How To Fix WB2B2229 - External reference can be set to new items only. Key &1

WB2B2229 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WB2B2 - Trading Contract (part 2)

• Message number: 229

• Message text: External reference can be set to new items only. Key &1

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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WB2B2229 - External reference can be set to new items only. Key &1 ?

  The SAP error message WB2B2229, which states "External reference can be set to new items only. Key &1," typically occurs in the context of managing materials or items in the SAP system, particularly when dealing with external references in the context of material master data or procurement processes.
  
  Cause:
  This error generally arises when you attempt to assign an external reference (such as a vendor number, customer number, or other identifiers) to an existing item that already has a reference set. In SAP, external references can only be assigned to new items that do not yet have any existing references. The key &1 in the error message usually represents the identifier of the item you are trying to modify.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Item Status: Verify if the item you are trying to update is indeed a new item or if it already has an existing external