How To Fix PQ003 - An error occurred during external number assignment

PQ003 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PQ - HR-PD: Personnel Development

• Message number: 003

• Message text: An error occurred during external number assignment

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

What else can you do?

First, use our AnswerBot below to get a possible cause and solution (requires a premium subscription).

Also, review the in-depth Common Questions & Answers listed below; you could discover a solution there or be able to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

You can also try searching the SAP support portal (support.sap.com) but you need a special user ID to access it. It is possible that an SAP support note exists that provides additional details about the mistake or even steps for fixing it.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PQ003 - An error occurred during external number assignment ?

  The SAP error message PQ003, which states "An error occurred during external number assignment," typically occurs when there is an issue with the number assignment configuration in the SAP system. This error can arise in various contexts, such as when creating or processing documents that require unique identifiers (like purchase orders, production orders, etc.).
  Causes:
  
  Number Range Issues: The number range for the document type you are trying to create may not be defined or may be exhausted.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to access or modify the number range.
  Configuration Errors: There may be a misconfiguration in the number range settings in the SAP system.
  System Lock: The number range object may be locked due to a transaction or process that is currently using it.
  External Number Assignment: If the system is set to use external number assignment, and the external number is not provided or is invalid, this error