How To Fix F0196 - Invalid character "&" in text &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: F0 - FI batch program messages

• Message number: 196

• Message text: Invalid character "&" in text &

What causes this issue?

You have entered character "&V1&" in the "&V2&" text which is not
allowed by &V3&.

How to fix this error?

Check the characters in the text. The following characters are allowed:

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

1234567890
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
???????????????++??++++++--+-+??++--?-+----++++++++?_??
??\,.??()-/

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message F0196 - Invalid character "&" in text & ?

  The SAP error message F0196, which states "Invalid character '&' in text &," typically occurs when there is an invalid character in a text field that is not allowed by the system. This error is often encountered in various SAP transactions, especially when dealing with text fields in financial documents, master data, or other areas where text input is required.
  Cause:
  
  Invalid Characters: The presence of the ampersand (&) character in a text field that does not support it. This can happen when users copy and paste text from external sources (like Word documents or web pages) that may contain special characters.
  Formatting Issues: Sometimes, formatting issues can introduce invalid characters that are not visible in the text editor.
  Data Migration: If data is being migrated from another system, it may contain invalid characters that are not recognized by SAP.
  
  Solution:
  
  Remove Invalid Characters: Check the text field for the presence of the & character and remove it. You can do this by editing the text directly in the SAP interface.
  Use Valid Characters: Ensure that only valid characters are used in the text fields. Refer to SAP documentation or guidelines for the list of allowed characters.
  Text Editor: If you are copying text from another source, paste it into a plain text editor (like Notepad) first to strip any formatting and special characters, then copy it from there into SAP.
  Validation: Implement validation checks in your data entry processes to prevent the entry of invalid characters in the future.
  Data Migration Tools: If this error arises during data migration, ensure that the migration tools or scripts are configured to handle or filter out invalid characters.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific patches or updates related to this error message. SAP frequently updates its knowledge base with solutions for common issues.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes related to the area where the error occurs (e.g., FB01 for financial document entry).
  User Training: Provide training for users on the acceptable formats and characters for text fields in SAP to minimize the occurrence of this error.
  
  If the problem persists after trying the above solutions, it may be beneficial to consult with your SAP support team or refer to SAP's official documentation for further assistance.