How To Fix MW085 - & & cannot be deleted. Follow-on documents exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: MW - Messages IS-R / Allocation Tables

• Message number: 085

• Message text: & & cannot be deleted. Follow-on documents exist

What causes this issue?

You tried to delete an allocation table item or a plant in an
allocation table item. Follow-on documents exist for the item/plant.
These could be purchase orders, warehouse orders or deliveries).

System Response

The system only allows you to delete an item if no follow-on documents
are generated for the plants in the item.
The system only allows you to delete a plant in an item if no follow-on
documents exist for the plant. You can also delete a plant in an item
even though follow-on documents have been creatd for a different plant
in the same item.

How to fix this error?

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 MW085 - & & cannot be deleted. Follow-on documents exist ?

  The SAP error message MW085 indicates that a material document cannot be deleted because there are follow-on documents that depend on it. This is a common issue in SAP when trying to delete material documents, as the system enforces data integrity by preventing the deletion of records that are referenced by other documents.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  There are subsequent documents (like invoices, goods movements, or other transactions) that reference the material document you are trying to delete.
  The material document is part of a transaction that has already been processed, and thus, it cannot be removed without affecting the integrity of the data.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Identify Follow-On Documents:
  
  Use transaction codes like MB03 (Display Material Document) or MB51 (Material Document List) to check for any follow-on documents that reference the material document you are trying to delete.
  You can also use the MBEW table to find related documents.
  
  
  
  Review Dependencies:
  
  Check the nature of the follow-on documents. Determine if they can be reversed or if they need to be adjusted.
  
  
  
  Reverse or Delete Follow-On Documents:
  
  If possible, reverse or delete the follow-on documents that are preventing the deletion of the original material document. This may involve using transactions like MR8M (Cancel Invoice Document) or MBST (Cancel Material Document).
  
  
  
  Delete the Material Document:
  
  Once all dependent documents are handled, you can attempt to delete the material document again using transaction MBDELETE or the appropriate method for your version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Consult with Your SAP Administrator:
  
  If you are unsure about the implications of deleting certain documents, consult with your SAP administrator or a functional consultant to ensure that you are not violating any business rules or data integrity constraints.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  MB03: Display Material Document
  MB51: Material Document List
  MR8M: Cancel Invoice Document
  MBST: Cancel Material Document
  MBDELETE: Delete Material Document
  
  
  
  Tables:
  
  MKPF: Material Document Header
  MSEG: Document Segment: Material
  BSEG: Accounting Document Segment
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may provide additional guidance or updates related to this error message.
  
  
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for detailed information on material management and document handling.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the MW085 error and successfully delete the material document if it is appropriate to do so.