How To Fix /PF1/MSG_CONV_XML137 - Only one occurrence of '&' is allowed

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: /PF1/MSG_CONV_XML -

• Message number: 137

• Message text: Only one occurrence of '&' is allowed

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message /PF1/MSG_CONV_XML137 - Only one occurrence of '&' is allowed ?

  The SAP error message /PF1/MSG_CONV_XML137: Only one occurrence of '&' is allowed typically occurs when there is an issue with the XML data being processed, particularly when the XML contains an invalid character sequence. In XML, the ampersand (&) is a special character used to denote the beginning of an entity reference. If an ampersand is not followed by a valid entity name or if it appears in a context where it is not allowed, this error can be triggered.
  Cause:
  
  Invalid XML Format: The XML data being processed contains an ampersand (&) that is not properly encoded. For example, if you have a string like A & B, it should be encoded as A & B in XML.
  Multiple Ampersands: The error message indicates that there is more than one occurrence of the ampersand in a context where only one is allowed, or that it is not properly formatted.
  Data Source Issues: The data being imported or processed may have been incorrectly formatted or generated, leading to invalid XML.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check XML Data: Review the XML data being processed to ensure that all ampersands are properly encoded. Replace any occurrences of & with & where appropriate.
  Validate XML: Use an XML validator tool to check the structure of your XML data. This can help identify any other formatting issues that may be present.
  Modify Data Source: If the XML is generated from a data source (like a database or an application), ensure that the data is sanitized and properly formatted before it is converted to XML.
  Debugging: If you have access to the code that generates the XML, add logging or debugging statements to capture the XML output before it is processed. This can help identify where the invalid characters are being introduced.
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  XML Encoding: In XML, certain characters must be escaped. The most common ones are:
  
  & should be replaced with &
  < should be replaced with &lt;
  > should be replaced with &gt;
  " should be replaced with &quot;
  ' should be replaced with &apos;
  
  
  
  SAP Documentation: Refer to SAP's official documentation or support notes related to XML processing for additional guidance on handling XML data and common error messages.
  
  
  SAP Community: Engaging with the SAP Community forums can provide insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues and their solutions.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and ensure that your XML data is correctly formatted for processing in SAP.