How To Fix PPE_MESSAGE023 - External reference &1 is not unique for the item. Key &2

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PPE_MESSAGE - Messages for PPE

• Message number: 023

• Message text: External reference &1 is not unique for the item. Key &2

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PPE_MESSAGE023 - External reference &1 is not unique for the item. Key &2 ?

  The SAP error message PPE_MESSAGE023 indicates that there is a problem with the external reference for a specific item in the system. This error typically arises in the context of SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) or SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) when the system encounters a situation where the external reference provided is not unique for the specified item.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  Duplicate External References: The external reference (e.g., a unique identifier for a product or item) is not unique within the context of the item specified by the key. This means that there are multiple entries in the database that share the same external reference for the same item.
  Data Integrity Issues: There may be issues with data integrity, such as incorrect data entry or synchronization problems between systems.
  Configuration Issues: The system may not be configured correctly to handle external references, leading to conflicts.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check for Duplicates:
  
  Use transaction codes like SE16 or SE11 to check the relevant database tables (e.g., /SAPAPO/PPS_MAT or similar) for duplicate entries with the same external reference for the specified item.
  Identify and resolve any duplicates by either correcting the data or removing unnecessary entries.
  
  
  
  Data Correction:
  
  If duplicates are found, determine which entry is correct and update or delete the others as necessary to ensure that each external reference is unique for the item.
  
  
  
  Review Configuration:
  
  Check the configuration settings related to external references in your SAP system. Ensure that the settings are appropriate for your business processes and that they enforce uniqueness where required.
  
  
  
  Data Synchronization:
  
  If your SAP system is integrated with other systems (e.g., ERP, third-party applications), ensure that data synchronization processes are functioning correctly to prevent duplicate entries from being created.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or notes related to this error message for any specific recommendations or patches that may address the issue.
  
  
  
  Contact SAP Support:
  
  If the issue persists after checking for duplicates and correcting data, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance. They may provide insights specific to your system configuration or version.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as SE16 (Data Browser), SE11 (Data Dictionary), and others that may help in analyzing the data.
  SAP Notes: Search for SAP Notes related to PPE_MESSAGE023 for any known issues or fixes.
  Data Model: Understand the data model in your SAP system, especially how external references are managed and stored.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the error and implement a solution to resolve it.