How To Fix R7B299 - External key of characteristic &1 is a navigation attribute

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 299

• Message text: External key of characteristic &1 is a navigation attribute

What causes this issue?

You have specified navigation attribute &V2& as the external key of the
UUID characteristic &V1&. This may lead to an unexpected system response
at query runtime.

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?

We recommend that you use a display attribute.

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 R7B299 - External key of characteristic &1 is a navigation attribute ?

  The SAP error message R7B299 indicates that there is an issue with the external key of a characteristic being treated as a navigation attribute. This typically occurs in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP HANA when dealing with InfoObjects and their attributes.
  Cause:
  The error arises when you attempt to use an external key for a characteristic that is defined as a navigation attribute. Navigation attributes are used to provide additional context to a characteristic but are not meant to be used as primary keys or external keys in certain operations. This can happen in scenarios such as:
  
  Trying to load data into a data model where the external key is not compatible with the navigation attribute.
  Incorrect configuration of InfoObjects or attributes in the data model.
  Mismatched data types or structures between the source data and the target InfoObject.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check the InfoObject Configuration:
  
  Go to the InfoObject maintenance transaction (e.g., RSD1) and check the settings for the characteristic in question.
  Ensure that the characteristic is correctly defined and that its attributes are set up properly.
  
  
  
  Review Navigation Attributes:
  
  Verify if the characteristic is indeed set as a navigation attribute. If it is not intended to be a navigation attribute, consider changing its configuration.
  If it is meant to be a navigation attribute, ensure that you are not trying to use it as an external key in your data load or query.
  
  
  
  Data Load Process:
  
  Review the data load process to ensure that the mappings and transformations are correctly set up.
  Check the source data to ensure that it aligns with the expected structure of the target InfoObject.
  
  
  
  Adjust Queries:
  
  If the error occurs during query execution, review the query design to ensure that navigation attributes are used appropriately and not as external keys.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on handling navigation attributes and external keys.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making changes, test the data load or query execution again to confirm that the issue has been resolved.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  Training and Documentation: Consider reviewing training materials or documentation related to InfoObjects, navigation attributes, and data modeling in SAP BW or HANA.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the error and implement a suitable solution.