How To Fix DO266 - Output length (&) is greater than the calculated output length (&)

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: DO - Dictionary: Mass activation of domains and data elements

• Message number: 266

• Message text: Output length (&) is greater than the calculated output length (&)

What causes this issue?

The output length is calculated from the specified data type, number of
postitions, decimal places and sign.
The specified output length exceeds the output length calculated for
the data type.
If you have string data types, no output length can be assigned
because, in the standard system, these can be displayed on the screen
in a roll field without length limitation. The screen field in this
case contains the visualized length defined by the developer in the
screen design, and it therefore has an unlimited defined length.

System Response

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message DO266 - Output length (&) is greater than the calculated output length (&) ?

  The SAP error message DO266 indicates that there is a discrepancy between the expected output length of a data field and the actual output length defined in the system. This typically occurs in the context of data output, such as when generating reports or exporting data.
  Cause:
  The error message "Output length (&) is greater than the calculated output length (&)" usually arises due to one of the following reasons:
  
  
  Field Length Mismatch: The defined length of a field in the output format (like a report or data export) is greater than what is calculated based on the data type or the actual data being processed.
  
  
  Data Type Issues: The data type of the field may not match the expected type, leading to incorrect length calculations.
  
  
  Configuration Errors: There may be configuration settings in the output format that are incorrectly set, leading to an expectation of a longer output than what is actually available.
  
  
  Custom Code: If there is custom ABAP code involved in generating the output, it may not be handling the data lengths correctly.
  
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the DO266 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Field Definitions: Review the field definitions in the output format and ensure that the lengths are correctly defined. Compare the expected length with the actual data length.
  
  
  Adjust Output Length: If the output length is set incorrectly, adjust it to match the calculated output length. This can often be done in the report or output configuration settings.
  
  
  Review Data Types: Ensure that the data types used in the output match the expected types. If there are discrepancies, correct them.
  
  
  Debug Custom Code: If there is custom ABAP code involved, debug it to identify where the length calculation is going wrong. Ensure that the code correctly handles the lengths of the fields being processed.
  
  
  Consult Documentation: Check SAP documentation or notes related to the specific transaction or report you are working with for any known issues or additional configuration steps.
  
  
  Test Changes: After making adjustments, test the output again to ensure that the error is resolved.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific notes related to the DO266 error, as there may be patches or updates that address this issue.
  Transaction Codes: Depending on where the error occurs, you may need to look into specific transaction codes (like SE38 for reports, SE80 for development objects, etc.) to make necessary changes.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered and resolved similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the DO266 error in your SAP system.