Error "INV_CAT_PO_REFER" When Changing The Default Purchasing Category Set

Last updated on AUGUST 15, 2016

Applies to:

Symptoms

Problem Statement:

There is an additional constraint/validation in the Purchasing Functional Area that is not mentioned in the User's Manual:
There is a validation on the default purchasing category set. 
It cannot be modified if records exist in any of the PO tables that refer to the old category set AND if the structure id's for the new and old category sets are different.

The Error Message (although, there is no Error Number) is "INV_CAT_PO_REFER. Purchasing default category set cannot be modified as records exist in purchasing tables that refer to the old category set and the flex structures do not match for the old and new category set."

Changes

When there is an attempt to change the default category set of the purchasing functional area
and the structure id of the old and new category sets are different
and if records exist in any of the PO tables that refer to the old category set user
then you will not be able to modify the default value associated with the Purchasing Functional Area.

Cause