How To Fix VF168 - Item category &1 may only be billed via EDI.

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VF - Billing

• Message number: 168

• Message text: Item category &1 may only be billed via EDI.

Self-Explanatory Message

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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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message VF168 - Item category &1 may only be billed via EDI. ?

  The SAP error message VF168 indicates that the item category specified in the billing document can only be billed through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This typically occurs in scenarios where certain item categories are configured to be processed exclusively via EDI for billing purposes, often due to business requirements or specific configurations in the SAP system.
  Cause:
  
  Item Category Configuration: The item category in question is set up in the system to only allow billing through EDI. This is often done for specific types of transactions or products that require electronic processing.
  Billing Document Type: The billing document type may not be compatible with the item category for manual billing.
  Sales Document Configuration: The sales document associated with the billing document may have restrictions that enforce EDI billing for certain item categories.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Item Category Configuration:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for item categories in the SAP system (Transaction code: VOV4).
  Review the settings for the specific item category to see if it is indeed set to allow only EDI billing. If necessary, adjust the configuration to allow manual billing if that aligns with business processes.
  
  
  
  Review Billing Document Type:
  
  Ensure that the billing document type being used is appropriate for the item category. You can check this in the configuration settings for billing document types (Transaction code: VOTXN).
  
  
  
  Sales Document Review:
  
  Check the sales document associated with the billing document to ensure that it is set up correctly and does not impose restrictions that would prevent manual billing.
  
  
  
  EDI Setup:
  
  If EDI billing is intended, ensure that the EDI setup is correctly configured and that the necessary communication channels are established for processing EDI transactions.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review any relevant documentation or guidelines provided by your organization regarding the use of EDI for billing and the specific item categories involved.
  
  
  
  Contact SAP Support:
  
  If the issue persists and you are unable to resolve it through configuration changes, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  VF01: Create Billing Document
  VF02: Change Billing Document
  VF03: Display Billing Document
  VOV4: Configure Item Categories
  VOTXN: Configure Billing Document Types
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional guidance on item category configurations and EDI billing.
  
  
  Testing: After making any changes, perform testing to ensure that the billing process works as expected without triggering the VF168 error.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the VF168 error and implement a suitable solution.