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Description

This error indicates that a database operation attempted to insert or update a string value that contains characters not permitted for the target column's character set or data type, or the value exceeds the defined length. It typically occurs during data entry, data import, or when an application attempts to write invalid data to an SAP S/4HANA database field.

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Error Message

ERR_SQL_INV_CHAR_VAL: Invalid CHAR or VARCHAR value

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Character Set Mismatch

Data contains characters (e.g., special symbols, non-ASCII) not supported by the database column's defined character set.

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Exceeded Field Length

The input string or value is longer than the maximum length specified for the target CHAR or VARCHAR database column.

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Incorrect Data Encoding

Data imported from external sources uses an encoding incompatible with the SAP S/4HANA database's expected character encoding.

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Invalid Special Characters

The string contains characters that are specifically disallowed by the database or application logic for the particular field.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Identify and Correct Invalid Characters in Data Input easy

Locate and remove non-standard characters from data being inserted or updated.

1

Identify the specific table and field causing the error. This often requires reviewing application logs or debugging the process that triggers the error.

2

If the error occurs during data import or migration, inspect the source data file for characters that are not part of the expected character set (e.g., control characters, extended ASCII characters not supported by the database encoding).

3

Use SQL queries to find rows with potentially invalid characters. For example, to find non-printable characters in a VARCHAR column named `INVALID_COLUMN` in table `YOUR_TABLE`:

SELECT * FROM YOUR_TABLE WHERE REGEXP_LIKE(INVALID_COLUMN, '[[:cntrl:]]');

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Once identified, use SQL UPDATE statements to clean the data. This might involve replacing or removing specific characters. For instance, to remove control characters:

UPDATE YOUR_TABLE SET INVALID_COLUMN = REPLACE(REPLACE(INVALID_COLUMN, CHR(0), ''), CHR(1), '') WHERE REGEXP_LIKE(INVALID_COLUMN, '[[:cntrl:]]'); -- Add more CHR() calls for other control characters as needed.

5

Alternatively, for more complex cleaning, consider using a combination of REPLACE and TRANSLATE functions, or a custom SQL function.

2. Verify Database Character Set and Client Encoding medium

Ensure consistency between the database's character set and the encoding used by the client application.

1

Check the database's character set configuration. In SAP HANA, you can typically find this information via system views or administration tools. For example, to check the client character set used by the session:

SELECT CURRENT_CONNECTION_ATTRIBUTES FROM M_CONNECTIONS WHERE CONNECTION_STATUS = 'RUNNING' AND CONNECTION_ATTRIBUTES LIKE '%CLIENT_CHARSET%';

2

Verify the character encoding used by the SAP S/4HANA application or any middleware connecting to the database. This is usually configured in the application's connection properties or profile settings.

3

If there's a mismatch, adjust the client application's encoding to match the database's supported character set (e.g., UTF-8 is highly recommended for broad compatibility). This might involve modifying configuration files or connection strings.

4

If the database character set is too restrictive, consider a database upgrade or reconfiguration to support a more comprehensive character set like UTF-8. This is a more involved process and requires careful planning and downtime.

3. Sanitize Data Before Application Insertion medium

Implement data validation and cleaning within the application logic before sending it to the database.

1

In your SAP S/4HANA custom development (e.g., ABAP reports, Fiori applications, custom CDS views), implement rigorous input validation for all character fields.

2

Use built-in string manipulation functions in your development language (e.g., ABAP's `TRANSLATE`, `REPLACE`, or regular expressions) to remove or replace potentially problematic characters before binding them to database statements.

3

For example, in ABAP, you might use the `CL_ABAP_STRING_UTILITIES=>IS_VALID_CHAR` method or regular expressions to filter characters. A simplified example of cleaning might look like this (conceptual ABAP):

4

Consider using a whitelist approach where only explicitly allowed characters are permitted, rather than a blacklist which can be difficult to maintain.

DATA: lv_input_string TYPE string.
DATA: lv_cleaned_string TYPE string.

" Assume lv_input_string contains the raw input
" Example: Remove non-printable characters
cl_abap_string_utilities=>remove_invisible_chars( EXPORTING INPUT = lv_input_string RECEIVING OUTPUT = lv_cleaned_string ).

" Now use lv_cleaned_string for database operations.

5

For data coming from external systems or interfaces, ensure the data transformation layer performs necessary character set conversions and sanitization.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

SAP S/4HANA Error 302: Invalid Character Value