How To Fix M3565 - With this material type, ext. material no. must not contain only numbers

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: M3 - Material Master

• Message number: 565

• Message text: With this material type, ext. material no. must not contain only numbers

What causes this issue?

You have entered a material number that consists only of numbers.
However, the material type that you have chosen has been set up in
customizing in such a way that external numbers are assigned without
being checked. A purely numerical material number is not allowed for
this material type.

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

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message M3565 - With this material type, ext. material no. must not contain only numbers ?

  The SAP error message M3565 indicates that there is an issue with the external material number (also known as the external material ID) for a specific material type. The error occurs when the external material number consists solely of numeric characters, which is not allowed for certain material types in SAP.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the external material number you are trying to enter or use is composed entirely of digits (0-9). SAP has specific rules for different material types, and for some material types, the external material number must include alphabetic characters or special characters in addition to numbers.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Modify the External Material Number: Change the external material number to include at least one alphabetic character or special character. For example, instead of using "123456", you could use "ABC123456" or "123-456".
  
  
  Check Material Type Configuration: If you have access to the configuration settings, verify the rules for the specific material type in question. This can be done in the SAP IMG (Implementation Guide) under the material management settings. Ensure that the settings align with your business requirements.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Review the SAP documentation or help files related to material management and external material numbers to understand the specific requirements for the material type you are working with.
  
  
  User Training: If this error is occurring frequently, consider providing training to users on the correct format for external material numbers based on the material types they are working with.
  
  
  Contact SAP Support: If you believe that the error is occurring incorrectly or if you need further assistance, consider reaching out to SAP support for guidance.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Material Types: Different material types in SAP (e.g., finished goods, raw materials, trading goods) may have different rules regarding external material numbers.
  Material Master Data: The external material number is part of the material master data, which is crucial for inventory management, procurement, and sales processes.
  Validation Rules: SAP allows for the configuration of validation rules that can enforce specific formats for material numbers, which can be adjusted based on business needs.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the M3565 error and successfully enter the external material number in SAP.