SAP S/4HANA Error 5205: Text Comparison Failure

Identify the specific text fields and tables involved in the comparison that is failing. This often requires consulting SAP application logs or debugging tools within the S/4HANA system to pinpoint the exact data causing the discrepancy. Look for differences in capitalization, special characters, or leading/trailing spaces.

Access the source system or the system from which data is being migrated/replicated. This could be an older SAP ECC system, a third-party application, or even a flat file.

Perform a direct comparison of the text data in the identified fields between the source and target (S/4HANA) systems. Pay close attention to case sensitivity and any non-standard characters. Use tools like SQL queries or data comparison utilities.

Correct the inconsistent data in the source system to match the expected format or case in S/4HANA. If this is a one-time migration, this might involve data cleansing before loading. For ongoing replication, address the data generation process in the source.

If data is being replicated via SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT) or SAP Data Services, review the transformation rules and data masking configurations to ensure they are handling text data correctly and consistently.

Determine if the specific comparison causing error 5205 is related to a configurable area within S/4HANA. This is less common for core data objects but might apply to custom configurations or specific integration scenarios.

Consult SAP documentation for the relevant module or integration scenario. Search for parameters or settings related to text comparison behavior, such as case sensitivity options.

If a configuration parameter is found, follow the SAP guidelines to adjust it. This might involve using transaction codes like `SPRO` (SAP Customizing Implementation Guide) or specific configuration tools.

Example (hypothetical, as specific settings vary): If a custom integration uses a BAPI or API that allows for comparison flags, you might need to pass a parameter to make the comparison case-insensitive. This would be done in the calling program or interface.

After making any configuration changes, restart the relevant services or processes that are performing the text comparison and re-test the operation.

Identify the character encoding used by both the source system and the S/4HANA system. This information can often be found in system profiles, database configuration, or application logs.

Examine the specific text data that is causing the comparison failure. Look for any unusual characters or characters that might be represented differently across encodings (e.g., accented characters, symbols).

If a character encoding mismatch is suspected, you may need to perform data conversion. This could involve:
- **Database Level:** If the data resides in the database, you might need to alter table columns or perform data transformations using SQL to convert the encoding. This is a complex operation and requires careful planning and backups.
- **Application Level:** The application or integration tool responsible for data transfer might have options to specify or convert character encodings. Review its configuration.

Example SQL for checking encoding (syntax may vary based on database):
sql
-- For SAP HANA
SELECT TABLE_NAME, COLUMN_NAME, COLUMN_TYPE
FROM VIEWS
WHERE SCHEMA_NAME = 'YOUR_SCHEMA_NAME';

-- For Oracle (example)
SELECT owner, table_name, column_name, data_type, char_length, char_used
FROM all_tab_columns
WHERE owner = 'YOUR_SCHEMA_OWNER';


This helps identify data types and lengths, which can indirectly hint at encoding issues.

Ensure that all systems involved in the data flow are configured to use compatible character encodings, preferably a universal standard like UTF-8.