How To Fix FT173 - In total & characters should be transfered; only 18 are permitted

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: FT - FI Table Maintenance Error Messages

• Message number: 173

• Message text: In total & characters should be transfered; only 18 are permitted

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

What else can you do?

First, use our AnswerBot below to get a possible cause and solution (requires a premium subscription).

Also, review the in-depth Common Questions & Answers listed below; you could discover a solution there or be able to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

You can also try searching the SAP support portal (support.sap.com) but you need a special user ID to access it. It is possible that an SAP support note exists that provides additional details about the mistake or even steps for fixing it.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message FT173 - In total & characters should be transfered; only 18 are permitted ?

  The SAP error message FT173, which states "In total & characters should be transferred; only 18 are permitted," typically occurs when there is an attempt to transfer more characters than allowed in a specific field or data structure within the SAP system. This error is often related to data entry or data transfer processes, particularly in contexts where character limits are enforced.
  Cause:
  
  Field Length Exceeded: The most common cause of this error is that the data being entered or transferred exceeds the maximum character limit defined for a specific field in the SAP database or application.
  Data Mapping Issues: If data is being transferred from an external system or file, there may be a mismatch in the expected field lengths between the source and target systems.
  Configuration Settings: Certain configurations in the SAP system may impose restrictions on the length of data that can be processed.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Field Lengths: Review the field definitions in the relevant SAP transaction or table to determine the maximum allowed character length. Ensure that the data being entered or transferred does not exceed this limit.
  Data Truncation: If the data exceeds the allowed length, consider truncating the data to fit within the limit. This may involve modifying the source data or adjusting the data mapping process.
  Validation Rules: Implement validation rules in the data entry process to prevent users from entering data that exceeds the allowed character limit.
  Review Data Transfer Logic: If the error occurs during data transfer, review the logic used to map and transfer data between systems to ensure compliance with field length restrictions.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidance related to the transaction or module where the error occurs.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: The error may occur in various transaction codes depending on the context (e.g., data entry, data import).
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  Field Definitions: Use transaction codes like SE11 (Data Dictionary) to check the field definitions and their lengths in the relevant tables.
  User Exits or BAdIs: If applicable, consider implementing user exits or Business Add-Ins (BAdIs) to customize the behavior of data processing to handle character limits more gracefully.
  
  By addressing the character limit issue and ensuring that data adheres to the defined constraints, you should be able to resolve the FT173 error in SAP.