How To Fix WRF_CHAR_VAL050 - Change of characteristic type not possible; characteristic is being used

WRF_CHAR_VAL050 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WRF_CHAR_VAL - Messages for Package WRF_CHARACTERISTIC_VALUE_GRP

• Message number: 050

• Message text: Change of characteristic type not possible; characteristic is being used

What causes this issue?

If the characteristic is already assigned to a material group hierarchy
level, a material group, or a characteristic profile, the characteristic
with the current characteristic type may be used in operative
applications, which means changing the characterstic type could result
in inconsistent data.
For this reason, you cannot change the characteristic type if one or
more assignments exist.

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?

Try to delete all existing assignments of the characteristic. If this is
possible, the characteristic is not used by any materials. You can
change the characteristic type. Then assign the characteristic again.

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 WRF_CHAR_VAL050 - Change of characteristic type not possible; characteristic is being used ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation for the SAP error message:
  
  SAP Error Message:
  WRF_CHAR_VAL050
  Text: Change of characteristic type not possible; characteristic is being used
  
  
  Cause:
  This error occurs when you try to change the data type or type of a characteristic in SAP (e.g., in Classification or Variant Configuration) that is already in use. The characteristic is assigned to objects such as:
  
  Material master records
  Classifications
  Bills of Materials (BOMs)
  Variant configuration models
  Classification objects
  Characteristics values already maintained or used in transactional data
  
  Because the characteristic is actively used, changing its type (e.g., from numeric to char, or single value to multiple values) is not allowed to maintain data consistency and integrity.
  
  Explanation:
  
  Characteristics in SAP are defined with a specific data type (CHAR, NUM, DATE, etc.) and value assignment type (single value, multiple values, interval, etc.).
  Once a characteristic is assigned and values are maintained or used in documents, changing its fundamental type can cause inconsistencies.
  SAP prevents such changes to avoid data