How To Fix WSD_MESSAGE014 - External material number cannot contain only number

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WSD_MESSAGE - Message class for WSD

• Message number: 014

• Message text: External material number cannot contain only number

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WSD_MESSAGE014 - External material number cannot contain only number ?

  SAP Error Message:
  
  WSD_MESSAGE014: External material number cannot contain only number
  
  Cause:
  This error occurs because the external material number (often the Customer Material Number or External Material Number) is being entered as a purely numeric value, which is not allowed by the system or the specific configuration in your SAP environment.
  In many SAP systems, external material numbers are expected to be alphanumeric (contain both letters and numbers) to avoid confusion with internal material numbers or to comply with business rules or validation checks.
  
  Explanation:
  
  External Material Number is typically used to store a material number as defined by a customer or vendor.
  Some SAP implementations enforce that external material numbers must not be purely numeric to distinguish them from internal SAP material numbers.
  This validation can be part of a custom validation, user-exit, BAdI, or standard SAP configuration depending on the system setup.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Use Alphanumeric External Material Numbers:
  
  Ensure that the external material number you enter contains at least one alphabetic character (A-Z or a-z) along with numbers.
  
  
  Check Configuration or Custom Code:  
  
  If this validation is too restrictive for your business process, check if there is a custom validation or user-exit/BAdI that enforces this rule.
  You can review user-exits like EXIT_SAPLMGMU_001 or BAdIs related to material master data validation.
  Adjust or deactivate the validation if business requirements allow purely numeric external material numbers.
  
  
  
  Coordinate with Business Users:
  
  Confirm with the business whether external material numbers should always be alphanumeric. If numeric-only external numbers are required, the validation logic needs to be changed.
  
  
  SAP Notes / Support:
  
  If this is a standard SAP validation and you believe it should allow numeric-only external material numbers, check SAP Notes or contact SAP Support for guidance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Material Master External Number:
  
  Used in transactions like sales orders, purchase orders, or material master data to map customer/vendor material numbers to SAP internal material numbers.
  
  
  User-Exits / BAdIs:
  
  Common enhancement points for material master validations include:
  
  EXIT_SAPLMGMU_001 (Material Master User Exit)
  BAdI MATERIAL_CHECK or MATERIAL_CHECK_01
  
  
  
  Transaction Codes:  
  
  MM01 / MM02 (Create/Change Material Master)
  VD01 / VD02 (Create/Change Customer Master - for customer material numbers)
  ME21N (Create Purchase Order - external material numbers may be used)
  
  
  
  
  Summary:
  
  Cause: External material number entered is purely numeric, which is not allowed.
  Solution: Enter an alphanumeric external material number or adjust validation logic if business requires numeric-only numbers.
  Check: Custom validations, user-exits, or BAdIs that enforce this rule.
  
  
  If you provide more context (e.g., transaction, module, or customizations), I can help you with more specific instructions.