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Description

This error indicates that an attempt was made to store a multi-character string into a database field or variable that is defined to hold only a single character. It typically occurs during data insertion, update operations, or variable assignments within ABAP or SQL scripts.

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Error Message

ERR_SQL_LONG_CHAR

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Known Causes

3 known causes

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Incorrect Data Type Mapping

A program attempted to insert or update data where a multi-character string was provided for a database column or variable defined for a single character (e.g., CHAR(1)).

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Database Constraint Violation

An operation violated a database table definition, specifically a column expecting a single character, by trying to store a longer string.

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Application Logic Error

The ABAP or SQL application code incorrectly prepares or processes data, leading to a multi-character string being passed to a single-character target.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Identify and Correct Invalid Characters in Data medium

Scan and cleanse data fields that are causing the character assignment error.

1

Identify the specific table and column where the error is occurring. This information is usually available in the SAP application log (SM21) or the ST22 dump.

2

Analyze the data within the identified column for any non-standard or invalid characters. These might include control characters, extended ASCII characters not supported by the target character set, or Unicode characters outside the expected range.

3

If the error is occurring during data migration or integration, review the source data for invalid characters and ensure proper character set conversion is applied before loading into SAP S/4HANA.

4

Use SQL queries to identify problematic records. For example, to find records in table `YOUR_TABLE` in column `YOUR_COLUMN` that contain characters outside the standard printable ASCII range (excluding common special characters that might be valid in specific contexts):

SELECT * FROM YOUR_TABLE WHERE YOUR_COLUMN ~ '[^[:print:]]';

5

Once identified, correct the invalid characters directly in the SAP application (e.g., using transaction MM02 for materials, or XK02 for vendors) or through data correction tools/scripts. For bulk corrections, consider using SAP data migration tools or custom ABAP programs. For example, to replace an invalid character (e.g., a non-breaking space represented by ASCII 160) with a regular space:

UPDATE YOUR_TABLE SET YOUR_COLUMN = REPLACE(YOUR_COLUMN, CHR(160), ' ') WHERE YOUR_COLUMN LIKE '%' || CHR(160) || '%';

2. Verify and Adjust Database Character Set and Collation advanced

Ensure the SAP HANA database character set and collation are compatible with the data being stored.

1

Access the SAP HANA database system. This typically involves using SAP HANA Studio, SAP HANA Cockpit, or SQL client tools.

2

Check the current character set and collation settings of the SAP HANA database. These settings define how character data is stored and compared.

SELECT KEY, VALUE FROM M_GLOBAL_VARS WHERE KEY IN ('public_sapsystem', 'public_cs_character_set', 'public_cs_collation');

3

If the existing settings are not compatible with the expected character data (e.g., if you are dealing with a wide range of Unicode characters and the database is configured for a limited character set), consider adjusting the collation. This is a significant change and requires careful planning and testing.

4

Consult SAP Basis and SAP HANA administrators. Changing database-level character set or collation settings is a system-wide change that can impact all applications and data. It's often recommended to ensure the database is set up with a comprehensive character set like UTF-8 during initial installation or upgrade to avoid such issues.

5

For SAP S/4HANA on SAP HANA, the recommended character set is typically UTF-8, which supports a vast range of characters. If your system is not using UTF-8, a migration might be necessary, which is a complex project.

3. Review and Correct Application-Level Data Handling medium

Examine how SAP S/4HANA applications are handling character data and address any inconsistencies.

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Identify the SAP S/4HANA transaction or process that triggers the error. This could be during master data creation/maintenance, transaction processing, or reporting.

2

Examine the ABAP code or configuration related to the affected fields. Developers might be performing explicit character conversions or manipulations that are causing issues.

3

If the error occurs during data input via a specific SAP transaction, ensure that the input fields are designed to accept the expected characters. Sometimes, frontend validation might not be stringent enough, or backend processing might have limitations.

4

For custom developments, review the data type definitions for character fields. Ensure they are sufficiently large and of the correct type (e.g., `STRING` or `CLOB` for potentially long and varied character data, or `VARCHAR` with appropriate length for fixed-length fields).

5

If an ABAP program is involved, check for explicit character set conversions. Ensure that the source and target character sets are correctly specified and that the conversion is handled gracefully, especially for edge cases or non-standard characters.

Example: If converting a string from one codepage to another, ensure the target codepage can accommodate all characters from the source.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

SAP S/4HANA Error 273: Invalid Character String Assignment