How To Fix 5P221 - &: Use packed fields for comparison only: &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 5P - Error Messages for Schema, Pers.Calc.Rule and Feature Checks

• Message number: 221

• Message text: &: Use packed fields for comparison only: &

What causes this issue?

You have used a packed field for the decision operation.
Packed fields may only be used for decision operations with
comparisons.

How to fix this error?

Use a '?' in the decision operation and add a comparison value.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 5P221 - &: Use packed fields for comparison only: & ?

  The SAP error message 5P221 indicates that there is an issue with the use of packed fields in your ABAP code. Specifically, it suggests that packed fields should only be used for comparison operations and not for other types of operations or assignments. This error typically arises when you attempt to perform operations that are not compatible with packed fields.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  You are trying to use packed fields in a context where they are not appropriate, such as in arithmetic operations or string manipulations.
  The packed fields are being compared or assigned in a way that is not allowed by the ABAP language rules.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Review the Code: Check the line of code that is causing the error. Look for any operations involving packed fields that are not comparisons.
  
  
  Change Data Types: If you are using packed fields for operations other than comparison, consider changing the data type to a more appropriate one, such as:
  
  INTEGER or FLOAT for numeric calculations.
  CHAR or STRING for string manipulations.
  
  
  
  Use Appropriate Operations: Ensure that you are only using packed fields for comparison operations. If you need to perform calculations, convert the packed field to a suitable numeric type before performing the operation.
  
  
  Debugging: If you are unsure where the error is occurring, use debugging tools in the ABAP Workbench to step through the code and identify the exact line causing the issue.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Packed Fields: In ABAP, packed fields (defined with the P data type) are used to store numeric values in a compact format. They are typically used for financial calculations where precision is important.
  Data Types in ABAP: Familiarize yourself with the different data types in ABAP and their appropriate use cases. This will help you avoid similar errors in the future.
  ABAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for more details on data types and their usage in ABAP programming.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 5P221 error and ensure that your ABAP code is functioning correctly.