Error
Error Code:
5156
SAP S/4HANA Error 5156: Invalid Type During Write
Description
Error 5156, 'ERR_TEXT_COMMON_INVALID_TYPE_DURING_WRITE', indicates that the system encountered an unexpected or incompatible data type while attempting to write data to a stream or database field. This typically occurs when the data's actual type does not match the expected type of the target, preventing the write operation from completing successfully.
Error Message
ERR_TEXT_COMMON_INVALID_TYPE_DURING_WRITE
Known Causes
4 known causesData Type Mismatch
The data being written has a different data type than what the target field, variable, or stream expects, leading to a fundamental conflict.
Incorrect Data Mapping
Configuration errors in data transformation or mapping rules result in an incompatible data type being passed to the writing operation within SAP S/4HANA.
Malformed Input Data
Input data contains unexpected characters, incorrect formatting, or is corrupted, preventing the system from correctly identifying its type during processing.
API/Interface Misconfiguration
An integrated external system or custom development is sending data in a format or type not aligned with SAP S/4HANA's expectations for the target field.
Solutions
3 solutions available1. Verify Data Type Consistency in ABAP and Database medium
Ensures that the data types defined in ABAP programs match the underlying database table definitions.
1
Identify the ABAP program and table involved in the error. This often requires debugging the transaction or process that triggers the error.
2
Use transaction SE11 (ABAP Dictionary) to inspect the data element and domain associated with the field causing the error in the database table.
3
Examine the ABAP code that writes to this field. Check the data type of the variable being used in the WRITE statement or INSERT/UPDATE operation. Pay close attention to character types (e.g., CHAR, VARCHAR) and numeric types (e.g., INT, DEC, QUAN).
4
If a mismatch is found (e.g., an ABAP variable of type INT4 is trying to write to a database field defined as CHAR), adjust the ABAP code to use a compatible data type or perform necessary type conversions before writing.
Example: ABAP code might need to change from
DATA lv_numeric_value TYPE i.
...
MODIFY ztable FROM wa.
to
DATA lv_char_value TYPE char10.
DATA lv_numeric_value TYPE i.
...
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
EXPORTING input = lv_numeric_value
IMPORTING output = lv_char_value.
wa-field_name = lv_char_value.
MODIFY ztable FROM wa.5
Reactivate the ABAP program and, if necessary, the database table (though direct table reactivation is rare and should be approached with caution).
2. Review and Correct Data Input for Character Encodings easy
Addresses issues where incorrect character encoding in input data leads to type conversion errors.
1
Identify the specific data record or input operation that is failing. This might involve examining application logs or the data source.
2
Check the source of the data being written. If the data is being imported from an external system or file, verify its character encoding. Common issues arise from UTF-8 vs. other encodings (e.g., ISO-8859-1).
3
If the input data contains characters that are not representable in the target database field's character set or collation, these can cause the 'Invalid Type' error. For example, trying to write a character like 'é' to a database field defined with a character set that doesn't support it.
4
Cleanse the input data before it is written to the S/4HANA system. This might involve using data transformation tools or custom scripts to remove or replace problematic characters.
Example using Python to clean a string:
def clean_string(input_str):
# Replace or remove problematic characters based on expected encoding
cleaned_str = input_str.encode('utf-8', 'ignore').decode('utf-8')
return cleaned_str
problematic_data = "Data with invalid character \ufffd"
cleaned_data = clean_string(problematic_data)
print(cleaned_data)5
Ensure that interfaces or data loading programs are configured to use the correct character encoding when sending data to S/4HANA.
3. Investigate Database Table Field Constraints and Data Length medium
Ensures that the data being written conforms to the length and format constraints of the target database table fields.
1
Using transaction SE11, examine the specific database table and the field that is causing the error. Check the 'Data element' and 'Domain' for the field.
2
Within the domain or data element definition, review the 'Data Type' (e.g., CHAR, NUMC, DEC) and 'Length' or 'Decimal Places' constraints. Also, check for 'Output Length' if applicable.
3
Identify the ABAP variable or data being written to this field. Compare its actual value and type with the database field's definition.
4
If the data being written exceeds the defined length of the database field (e.g., trying to write a 50-character string to a CHAR(30) field), this can lead to type-related errors. Similarly, writing non-numeric characters to a NUMC field or exceeding decimal precision for DEC fields are common causes.
5
Adjust the ABAP code to truncate or format the data to fit the database field's constraints before attempting the write operation. This might involve using functions like `CONCATENATE`, `SHIFT`, or explicit substring operations.
Example: Truncating a string in ABAP
DATA lv_long_string TYPE string VALUE 'This is a very long string that needs to be truncated.'.
DATA lv_short_string TYPE char30.
...
IF strlen( lv_long_string ) > 30.
lv_short_string = lv_long_string(30).
ELSE.
lv_short_string = lv_long_string.
ENDIF.
wa-field_name = lv_short_string.
MODIFY ztable FROM wa.6
For numeric fields (e.g., DEC, QUAN), ensure that the number of decimal places and the total number of digits do not exceed the definition. Use rounding functions if necessary.