How To Fix M_023 - Two or more archived materials with the provided MATNR_EXT exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: M_ - Messages for material field length extension mapping

• Message number: 023

• Message text: Two or more archived materials with the provided MATNR_EXT exist

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message M_023 - Two or more archived materials with the provided MATNR_EXT exist ?

  The SAP error message M_023, which states "Two or more archived materials with the provided MATNR_EXT exist," typically occurs when there are multiple archived materials in the system that share the same external material number (MATNR_EXT). This can happen in scenarios where materials have been archived but not properly managed, leading to duplicates in the archive.
  Cause:
  
  Duplicate External Material Numbers: The primary cause of this error is that there are multiple materials in the archive that have the same external material number. This can occur due to data entry errors, system migrations, or improper archiving processes.
  Archiving Process Issues: If the archiving process did not correctly handle the uniqueness of external material numbers, it could lead to multiple entries being archived with the same identifier.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Identify Duplicates:
  
  Use transaction codes like SE16 or SE11 to query the relevant database tables (e.g., MARA for material master data) to identify the archived materials with the same external material number.
  Check the archive files to see which materials are causing the conflict.
  
  
  
  Data Cleanup:
  
  Once you have identified the duplicates, you may need to decide which entries to keep and which to delete. This may involve consulting with your data management team or stakeholders to ensure that the correct materials are retained.
  If necessary, you can use the archiving transaction (e.g., SARA) to delete the duplicates from the archive.
  
  
  
  Review Archiving Strategy:
  
  Review your archiving strategy to ensure that it prevents the archiving of duplicate external material numbers in the future. This may involve adjusting the criteria used for archiving or implementing additional checks before archiving materials.
  
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes:
  
  Check the SAP Support Portal for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional guidance on handling archived materials.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making changes, perform tests to ensure that the error no longer occurs and that the system behaves as expected.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes like SARA (Archive Administration) and SE16 (Data Browser) for managing and querying archived data.
  SAP Documentation: Review SAP documentation related to material management and archiving processes for best practices and guidelines.
  Support: If the issue persists or if you need further assistance, consider reaching out to SAP support or your internal SAP support team for help.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the M_023 error and prevent it from occurring in the future.