How To Fix ST840 - Term entries with related glossary entries cannot be deleted

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: ST - Terminology Database

• Message number: 840

• Message text: Term entries with related glossary entries cannot be deleted

What causes this issue?

You attempted to delete a term concept with existing glossary entries.

System Response

The term concept is not deleted.

How to fix this error?

Delete the glossary entry first. When all glossary entries are deleted,
the term concept may be deleted as well.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message ST840 - Term entries with related glossary entries cannot be deleted ?

  The SAP error message ST840 indicates that there are term entries in the system that are linked to glossary entries, and as a result, they cannot be deleted. This is a common issue when working with the SAP terminology management system, particularly in the context of managing terms and glossaries.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the term you are trying to delete is still associated with one or more glossary entries. In SAP, terms and glossaries are interconnected, and the system prevents the deletion of terms that are still in use to maintain data integrity.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Check Associations: 
  
  Use the SAP GUI to navigate to the relevant transaction (usually SE11 for data dictionary or STWB for terminology management).
  Look for the term entries that you are trying to delete and check if they are linked to any glossary entries.
  
  
  
  Remove Associations:
  
  If you find that the term is associated with glossary entries, you will need to remove these associations first. This can typically be done by editing the glossary entries and unlinking the term.
  
  
  
  Delete the Term:
  
  Once all associations have been removed, you should be able to delete the term without encountering the ST840 error.
  
  
  
  Check for Other Dependencies:
  
  Ensure that there are no other dependencies or references to the term in other parts of the system that might prevent deletion.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as STWB (for terminology management) and SE11 (for data dictionary) to manage terms and glossaries effectively.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for terminology management to understand the relationships between terms and glossaries better.
  User Permissions: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to delete terms and modify glossary entries in the SAP system.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the ST840 error and manage your term entries effectively. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team for further assistance.