How To Fix WE216 - The EAN & may not be assigned externally

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WE - Messages for EAN Customizing and for EAN management in MM_BD

• Message number: 216

• Message text: The EAN & may not be assigned externally

What causes this issue?

You have entered an EAN or a UPC to which no external number range
interval is assigned.
This error may occur
if only an internal interval or if no interval exists for the number
you have entered
if you have entered an alphanumeric EAN, and this number belongs to a
number range interval of a number category for which no alphanumeric
EANs are permitted

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

System Response

How to fix this error?

Enter a valid number.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WE216 - The EAN & may not be assigned externally ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation for the SAP error message WE216: "The EAN & may not be assigned externally":
  
  Error Message
  WE216: The EAN & may not be assigned externally
  
  & is a placeholder for the EAN (European Article Number) or GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) value.
  
  
  Cause
  This error occurs during the processing of IDoc segments related to material master or related data when an EAN (barcode) is being assigned or processed. The message indicates that the EAN number in question is not allowed to be assigned externally in the current context.
  In SAP, EANs can be maintained internally or externally depending on configuration and business rules. The error typically arises because:
  
  The EAN number is being assigned or updated via an external interface (e.g., IDoc inbound processing), but the system configuration or master data settings do not allow external assignment of this EAN.
  The EAN is already assigned internally and cannot be overwritten or assigned externally.
  The