Make an entry in the "Cost Element Category" field

Message type: E = Error

Message class: FH - General ledger module messages

Message number: 216

Message text: Make an entry in the "Cost Element Category" field



What causes this issue?

You have not specified a cost element category for cost account &V1&/
&V2&.


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?

When you create a new cost account, this is possible if the G/L account
is locked for posting at the same time.
In all other cases, the following restrictions apply:
For G/L accounts of type <ZH>Secondary Costs</>, you must specify a cost
element category.
For G/L accounts of type <ZH>Primary Costs or Revenues</>, you can
configure the system behavior.
If you leave this system message as an error message, it ensures that
when a G/L account is created or changed, a cost element category is
always specified and thus also the data in the controlling area is
always written. This is the standard SAP configuration.
If you issue the message as a warning or deactivate it entirely, the
cost element category does not have to be specified when a G/L account
is created or changed. This changes the semantics of the G/L account
type. <ZH>Primary Costs or Revenues</> then means maximum use of the G/L
account. The account can, however, also be used as a G/L account of type
<ZH>Nonoperating Expense and Income</> for the controlling
areas/company codes in which the cost element category was left empty.
If you want to subsequently maintain the controlling area data (in
particular, the cost element category) for a larger number of primary
cost elements, you can do this by using transaction <DS:TRAN.OB_GLACC14>
G/L Accounts > Collective Processing > Controlling Area Data</>.
INCLUDE 'CUSTOMIZED_MESSAGE_INFO' OBJECT DOKU ID TX

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