How To Fix N2M098 - Preceding association cannot be transferred to follow-on item

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: N2M - Global Trade: Item Category Management

• Message number: 098

• Message text: Preceding association cannot be transferred to follow-on item

What causes this issue?

You want to create/change associations for item &V1& in document &V2&.
When doing this, associations for preceding items must be taken into
account.
These associations should then be transferred to a follow-on item that
belongs to business process step &V3&.

System Response

For item &V1& in document &V2&, there is at least one preceding item
that is associated with an item that has business process step &V4&.
This association has a quantity that has not yet been transferred in
full to follow-on items.
Because of the Customizing settings, items of business process step
&V3& cannot be assigned associations that belong to business process
&V4&.

How to fix this error?

Change the Customizing settings. Assign business process step &V4& to
business process step &V3& as business process step for association.

Procedure for System Administrators

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 N2M098 - Preceding association cannot be transferred to follow-on item ?

  The SAP error message N2M098, which states "Preceding association cannot be transferred to follow-on item," typically occurs in the context of document processing in SAP, particularly when dealing with follow-on documents such as purchase orders, sales orders, or other related transactions.
  Cause:
  This error usually arises due to one of the following reasons:
  
  
  Missing or Incorrect Data: The preceding document (e.g., a purchase requisition or a sales order) may not have the necessary data or may be in an incorrect status that prevents it from being transferred to the follow-on document.
  
  
  Inconsistent Document Flow: There may be inconsistencies in the document flow, such as missing links between the preceding and follow-on documents.
  
  
  Configuration Issues: There could be configuration settings in the SAP system that are not aligned with the business process, leading to issues in document association.
  
  
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to create or modify the follow-on document based on the preceding document.
  
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the N2M098 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Preceding Document: Verify that the preceding document is complete and in the correct status. Ensure that all required fields are filled out and that the document is not blocked or in a status that prevents further processing.
  
  
  Review Document Flow: Check the document flow to ensure that the preceding document is correctly linked to the follow-on document. You can use transaction codes like ME23N (for purchase orders) or VA03 (for sales orders) to review the document history.
  
  
  Configuration Review: If you suspect a configuration issue, consult with your SAP Basis or configuration team to ensure that the settings for document types and their associations are correctly configured.
  
  
  Authorization Check: Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to create or modify the follow-on document. This may involve checking user roles and permissions in the SAP system.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  Testing: After making any changes, perform tests to ensure that the error no longer occurs and that the document flow works as expected.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as ME23N (Display Purchase Order), ME21N (Create Purchase Order), VA03 (Display Sales Order), and VA01 (Create Sales Order).
  SAP Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for detailed information on document processing and error handling.
  User Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or user groups where similar issues may have been discussed, providing insights or solutions from other users' experiences.
  
  If the issue persists after following these steps, it may be beneficial to escalate the matter to your SAP support team or consult with SAP directly for further assistance.