How To Fix VMP_MSG201 - Planning scope alternatives exist for material &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VMP_MSG - VMP Message Manager

• Message number: 201

• Message text: Planning scope alternatives exist for material &1

What causes this issue?

You started to plan for a material having no planned BOMs.

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?

You can choose either of the following:
Choose <LS>Yes</> to copy one of the planning scope alternatives from
the list of planning scope alternatives and start planning.
Choose <LS>No</> to start planning for the material without copying any
of the planning scope alternatives.

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 VMP_MSG201 - Planning scope alternatives exist for material &1 ?

  The SAP error message VMP_MSG201 indicates that there are planning scope alternatives available for the specified material (denoted by &1). This message typically arises in the context of SAP's Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) or similar planning modules, where multiple planning scenarios or alternatives can exist for a given material.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when you attempt to perform a planning operation (such as creating a plan, running a heuristic, or executing a planning run) for a material that has multiple planning scope alternatives defined. This situation can arise due to:
  
  Multiple Planning Scenarios: The material is associated with different planning scenarios or versions, which can lead to ambiguity in which planning scope to use.
  Configuration Issues: The system may not be configured to handle the selection of a specific planning scope when multiple options are available.
  User Input: The user may not have specified which planning scope to use, leading to the system being unable to determine the correct alternative.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Planning Scope Alternatives:
  
  Navigate to the relevant planning transaction in SAP (e.g., transaction /SAPAPO/SDP94 for demand planning).
  Check the planning scope alternatives available for the material in question. You can do this by reviewing the planning area or planning book settings.
  
  
  
  Specify a Planning Scope:
  
  When executing the planning run or heuristic, ensure that you specify which planning scope to use. This may involve selecting the appropriate planning version or scenario in the selection screen.
  
  
  
  Review Configuration:
  
  If you are an administrator or have access to configuration settings, review the planning area and planning book settings to ensure that they are correctly set up to handle multiple planning scopes.
  Ensure that the planning scope is correctly defined in the configuration and that the system is set to prompt for a selection if multiple options exist.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance on handling planning scope alternatives in your version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Contact Support:
  
  If the issue persists after trying the above steps, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with SAP experts who can provide more tailored assistance based on your system configuration.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as /SAPAPO/SDP94 (for demand planning) or /SAPAPO/MC90 (for planning book settings).
  SAP Notes: Check for any SAP Notes related to this error message, as they may provide additional insights or patches that could resolve the issue.
  User Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or user groups where similar issues may have been discussed, and solutions shared.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to address the VMP_MSG201 error and successfully proceed with your planning activities in SAP.