a certain document
hierarchy occurs automatically by the system when indicating a source
field.
Indicating a source field is often not possible with certain types of
updates such as formulas, external programs or even updating counters,
because under certain circumstances it could be more. In these cases,
automatically assigning the update rule to a document hierarchy is not
possible.
In this case the hierarchy must be manually assigned. The lowest
document hierarchy is thus given, which is used in a formula or external
routine.

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?

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message M2478 - & : hierarchy not maintained ?

  The SAP error message M2478, which states "Hierarchy not maintained," typically occurs in the context of Material Management (MM) or Sales and Distribution (SD) modules when there is an issue with the hierarchy structure for a particular master data object, such as a material or a customer.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Hierarchy Levels: The hierarchy levels required for the specific transaction or report are not defined in the system.
  Incorrect Configuration: The configuration settings for the hierarchy might not be properly set up in the system.
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the master data that prevent the hierarchy from being recognized.
  Authorization Issues: Sometimes, the user may not have the necessary authorizations to access the hierarchy data.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Hierarchy Configuration:
  
  Navigate to the relevant configuration settings in SPRO (SAP Project Reference Object) and ensure that the hierarchy levels are defined correctly.
  For example, if this is related to material groups, check the material group hierarchy settings.
  
  
  
  Maintain Hierarchy:
  
  If the hierarchy is missing, you may need to create or maintain the hierarchy structure. This can usually be done in the relevant master data transaction (e.g., MM01 for materials, or transaction codes related to customer hierarchy).
  
  
  
  Data Consistency Check:
  
  Run consistency checks on the master data to identify any discrepancies. You can use transaction codes like MM02 to check and update material data.
  
  
  
  User Authorizations:
  
  Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to view and maintain the hierarchy. This can be checked in the user roles and profiles.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help files for specific details on maintaining hierarchies in your version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Contact Support:
  
  If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with SAP support for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as MM01, MM02, and SPRO for configuration.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Training: Consider training sessions or resources on SAP hierarchy management if this is a recurring issue in your organization.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the M2478 error message in SAP.