How To Fix DDLS384 - %, _, or escape symbol must follow the escape character in like

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: DDLS - For DDL source handling

• Message number: 384

• Message text: %, _, or escape symbol must follow the escape character in like

Self-Explanatory Message

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• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message DDLS384 - %, _, or escape symbol must follow the escape character in like ?

  The SAP error message DDLS384 indicates that there is an issue with the use of escape characters in a SQL statement, particularly when using the LIKE operator. This error typically arises when the SQL syntax does not properly handle escape characters, which are used to allow special characters (like %, _, or escape symbols) to be treated as literals rather than wildcards.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  An escape character is used in a LIKE clause, but it is not followed by a valid character (like %, _, or another escape character).
  The syntax of the SQL statement is incorrect, leading to ambiguity in how the escape character is interpreted.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you should:
  
  
  Check the SQL Syntax: Ensure that the SQL statement is correctly formatted. The escape character should be followed by a valid character.
  
  Example of correct usage:
  SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name LIKE 'abc\%' ESCAPE '\';
  
  In this example, the backslash (\) is used as the escape character, allowing the % to be treated as a literal character.
  
  
  
  Use Proper Escape Characters: If you are using special characters in your LIKE clause, make sure to define an escape character and use it correctly.
  
  Example:
  SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name LIKE 'abc\_' ESCAPE '\';
  
  Here, the underscore (_) is treated as a literal character due to the escape character.
  
  
  
  Review Documentation: Consult the SAP documentation or SQL reference for the specific database you are using to understand how escape characters work in that context.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Escape Character: An escape character is a character that allows you to specify that the following character should be treated differently (e.g., as a literal rather than a wildcard).
  Wildcards in SQL: The % character represents zero or more characters, while the _ character represents a single character in SQL LIKE queries.
  Testing Queries: If you are unsure about the syntax, test your queries in a SQL editor or environment that allows you to see the results and debug any issues.
  
  By ensuring that your SQL statements are correctly formatted and that escape characters are used properly, you should be able to resolve the DDLS384 error.