How To Fix R7173 - Enter characteristic &1 or one of the referencing characteristics

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: R7 - BW: Data basis

• Message number: 173

• Message text: Enter characteristic &1 or one of the referencing characteristics

What causes this issue?

You define the compounding of a characteristic, that refers to another
characteristic. The same characteristics (up to the reference) should
be in the compound as with the referenced characteristic.

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?

In this row of the compound you must enter either the characteristic
'&V1&' or a characteristic which refers to it.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message R7173 - Enter characteristic &1 or one of the referencing characteristics ?

  The SAP error message R7173, which states "Enter characteristic &1 or one of the referencing characteristics," typically occurs in the context of working with characteristics in SAP, particularly in the areas of variant configuration or classification.
  Cause:
  This error message is triggered when the system expects a characteristic to be specified, but it is either missing or not properly defined in the context of the operation you are trying to perform. The characteristic referred to as &1 is likely a required field that needs to be filled out, or it may be that the referencing characteristics (those that are linked to the main characteristic) are also not provided.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Definition: Ensure that the characteristic you are trying to use is defined in the system. You can do this by navigating to the characteristic management area in SAP.
  
  
  Enter Required Values: Make sure to enter a value for the characteristic &1 as well as any other referencing characteristics that may be required. This could involve filling out fields in a configuration screen or a classification screen.
  
  
  Review Dependencies: If the characteristic is dependent on other characteristics, ensure that those are also filled out correctly. Check the dependencies and ensure that all required characteristics are accounted for.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: If you are unsure about which characteristics are required, consult the documentation or configuration guides related to the specific module you are working with (e.g., Variant Configuration).
  
  
  Check User Authorizations: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to access and modify the characteristics in question.
  
  
  Debugging: If the issue persists, consider using transaction codes like SE80 or SE37 to debug the program or function module that is generating the error. This can help identify if there are any underlying issues in the code.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as CT04 (for creating characteristics) and CT05 (for managing characteristics).
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message. You can search for R7173 in the SAP Support Portal.
  Community Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or user groups where similar issues may have been discussed, and solutions shared.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and implement a solution to resolve it.