How To Fix SIG502 - Signature order cannot be defined; identical individual signatures

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SIG - Digital Signature

• Message number: 502

• Message text: Signature order cannot be defined; identical individual signatures

What causes this issue?

Only identical individual signatures have been allocated to the
signature strategy you have selected. For this reason, you cannot
define a signature sequence.

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?

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 SIG502 - Signature order cannot be defined; identical individual signatures ?

  The SAP error message SIG502 ("Signature order cannot be defined; identical individual signatures") typically occurs in the context of electronic signatures in SAP systems, particularly when dealing with workflows or document approvals that require multiple signatures.
  Cause:
  The error arises when the system detects that there are multiple signatures defined for a particular process or document, and these signatures are identical in terms of their configuration. This creates ambiguity in the signature order, as the system cannot determine which signature should be processed first.
  Solution:
  To resolve the SIG502 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Review Signature Configuration:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for the signatures in the relevant SAP module (e.g., Workflow, Document Management).
  Check for any duplicate signature definitions that may have the same attributes (e.g., same user, same role, same conditions).
  
  
  
  Modify Signature Definitions:
  
  If you find identical signatures, modify them to ensure that each signature is unique. This could involve changing the user, role, or conditions associated with each signature.
  Ensure that the signatures have distinct attributes that allow the system to determine a clear order.
  
  
  
  Check Workflow Settings:
  
  If the error occurs within a workflow, review the workflow settings to ensure that the signature steps are correctly defined and that there are no conflicts.
  
  
  
  Test Changes:
  
  After making the necessary changes, test the workflow or document approval process to ensure that the error no longer occurs.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on configuring signatures in your version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Seek Support:
  
  If the issue persists after making changes, consider reaching out to SAP support or your internal SAP team for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  User Roles: Ensure that the user roles assigned to the signatures are appropriate and do not overlap in a way that causes confusion.
  Version Specifics: The behavior of signature handling may vary between different versions of SAP, so ensure that you are following best practices for your specific version.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the SIG502 error and ensure that your signature processes function correctly.