How To Fix EA717 - Character string & cannot be interpreted as XML tag.

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EA - IDoc Basis Messages

• Message number: 717

• Message text: Character string & cannot be interpreted as XML tag.

What causes this issue?

The character string '&v1&' could not be interpreted as a tag.

System Response

The file cannot be processed.

How to fix this error?

Correct file &v2&.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EA717 - Character string & cannot be interpreted as XML tag. ?

  The SAP error message EA717, which states "Character string & cannot be interpreted as XML tag," typically occurs when there is an issue with the XML data being processed in an SAP system. This error indicates that the system encountered a character string that it could not recognize as a valid XML tag, which can happen for several reasons.
  Causes:
  
  Malformed XML: The XML structure may be incorrect, such as missing opening or closing tags, or improperly nested elements.
  Invalid Characters: The XML may contain characters that are not allowed in XML tags, such as spaces, special characters, or control characters.
  Encoding Issues: The XML data may not be properly encoded, leading to misinterpretation of characters.
  Data Source Issues: The source of the XML data may be providing incorrect or unexpected data formats.
  Configuration Errors: There may be issues with the configuration of the system or the specific function module that is processing the XML.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Validate XML Structure: Use an XML validator tool to check the structure of the XML data. Ensure that all tags are properly opened and closed, and that the nesting is correct.
  Check for Invalid Characters: Review the XML data for any invalid characters in the tag names. Ensure that tag names follow XML naming conventions (e.g., no spaces, must start with a letter or underscore).
  Review Encoding: Ensure that the XML data is encoded correctly (e.g., UTF-8) and that the encoding declaration in the XML header matches the actual encoding.
  Debugging: If you have access to the code or function module that processes the XML, add debugging statements to log the XML data being processed. This can help identify the specific string causing the error.
  Consult Documentation: Review SAP documentation or notes related to the specific function or module you are using to see if there are known issues or additional configuration steps required.
  Error Handling: Implement error handling in your code to catch and log errors when processing XML, which can help in diagnosing the issue.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to XML processing in your version of SAP.
  XML Standards: Familiarize yourself with XML standards and best practices to ensure that the data being processed adheres to these guidelines.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues and what solutions they found effective.
  
  By addressing the above points, you should be able to resolve the EA717 error and ensure that your XML data is processed correctly in the SAP system.