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How To Fix VN018 - Enter output medium


SAP Error Message - Details

  • Message type: E = Error

  • Message class: VN - Nachrichtensteuerung

  • Message number: 018

  • Message text: Enter output medium

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  • 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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

  • What is the cause and solution for SAP error message VN018 - Enter output medium ?

    SAP Error Message:
    VN018 - Enter output medium


    Cause:

    The error message VN018 occurs when the system requires you to specify an output medium for vendor-related communications (such as payment advices, remittance slips, or correspondence), but this information is missing or not maintained in the vendor master data or the relevant output determination procedure.

    In other words, SAP expects you to define how the output should be sent (e.g., print, email, fax, EDI), but this has not been specified.


    When does it occur?

    • During vendor invoice processing or payment runs.
    • When generating payment advice notes or remittance documents.
    • When output determination for vendor communication is triggered but the output medium is not defined.

    Solution:

    1. Maintain Output Medium in Vendor Master:

      • Go to transaction XK02 (Change Vendor) or FK02 (Change Vendor Accounting).
      • Navigate to the Payment Transactions tab.
      • Check the field Output Medium (usually under the "Payment Transactions" or "Correspondence" section).
      • Enter the appropriate output medium, e.g.:
        • 1 = Print output
        • 2 = Fax
        • 3 = EDI
        • 4 = Email
        • 5 = Print with archive link
      • Save the changes.
    2. Check Output Determination Procedure:

      • Verify the output determination procedure for the relevant document type (e.g., payment advice).
      • Ensure that the output medium is correctly maintained in the output condition records.
      • Use transaction NACE to check output types and their medium settings.
    3. During Payment Run:

      • When running payment program (transaction F110), ensure that the output medium is selected or defaulted correctly.
      • In the payment run parameters, check the output options.
    4. Customizing:

      • If the output medium is not maintained or available, check with your SAP FI/CO consultant or Basis team to ensure that the output medium values are configured properly in customizing under:
        • SPRO ? Financial Accounting ? Accounts Payable ? Business Transactions ? Outgoing Payments ? Payment Medium ? Define Output Medium

    Related Information:

    • Transaction Codes:

      • XK01/XK02/XK03 – Vendor Master Maintenance
      • FK01/FK02/FK03 – Vendor Accounting Data
      • F110 – Automatic Payment Transactions
      • NACE – Output Determination
    • SAP Notes:

      • Check SAP Notes related to output medium issues in payment runs or vendor master data.
    • Output Medium Values:

      • The output medium is a key field that controls how documents are sent to vendors.
      • Common values:
        • 1 = Print
        • 2 = Fax
        • 3 = EDI
        • 4 = Email
        • 5 = Print with archive link

    Summary:

    VN018 - Enter output medium means SAP requires you to specify how the output should be sent to the vendor. To fix this, maintain the output medium in the vendor master or in the output determination procedure, and ensure the payment run or document processing has the output medium defined.


    If you need further help, please provide the context where the error occurs (e.g., transaction, document type), and I can assist with more specific steps.

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