How To Fix DDLS174 - CASE (WHEN): value & does not have expected type &, length <= &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: DDLS - For DDL source handling

• Message number: 174

• Message text: CASE (WHEN): value & does not have expected type &, length <= &

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.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

What else can you do?

First, use our AnswerBot below to get a possible cause and solution (requires a premium subscription).

Also, review the in-depth Common Questions & Answers listed below; you could discover a solution there or be able to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

You can also try searching the SAP support portal (support.sap.com) but you need a special user ID to access it. It is possible that an SAP support note exists that provides additional details about the mistake or even steps for fixing it.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message DDLS174 - CASE (WHEN): value & does not have expected type &, length <= & ?

  The SAP error message DDLS174 indicates a type mismatch in a CASE statement within a SQL query or a data definition language (DDL) operation. This error typically arises when the values being compared or returned in the CASE statement do not conform to the expected data type or length.
  Cause:
  The error message "DDLS174 CASE (WHEN): value & does not have expected type &, length <= &" can occur due to the following reasons:
  
  
  Type Mismatch: The values specified in the WHEN clauses of the CASE statement do not match the expected data type of the result. For example, if the CASE statement is expected to return an integer but one of the WHEN clauses returns a string, this will trigger the error.
  
  
  Length Exceedance: The length of the returned value from the CASE statement exceeds the defined length for the target field. For instance, if a CASE statement is expected to return a VARCHAR(10) but one of the branches returns a VARCHAR(20), this will also cause the error.
  
  
  Inconsistent Data Types: If the CASE statement is trying to evaluate different data types without proper conversion, it can lead to this error.
  
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the DDLS174 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Data Types: Review the data types of all the values in the CASE statement. Ensure that all branches of the CASE statement return values of the same data type.
  
  
  Use Type Conversion: If necessary, use type conversion functions (like CAST or CONVERT) to ensure that all values being compared or returned are of the same type.
  Example:
  CASE 
      WHEN condition1 THEN CAST(value1 AS expected_type)
      WHEN condition2 THEN CAST(value2 AS expected_type)
      ...
  END
  
  
  Adjust Lengths: Ensure that the lengths of the returned values do not exceed the defined lengths of the target fields. If a longer value is necessary, consider increasing the length of the target field.
  
  
  Test Each Branch: Test each branch of the CASE statement independently to ensure that they all return the expected type and length.
  
  
  Review Documentation: Consult the SAP documentation or help resources for specific details on the expected types and lengths for the fields involved in your CASE statement.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error.
  SQL Syntax: Familiarize yourself with the SQL syntax for CASE statements in SAP HANA or the specific database you are using.
  Debugging Tools: Use debugging tools or transaction codes like SE11 (Data Dictionary) or SE80 (Object Navigator) to analyze the data types and structures involved.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and correct the cause of the DDLS174 error in your SAP environment.