How To Fix WXP616 - Grouping characteristic &4 is not the planning level for planning step &3

WXP616 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WXP - Retail Planning

• Message number: 616

• Message text: Grouping characteristic &4 is not the planning level for planning step &3

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 WXP616 - Grouping characteristic &4 is not the planning level for planning step &3 ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation for the SAP error message:
  
  SAP Error Message:
  WXP616 Grouping characteristic &4 is not the planning level for planning step &3
  
  
  Cause:
  This warning message occurs in SAP APO (Advanced Planning and Optimization), specifically in the context of Demand Planning (DP) or Supply Network Planning (SNP) when working with planning steps and planning levels.
  
  The message indicates that the grouping characteristic (represented by &4, e.g., Product, Location, etc.) you are trying to use or assign is not the planning level characteristic defined for the planning step (&3).
  In SAP APO, each planning step is assigned a specific planning level, which is a combination of characteristics (like Product, Location, Customer, etc.) that define the granularity at which planning is performed.
  If you try to group or aggregate data by a characteristic that is not part of the planning level for the current planning step, the system raises this warning.
  
  
  Explanation:
  
  Planning Step: A phase in