How To Fix VC131 - Customer-specific document types should begin with 'Z or Y'

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VC - SD Customizing

• Message number: 131

• Message text: Customer-specific document types should begin with 'Z or Y'

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

What else can you do?

First, use our AnswerBot below to get a possible cause and solution (requires a premium subscription).

Also, review the in-depth Common Questions & Answers listed below; you could discover a solution there or be able to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

You can also try searching the SAP support portal (support.sap.com) but you need a special user ID to access it. It is possible that an SAP support note exists that provides additional details about the mistake or even steps for fixing it.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message VC131 - Customer-specific document types should begin with 'Z or Y' ?

  The SAP error message VC131 indicates that a custom document type you are trying to create or use does not adhere to the naming conventions set by SAP. Specifically, SAP requires that customer-specific document types begin with the letters 'Z' or 'Y'. This is a common practice in SAP to differentiate between standard SAP objects and custom objects created by users or developers.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  You attempt to create or use a document type that starts with any letter other than 'Z' or 'Y'.
  The document type is not recognized as a valid custom type due to its naming convention.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you should:
  
  
  Rename the Document Type: If you are creating a new document type, ensure that its name starts with 'Z' or 'Y'. For example, if you were trying to create a document type named "ABC", you should rename it to "ZABC" or "YABC".
  
  
  Check Existing Document Types: If you are using an existing document type that is causing this error, verify its name. If it does not start with 'Z' or 'Y', you will need to either rename it (if possible) or create a new document type that follows the naming convention.
  
  
  Review Custom Development: If this error arises from custom development (like ABAP programs or enhancements), ensure that any custom document types defined in the code also follow the naming convention.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Naming Conventions: SAP uses 'Z' and 'Y' as prefixes for custom developments to avoid conflicts with standard SAP objects. This is a best practice in SAP development.
  Transport Requests: If you are working in a development environment and plan to transport your changes to a production environment, ensure that all custom document types are correctly named before creating transport requests.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or guidelines on naming conventions for custom objects to ensure compliance with best practices.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the VC131 error and successfully create or use your custom document types in SAP.