How To Fix BRAIN856 - Characteristic value &1 is illegal

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: BRAIN -

• Message number: 856

• Message text: Characteristic value &1 is illegal

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message BRAIN856 - Characteristic value &1 is illegal ?

  The SAP error message BRAIN856, which states "Characteristic value &1 is illegal," typically occurs in the context of SAP BW (Business Warehouse) or SAP BI (Business Intelligence) when dealing with characteristics in InfoObjects, queries, or data modeling. This error indicates that the value being used for a characteristic is not valid or does not exist in the master data.
  Causes:
  
  Invalid Characteristic Value: The value being referenced does not exist in the master data for the characteristic.
  Data Type Mismatch: The value may not conform to the expected data type for the characteristic (e.g., trying to use a string where a numeric value is expected).
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to access the characteristic or its values.
  Data Load Issues: If the characteristic is being populated from a data load, there may have been issues during the data extraction or transformation process.
  Incorrect Query Design: The query may be incorrectly designed, referencing a characteristic value that is not part of the data model.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Check Master Data: Verify that the characteristic value exists in the master data. You can do this by navigating to the relevant InfoObject and checking the values.
  Validate Data Types: Ensure that the value being used matches the expected data type for the characteristic.
  Review Authorizations: Check if the user has the necessary authorizations to access the characteristic and its values.
  Data Load Monitoring: If the issue arises during data loading, check the data load logs for errors or warnings that might indicate why the characteristic value is not being recognized.
  Query Design Review: Review the query design to ensure that all characteristics and values are correctly defined and that there are no references to non-existent values.
  Use Transaction Codes: Use transaction codes like RSA1 (Data Warehousing Workbench) to analyze and troubleshoot the issue further.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation for details on InfoObjects, characteristics, and data modeling best practices.
  Community Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or support channels for additional insights and solutions from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the root cause of the BRAIN856 error and implement an appropriate solution.