How To Fix 37217 - Permanent help key for values for & will be ignored at runtime

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 37 - Screen Painter

• Message number: 217

• Message text: Permanent help key for values for & will be ignored at runtime

What causes this issue?

You are editing an element of a table control and want to assign the
value
2 - permanent input help key
to the "input help key" attribute.

System Response

This attribute value will be ignored at runtime.
To prevent following columns always being obscured by the input help
key, the system assigns the value
empty - temporary input help at cursor position, if possible
instead.

How to fix this error?

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 37217 - Permanent help key for values for & will be ignored at runtime ?

  The SAP error message "37217 Permanent help key for values for & will be ignored at runtime" typically occurs in the context of SAP's ABAP programming environment, particularly when dealing with the use of help values (like F4 help) in selection screens or input fields.
  Cause:
  This error message indicates that there is a problem with the definition of a help key for a field in a selection screen or a dialog. Specifically, it suggests that the help key defined for a particular field is not valid or is not being recognized at runtime. This can happen due to several reasons, such as:
  
  Incorrect Definition: The help key might not be correctly defined in the data dictionary or in the program.
  Missing Data: The underlying table or structure that the help key is supposed to reference may not contain the expected data.
  Field Attributes: The field attributes may not be set correctly, leading to the help key being ignored.
  Program Logic: There may be logic in the program that prevents the help key from being activated or used.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Help Key Definition: Verify that the help key is correctly defined in the data dictionary (SE11) or in the program. Ensure that the field is associated with the correct domain or data element that has the help key defined.
  
  
  Review Field Attributes: Ensure that the field attributes are set correctly in the selection screen or dialog. Check if the field is marked as input/output correctly.
  
  
  Validate Data Source: Check the underlying table or structure that the help key references to ensure it contains the necessary data. If the table is empty or does not have the expected values, the help key will not work.
  
  
  Debugging: If the issue persists, consider debugging the program to see if there are any runtime conditions that might be affecting the help key's availability.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Review SAP documentation or notes related to the specific version of SAP you are using, as there may be known issues or patches available.
  
  
  Check for Updates: Ensure that your SAP system is up to date with the latest support packages and notes, as this can sometimes resolve unexpected behavior.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may want to use transaction codes like SE11 (Data Dictionary), SE80 (Object Navigator), or SE37 (Function Module) to investigate the definitions and implementations related to the help key.
  SAP Notes: Search for relevant SAP Notes in the SAP Support Portal that might address this specific error message or provide additional context.
  Community Forums: Consider checking SAP Community forums or other developer forums for similar issues and solutions shared by other users.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the error and implement a solution to resolve it.