Something I’ve been dealing with quite a bit lately is remove or replacing a characteristic that is in use in a model. Now I hope that this only occurs in your development environment, but regardless, the same rules apply. So I just wanted to outline the basics of accomplishing this removal/replacement of characteristics.
1. Txn CT12 – this is your best friend in this instance. Using CT12, and selecting all of the options, will show you where it has been used. One bad thing about CT12 is that enter in the value doesn’t necessarily work, at least in my opinion. I tend to get a lot more results than just the cstic using that value.
2. CU22 – this one is optional, but if your where used shows a constraint or constraint net, this is the next thing you’ll need to do. Go into the CNET, and lock any constraints that use the characteristics. This process is a bit tedious, but it’s the only way to accomplish it.
3. CU50 – Interface design – again, you might not be using this feature, but if you are, you’ll see it in your where used. Be sure to remove the characteristic from every interface design it exists in. You won’t be able to delete this from the class if it’s still used in the ID.
4. CL02 – now once these steps occur, you finally go into the class and remove the characteristic. Just a note, if you already have configurations out there using the cstic or if the class is part of a class hierarchy, you will need to use CL6K in order to remove the characteristic.
5. CU02 – now you can change all the standard dependencies to either remove the cstic or replace it. Now remember, you need to pay attention to the logic here because it might not be a simple replacement. Only you can determine this.
6. CU22 – change and release the constraints that used the old cstic. (steps 5 & 6 are interchangeable).
These are the big pieces. Keep in mind, you may also have tables or functions. In that event, you will need to update CU60 & CU62 for the tables, and CU66 for the functions. But only after you’ve done steps 5 & 6. Then you might need to revisit steps 5 & 6 based on your table/function changes.
I hope this is useful for you.
As always, thanks for reading and don't forget to check out our SAP Service Management Products at my other company JaveLLin Solutions,Mike