How To Fix /SAPAPO/RET_MESSAGES646 - Location &1 exists in charact. table, is missing in the header data table

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: /SAPAPO/RET_MESSAGES -

• Message number: 646

• Message text: Location &1 exists in charact. table, is missing in the header data table

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message /SAPAPO/RET_MESSAGES646 - Location &1 exists in charact. table, is missing in the header data table ?

  The SAP error message /SAPAPO/RET_MESSAGES646 indicates that there is a discrepancy between the characteristic table and the header data table in the context of SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO). Specifically, it suggests that a location exists in the characteristic table but is missing in the header data table.
  Cause:
  This error typically arises due to one of the following reasons:
  
  
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the data between the characteristic table and the header data table. This can happen if data was manually altered or if there was an issue during data transfer or upload.
  
  
  Missing Data: The location in question may not have been properly defined or created in the header data table, even though it exists in the characteristic table.
  
  
  Configuration Issues: There may be configuration issues in the APO system that lead to this inconsistency.
  
  
  Transport Issues: If changes were transported from one system to another (e.g., from development to production), some data might not have been transported correctly.
  
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Data Consistency:
  
  Use transaction codes like /SAPAPO/OM17 (for checking location data) to verify the consistency of the data between the characteristic and header tables.
  Compare the entries in the characteristic table and the header data table to identify discrepancies.
  
  
  
  Update Header Data:
  
  If the location is indeed missing from the header data table, you may need to create or update the header data for that location. This can typically be done through the relevant transaction in APO.
  
  
  
  Recreate or Adjust the Location:
  
  If the location is not needed, you may consider removing it from the characteristic table or adjusting the configuration to ensure that it aligns with the header data.
  
  
  
  Check Configuration:
  
  Review the configuration settings in the APO system to ensure that they are set up correctly and that there are no missing links between the characteristic and header data.
  
  
  
  Transport Issues:
  
  If the issue arose after a transport, check the transport logs to ensure that all necessary data was included in the transport request.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or notes related to this specific error message for additional guidance and troubleshooting steps.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes in SAP APO, such as /SAPAPO/OM17, /SAPAPO/OM00, and others that may help in managing and troubleshooting location data.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the error and implement a solution to resolve it.