How To Fix EC152 - Special characters '<' and '>' are not permitted in texts

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EC - Development environment: Menu Painter

• Message number: 152

• Message text: Special characters '<' and '>' are not permitted in texts

What causes this issue?

You used the characters ">" and "<" in your text. These are not allowed
in Menu Painter texts.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Change the texts.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EC152 - Special characters '<' and '>' are not permitted in texts ?

  The SAP error message EC152 indicates that special characters, specifically the less-than (<) and greater-than (>) symbols, are not permitted in text fields within the SAP system. This error typically arises when users attempt to enter or save text that includes these characters, which are often reserved for specific functions in programming and markup languages.
  Cause:
  
  Input of Special Characters: Users may inadvertently include < or > in text fields, such as descriptions, comments, or notes.
  Data Import/Upload: If data is being imported from external sources (like Excel or CSV files), these characters may be present in the data being uploaded.
  Copy-Pasting: Copying text from web pages or documents that contain these characters can lead to this error when pasted into SAP.
  
  Solution:
  
  Remove Special Characters: Review the text input and remove any instances of < and >. Ensure that the text complies with SAP's character restrictions.
  Data Validation: Implement validation checks in your data entry processes to prevent the inclusion of these characters.
  Data Cleansing: If importing data, cleanse the data beforehand to remove any special characters that are not allowed.
  Use Alternative Characters: If you need to represent something that would typically use these characters (like HTML tags), consider using alternative representations or encoding.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to SAP's official documentation for guidelines on valid characters in text fields.
  User Training: Educate users on the limitations of text inputs in SAP to minimize errors.
  Error Handling: Implement error handling in custom programs or interfaces that interact with SAP to catch and handle these errors gracefully.
  
  By following these steps, you can resolve the EC152 error and ensure that text inputs in SAP are compliant with the system's requirements.