How To Fix UPC_FW027 - The superior characteristic &2 is included with characteristic &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: UPC_FW - Messages for Planning Framework, Areas, Levels and Packages

• Message number: 027

• Message text: The superior characteristic &2 is included with characteristic &1

What causes this issue?

You have selected characteristic &V1&. This characteristic is
subordinate to characteristic &V2&.

System Response

The superior characteristic &V2& is automatically included in the
planning level.

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 UPC_FW027 - The superior characteristic &2 is included with characteristic &1 ?

  The SAP error message UPC_FW027 typically occurs in the context of SAP's Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) module, particularly when dealing with characteristics and their hierarchies in the context of planning or forecasting.
  Cause:
  The error message UPC_FW027 indicates that there is a conflict in the characteristic hierarchy. Specifically, it means that the superior characteristic (denoted as &2) is included with the characteristic (denoted as &1) in a way that is not allowed. This usually happens when:
  
  Hierarchy Misconfiguration: The characteristics are not properly defined in the hierarchy, leading to a situation where a characteristic is both a superior and a subordinate in the same context.
  Data Integrity Issues: There may be inconsistencies in the data model or the way characteristics are assigned to different levels of the hierarchy.
  Planning Area Configuration: The planning area may not be set up correctly, leading to conflicts in how characteristics are related.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the UPC_FW027 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Hierarchies:
  
  Go to the transaction code CT04 (Characteristic Maintenance) and review the definitions of the characteristics involved.
  Ensure that the hierarchy is correctly defined and that there are no circular references or incorrect assignments.
  
  
  
  Review Planning Area Settings:
  
  Use transaction code SCC4 to check the configuration of the planning area.
  Ensure that the characteristics are correctly assigned to the planning area and that there are no conflicts.
  
  
  
  Data Consistency Check:
  
  Run consistency checks on the data model to identify any discrepancies. This can often be done through transaction codes like RSA1 (Data Warehousing Workbench) or specific APO transactions.
  Correct any inconsistencies found in the data.
  
  
  
  Recreate or Adjust Characteristics:
  
  If necessary, you may need to recreate the characteristics or adjust their settings to ensure they do not conflict with each other.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or notes related to characteristic hierarchies and planning areas for any specific guidelines or known issues.
  
  
  
  Seek Help from SAP Support:
  
  If the issue persists after trying the above steps, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance, providing them with the details of the error and the context in which it occurs.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as CT04 for characteristic maintenance, SCC4 for planning area settings, and RSA1 for data consistency checks.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any updates or patches that may address known issues related to characteristic hierarchies.
  Training and Documentation: Consider reviewing training materials or documentation on SAP APO and characteristic management to better understand how to configure and manage characteristics effectively.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the UPC_FW027 error in your SAP system.