How To Fix M2502 - & : Key figure hierarchy is higher than the characteristics

M2502 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 502

• Message text: & : Key figure hierarchy is higher than the characteristics

What causes this issue?

A key figure is to be updated from a certain document hierarchy.
However, the characteristics of the info structure are updated from a
subordinate document hierarchy by means of update type 'A' (cumulativ)
or 'C' (counter).
For this reason, the key figure may be updated more than once.
Example:
You want to update a key figure from the document header. However, the
characteristics (or at least one characteristic) are determined from
the document item. This means that a statistics update of the key
figure occurs for every document item. The key figure will be updated
as many times as there are items in the document.
Note that specifying the date field to determine the period in which
the key figure is to be cumulated, will also be regarded as a
characteristic.
Example:
You want to update a key figure from the document item. To determine
the period, select a date from the schedule line. This means that the
key figure will be updated as often as there are schedules lines for an
item, since the different data from the different schedule lines leads
to different updates.

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?

There are two possibilities:
1. Take a key figure from the same (or a more subordinate) document
hierarchy as the lowest hierarchy of the characteristics.
2. Define a formula, with which the key figure value, according to the
update, can be broken down to the lowest hierarchies. As a result, item
values, for example, which should be updated to schedule line data, due
to the relationship between item quantity and schedule line quantity,
can be divided up on the schedules lines.
Caution!
If you use a formula that processes a source field (= source field and
formula are given), check whether information from lower hierarchies
than the one in the source field is processed in the formula as well.
In this case, you must maintain the hierarchy field in the enhanced
update rules with this lower hierachy.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message M2502 - & : Key figure hierarchy is higher than the characteristics ?

  The SAP error message M2502, which states "Key figure hierarchy is higher than the characteristics," typically occurs in the context of SAP's planning and reporting functionalities, particularly when working with key figures and characteristics in a planning environment (like SAP Integrated Business Planning or SAP BW).
  
  Cause:
  This error generally arises when there is a mismatch between the levels of aggregation of key figures and the characteristics in a planning model. Specifically, it indicates that the key figure hierarchy (the structure or level at which key figures are defined) is at a higher level than the characteristics being used in the planning or reporting process. This can happen due to:
  
  Incorrect Configuration: The key figure may be defined at a higher aggregation level than the characteristics, leading to inconsistencies.
  Data Model Issues: The data model may not be properly aligned, causing the system to expect certain characteristics that are not present at the key