How To Fix M3717 - Field overflow when converting alternative unit of measure &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: M3 - Material Master

• Message number: 717

• Message text: Field overflow when converting alternative unit of measure &

What causes this issue?

You have changed the base unit of measure. Conversion of the
alternative unit of measure &V1& to the changed base unit of measure
would result in a figure that is too long for the conversion factor
field.
Example
You change the base unit of measure from KG to G, although the
alternative unit of measure TO is already assigned to the material.
According to the conversion table, 1,000 g = 1 kg, and 1 kg = 1,000g.
As a result, 1,000,000 g = 1 metric ton. However, this value does not
fit in the corresponding field.

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?

Change the base unit of measure back to the original value, or enter a
more suitable base unit of measure.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message M3717 - Field overflow when converting alternative unit of measure & ?

  The SAP error message M3717, which states "Field overflow when converting alternative unit of measure," typically occurs when there is an issue with the conversion of quantities between different units of measure in the system. This can happen in various scenarios, such as during the processing of goods movements, inventory management, or when working with material master data.
  Causes:
  
  
  Data Type Limitations: The field that is being used to store the converted quantity may not have enough space to accommodate the value being converted. This is often due to the data type or length defined in the database.
  
  
  Incorrect Configuration: The conversion factors or settings for the alternative units of measure may not be correctly configured in the material master or in the relevant customizing settings.
  
  
  Large Quantities: If the quantity being converted is excessively large, it may exceed the maximum limit that can be stored in the designated field.
  
  
  Decimal Places: The number of decimal places defined for the unit of measure may not be sufficient to handle the conversion accurately.
  
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check Material Master Data: Review the material master data for the affected material. Ensure that the alternative units of measure and their conversion factors are correctly defined.
  
  
  Adjust Field Lengths: If you have access to the database schema, check the field lengths for the relevant tables. If necessary, consider increasing the field size to accommodate larger values.
  
  
  Review Configuration Settings: Go to the customizing settings in SAP (transaction SPRO) and verify the settings for units of measure and conversion factors. Ensure that they are set up correctly.
  
  
  Test with Smaller Quantities: If possible, try processing smaller quantities to see if the error persists. This can help determine if the issue is related to the size of the quantity being converted.
  
  
  Check Decimal Places: Ensure that the decimal places for the units of measure are set appropriately. You may need to adjust the settings to allow for more decimal places if necessary.
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes: Check the SAP Support Portal for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error message. There may be patches or updates that resolve known issues.
  
  
  Debugging: If you have access to development tools, consider debugging the program or transaction that is generating the error to identify the exact point of failure.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may want to use transaction codes like MM02 (Change Material), MM03 (Display Material), or MMBE (Stock Overview) to investigate the material master and stock levels.
  SAP Help Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for more detailed information on units of measure and material management.
  Community Forums: Consider checking SAP community forums or discussion boards for similar issues and solutions shared by other users.
  
  If the problem persists after trying the above solutions, it may be beneficial to reach out to your SAP support team or a consultant for further assistance.