SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

3562025 - Error - 'EAN may not be assigned externally' (Message no. WE 216) occurs when entering an alphanumeric EAN into the EAN/UPC field.

Symptom

  • In the Create Material app the error 'EAN may not be assigned externally' (Message no. WE 216) occurs when entering a alphanumeric EAN into the EAN/UPC field'.
  • Error 'The EAN may not be assigned externally (Message no. WE 216)' but number appears to be in range.

"Image/data in this KBA is from SAP internal systems, sample data, or demo systems. Any resemblance to real data is purely coincidental" 

Environment

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition.

Reproducing the Issue

 

  1. Go to the Create Material app. 
  2. Input Material Number and select Material Type.
  3. Select 'Basic Data View 1'.
  4. Enter EAN/UPC, example 'RELHTF23WFTARN'.
  5. Enter EAN Category 'HE'.
  6. Press save or enter key. 
  7. Error stating 'The EAN RELHTF23WFTARN may not be assigned externally' (Message no. WE 216). 

 

Cause

EAN number 'RELHTF23WFTARN' does not fall within the alphanumeric interval defined.


From Number: AAA000000000000001

EAN Number:       RELHTF23WFTARN

To Number:     ZZZ999999999999999

Resolution

Make sure EAN number entered falls within the external number range defined.

  1. Check configuration activity 'Define Attributes of EANs/UPC's'.
  2. Select the EAN Category involved 'HE'.
  3. Find the number range object used (For example: 'EUROPARTNR').
  4. Go to the 'Define Number Ranges' configuration activity of the EAN Number range object involved. For example 'Define Number Ranges for EANs/UPC's', 'Define Number Ranges for Perishables EANs (4-Figure)', 'Define Number Ranges for Perishables EANs (5-Figure)'.
  5. Check if the EAN number involved falls within the alphanumeric range interval specified.

A way to check if the EAN number is in range, is to use a sorting tool like Excel.

  1. Include the lower range, upper range, and the required EAN number you would like to use.
  2. If the alphanumeric EAN number needed to enter has fewer characters than the specified From (Lower Range) and To (Upper Range) numbers, add leading spaces to the EAN number to match the required length as seen in the screenshot down below.
  3. Highlight the alphanumeric EAN numbers and find the Sort and Filter option on the Home Tab.
  4. Click Sort A to Z.
  5. The click continue with my selection.
  6. The numbers will sort and show whether the required alphanumeric EAN number falls within the specified range, as illustrated in the screenshot.

See Also

2897864 - Error 'External number assignment is not possible' but number appears to be in range

3440798 - EAN / GTIN number changed to include leading zeros - SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 

Keywords

MM01, MM02, W4EN, EAN, External Numbering, WE 216, Error, Alphanumeric, EAN Type, EAN/UPC Field, GTIN, UPC , KBA , LO-MD-MM , Material Master , How To

Product

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition all versions

Attachments

Pasted image.png
Pasted image.png
Pasted image.png
Pasted image.png
Pasted image.png
Pasted image.png