How To Fix N2M209 - New item category &1 not allowed, associations exist for item &2

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 209

• Message text: New item category &1 not allowed, associations exist for item &2

What causes this issue?

The item category can only be changed if the new item category does not
change the behavior of the handling for the association-related data.
You are not allowed to select an item category in which the item is no
longere relevant for association management, if the item has
associations.

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?

Choose another item category or delete the associations of the current
item.

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 N2M209 - New item category &1 not allowed, associations exist for item &2 ?

  The SAP error message N2M209 indicates that a new item category is not allowed because there are existing associations for a specific item. This typically occurs in the context of materials management or sales and distribution processes where item categories are used to define the behavior of items in transactions.
  Cause:
  The error arises when you attempt to change the item category of a material or item that has existing associations (such as sales orders, purchase orders, or other documents) that are linked to the original item category. The system prevents this change to maintain data integrity and consistency across related documents.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Existing Associations: Identify the documents or transactions that are associated with the item in question. You can do this by using transaction codes like VA03 (Display Sales Order), ME23N (Display Purchase Order), or similar, depending on the context.
  
  
  Remove Associations: If possible, remove or close the existing associations. This may involve:
  
  Deleting or archiving sales orders or purchase orders that reference the item.
  Changing the status of the documents to allow for modifications.
  
  
  
  Change Item Category: Once the associations are cleared, you can attempt to change the item category again.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Review the SAP documentation or configuration settings related to item categories to ensure that the new item category is valid and properly configured.
  
  
  Consult with SAP Support: If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting SAP Notes for any specific patches or updates related to this error.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes for managing item categories and associated documents.
  Configuration Settings: Review the configuration settings in SPRO (SAP Project Reference Object) related to item categories, especially in the context of Sales and Distribution (SD) or Materials Management (MM).
  SAP Notes: Search for SAP Notes that may provide additional insights or solutions for this specific error message.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to address the N2M209 error and successfully change the item category as needed.