How To Fix R7B294 - External key of characteristic &1 must be an attribute

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: R7B - BW Metadata (InfoCube, InfoObject, InfoObject catalog)

• Message number: 294

• Message text: External key of characteristic &1 must be an attribute

What causes this issue?

The characteristic &V1& has been selected as the UUID. #&V2&# has been
defined as the external key. However, the characteristic &V1& does not
have the attribute #&V2&#.

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?

Select a valid attribute. If necessary, you can use input help.

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 R7B294 - External key of characteristic &1 must be an attribute ?

  The SAP error message R7B294 indicates that there is an issue with the external key of a characteristic in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP BI (Business Intelligence). Specifically, it states that the external key of the characteristic must be an attribute, which means that the system expects the external key to be linked to a specific attribute of the characteristic.
  Cause:
  
  Incorrect Configuration: The characteristic may not be properly configured to have an external key defined as an attribute.
  Data Model Issues: There may be inconsistencies in the data model where the external key is not recognized as an attribute.
  Missing Attributes: The attribute that is supposed to serve as the external key may not be defined or activated in the characteristic.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Configuration:
  
  Go to the characteristic in the SAP BW modeling tools.
  Ensure that the external key is correctly defined and that it is set as an attribute of the characteristic.
  
  
  
  Define Missing Attributes:
  
  If the required attribute does not exist, create it in the characteristic.
  Make sure that the attribute is properly activated and available for use.
  
  
  
  Review Data Model:
  
  Check the data model to ensure that all necessary attributes are included and correctly linked to the characteristic.
  Validate the data flow and transformations to ensure that the external key is being populated correctly.
  
  
  
  Re-activate the InfoObject:
  
  Sometimes, re-activating the InfoObject can resolve inconsistencies. Go to the InfoObject maintenance and re-activate it.
  
  
  
  Check for Transport Issues:
  
  If the issue arose after a transport, ensure that all related objects were transported correctly and that there are no missing dependencies.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP BW documentation for detailed information on characteristics and attributes.
  Community Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or support for additional insights and solutions from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue related to the R7B294 error message in SAP.