SAP Message QS186 - Characteristic is being used and therefore cannot be deleted

Diagnosis
You want to delete a validity period for the master inspectioncharacteristic. This is not allowed because a version of the masterinspection characteristic has already been used.

Example
There are the following versions of a master inspection characteristic:

  • Version 1 is valid from 1.1.2000 and has already been used:

  • It was replaced on 1.2.2001 in all applications by version 2.
    • Version 2 is valid from 1.1.2001: It replaces version 1 from 1.2.2001.

    • Version 3 is valid from 1.1.2003 and has not yet been used.

    • If you want to use the deletion function without entering a key date,only versions 1, 2, and 3 can be selected. Only version 3 can bedeleted.
      If you call up the deletion function with key date 1.1.2002, onlyversions 1 and 2 can be selected. None of the versions can be deleted.
      You can only delete version 1 using archiving.