How To Fix IL803 - You cannot have two hyphens directly after one another

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: IL - PM: ILOM - Functional Locations

• Message number: 803

• Message text: You cannot have two hyphens directly after one another

What causes this issue?

You have placed two separators directly after one another in your edit
mask, which is not allowed.

System Response

INCLUDE 'KEINE-VERARBEITUNG' OBJECT DOKU ID TX LANGUAGE E

How to fix this error?

Delete one of the separators.
If you do not know which characters are valid edit characters, call up
the online documentation for the field <DS:DE.EDITM>"Edit mask"</>.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message IL803 - You cannot have two hyphens directly after one another ?

  The SAP error message IL803, which states "You cannot have two hyphens directly after one another," typically occurs in the context of creating or maintaining master data, such as material master records, where certain fields are expected to follow specific formatting rules.
  Cause:
  This error is usually caused by an incorrect format in a field that does not allow consecutive hyphens. For example, if you are entering a material number, a vendor number, or any other identifier, having two hyphens (--) in succession is not permitted. This can happen if:
  
  The user inadvertently types two hyphens.
  Data is being imported or uploaded from an external source that contains invalid formatting.
  There is a mistake in the configuration of the data entry fields.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the IL803 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Input Fields: Review the input fields where the error occurred. Look for any instances of consecutive hyphens and correct them. Ensure that there are no unintended spaces or characters as well.
  
  
  Data Validation: If you are importing data, validate the source data to ensure it adheres to the required format. Remove any instances of consecutive hyphens before attempting to upload the data again.
  
  
  Field Configuration: If this error occurs frequently, check the configuration of the fields in the relevant transaction or module. Ensure that the field settings are correctly defined to prevent users from entering invalid data.
  
  
  User Training: Educate users on the correct format for entering data to avoid this error in the future.
  
  
  Debugging: If the error persists and you cannot find the source, consider debugging the transaction or checking for any custom code that might be affecting the input validation.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message. SAP frequently updates its knowledge base with solutions for common problems.
  Documentation: Refer to the SAP documentation for the specific module you are working with to understand the formatting rules for identifiers and other fields.
  Community Forums: Engage with SAP community forums or support channels where other users may have encountered and resolved similar issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and correct the cause of the IL803 error in your SAP system.