How To Fix N2M185 - Association partner &3, &4 must be completely associated

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 185

• Message text: Association partner &3, &4 must be completely associated

What causes this issue?

You have changed an association for item &V2& in document &V1&. The
association partner is item &V4& in document &V3&.

System Response

Due to the changes that you made to the association quantity, the
association partner is no longer completely associated. This is not
however permitted because:
The association partner belongs to an outbound delivery.
A two-sided contract exists.

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.

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 N2M185 - Association partner &3, &4 must be completely associated ?

  The SAP error message N2M185 indicates that there is an issue with the association of partners in a business transaction or document. Specifically, it means that the association between the specified partner types (represented by &3 and &4) is not complete, which is required for the transaction to proceed.
  Cause:
  The error typically arises in scenarios where:
  
  Incomplete Partner Assignment: The system expects certain partner types (like sold-to party, ship-to party, payer, etc.) to be fully defined and associated with each other, but one or more of these associations are missing.
  Configuration Issues: There may be configuration settings in the partner determination procedure that are not set up correctly.
  Data Inconsistencies: There could be inconsistencies in the master data for the partners involved, such as missing or incorrect entries.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the N2M185 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Partner Assignment:
  
  Go to the transaction where the error occurred and check the partner assignments. Ensure that all required partner types are assigned correctly.
  Verify that the partners are correctly linked. For example, if you have a sold-to party, ensure that the corresponding ship-to party is also assigned.
  
  
  
  Review Partner Determination Procedure:
  
  Check the configuration of the partner determination procedure in the relevant customizing settings (transaction code SPRO).
  Ensure that the partner types required for the transaction are correctly defined and that the relationships between them are established.
  
  
  
  Validate Master Data:
  
  Review the master data for the partners involved. Ensure that all necessary information is complete and accurate.
  Check for any missing or incorrect entries in the customer/vendor master records.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific details on partner determination and associations relevant to your business process.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making the necessary adjustments, test the transaction again to see if the error persists.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may need to use transaction codes like VD03 (Display Customer), XD03 (Display Customer (Centrally)), or BP (Business Partner) to check and modify partner data.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Support: If the issue persists after following the above steps, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with an SAP expert for further assistance.
  
  By ensuring that all partner associations are complete and correctly configured, you should be able to resolve the N2M185 error and proceed with your transaction.