How To Fix R7B663 - High cardinality cannot be activated for characteristic &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 663

• Message text: High cardinality cannot be activated for characteristic &1

What causes this issue?

You want to use characteristic &V1& as a high-cardinality characteristic
although it is used in at least one of the following ways:
As an InfoObject in an InfoCube
As compounding in an InfoObject
As a navigational attribute in an InfoObject

System Response

The system is not able to use high-cardinality characteristics in the
objects mentioned above, as this would make reporting impossible.

How to fix this error?

Either remove the "High Cardinality" flag for characteristic &V1& or
perform the where-used check for characteristic &V1& to find the objects
that use it and to remove the dependencies.

Procedure for System Administrators

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message R7B663 - High cardinality cannot be activated for characteristic &1 ?

  The SAP error message R7B663, which states "High cardinality cannot be activated for characteristic &1," typically occurs in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP HANA when dealing with characteristics that have a very high number of unique values (cardinality). This can happen when you try to activate high cardinality for a characteristic that exceeds the system's limitations or is not configured correctly.
  Cause:
  
  High Cardinality: The characteristic in question has too many unique values (high cardinality), which can lead to performance issues and is not supported for certain operations in SAP BW or HANA.
  Configuration Issues: The characteristic may not be properly configured to handle high cardinality, or it may not be suitable for high cardinality activation due to its nature.
  Data Model Limitations: The data model or the underlying database may have limitations regarding the number of unique values that can be processed efficiently.
  
  Solution:
  
  Review Characteristic Configuration: Check the configuration of the characteristic in the InfoObject. Ensure that it is set up correctly and that high cardinality is appropriate for its use case.
  Reduce Cardinality: If possible, consider reducing the cardinality of the characteristic. This can be done by:
  
  Aggregating data.
  Limiting the range of values.
  Using a different characteristic that has lower cardinality.
  
  
  Check Data Volume: Analyze the data volume and distribution for the characteristic. If it is not necessary to have high cardinality, consider using a different approach to model the data.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation for guidelines on high cardinality characteristics and their limitations. This can provide insights into best practices and alternative approaches.
  SAP Notes and Support: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional guidance. If the issue persists, consider reaching out to SAP support for assistance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  High Cardinality Characteristics: In SAP BW, high cardinality characteristics are those that can have a large number of unique values, such as customer IDs or transaction numbers. They can impact performance and should be used judiciously.
  Performance Considerations: When working with high cardinality data, consider the performance implications on reporting and data processing. It may be beneficial to use aggregate tables or summary tables to improve performance.
  SAP BW Modeling: Familiarize yourself with best practices in SAP BW modeling, especially regarding the use of characteristics and key figures, to avoid issues related to cardinality.
  
  By addressing the underlying causes and following the suggested solutions, you should be able to resolve the R7B663 error and successfully activate the characteristic in question.