A plan won't activate or save
Activation errors
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No draft version on this plan — nothing to activate | There are no unpublished changes | Edit the plan to create a draft, then activate |
| This period is closed. Plans cannot be activated for closed periods. | You picked a start period that has already closed | Choose a period that hasn't ended |
| Another version is already active for this plan and period | Someone else activated first | Reload the plan and look at the current state |
| This version has already been published | You're on a stale tab | Reload |
| No periods available | Your org has no period that hasn't ended yet | "Go to Period Preferences" and add ranges |
A plan must start on a period that has not ended yet. If your calendar has run out, fix that first. → Set up your workspace
"Run the Stress Test or skip it to continue"
The Stress Test step is gated but not mandatory — you may skip it. Some plans mark it "Required for this plan before publishing"; others show "Advisory — Stress Test is recommended but not required."
Commission rate can't be calculated yet
The wizard's Continue to activation button on the final review screen stays disabled with one of these messages when the plan has nothing to pay out with — this catches the setup before you can publish a plan that would pay everyone $0:
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| This role has no quota set up yet, so commission can't be calculated. | The rule needs Smart rate, but the role has no quota at all | "Set up the quota" takes you to Quota Settings for that role |
| This role's quota has no target set for this period, so commission can't be calculated. | The role has a quota, but no target amount has ever been entered for it | "Set up the quota" takes you to Quota Settings |
| This role has no on-target variable set, so commission can't be calculated. | Smart rate also needs the role's OTV (on-target variable pay) | "Set the on-target variable" takes you to that role's page in Directory |
| This rule's commission rate is 0%. | The rate was left at 0% (or never entered) instead of using Smart rate | "Set the rate" jumps back to the rate step in the wizard |
If you reach this on an already-existing plan instead of the wizard, publishing returns the same error — fix the quota/OTE/rate, then publish again.
"This plan was updated by someone else"
Two admins edited the same plan. "Reload to see the latest version. Your local edits will be discarded." There is no merge — coordinate before editing the same plan at once.
"Replace existing plan?"
The role already has an active plan. Assigning this role replaces that plan when the new one activates. Confirm only if you mean to switch the whole role over.
Rule builder warnings
| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
<rule A> applies to all deals; <rule B> applies to deals where … Both rules will pay out on the same deals. | Overlapping rules — use Help me fix this to add a filter, or Yes, keep both if intentional |
| At least one tier is required / First tier must start at 0% / Gap or overlap between tier X and Y | Your tier ladder has holes — tiers must be continuous from 0% |
| Shares must sum to 100 / Add at least two recipients for a split / Each recipient can appear only once | A split recipient is misconfigured |
| Accelerators need a quota to measure against — not available for flat-amount plans | Switch the plan basis, or drop the accelerator |
| No source-eligible fields yet / No participant fields available | The field catalog has nothing suitable — check Organization → Data Sources → Fields |
<field> (missing) | A field the rule points at no longer exists in Pipedrive |
Rate sanity warnings
"That's X% higher/lower than what your goal and target pay would suggest (target: Y). That's OK if intentional — just double check it's not a typo."
Advisory only. It never blocks you.
Deactivating a plan
The confirmation warns: "Reps on this role will have no active plan — no payout for the open period." Have the replacement ready before you deactivate.