How To Fix PO172 - Specified character number was too big

PO172 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PO - Spooler message

• Message number: 172

• Message text: Specified character number was too big

What causes this issue?

The character number entered is outside the area of the displayed list.

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

System Response

How to fix this error?

Enter a smaller character number that is within the displayed list.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PO172 - Specified character number was too big ?

  The SAP error message PO172 ("Specified character number was too big") typically occurs when there is an issue with the length of a character string being processed in a program or transaction. This error can arise in various contexts, such as when dealing with text fields, descriptions, or other character-based data.
  Causes:
  
  Exceeding Character Limits: The most common cause is that the input data exceeds the defined length for a particular field. For example, if a field is defined to accept a maximum of 30 characters, and you try to input 35 characters, this error will occur.
  Data Type Mismatch: If there is a mismatch between the expected data type and the actual data being processed, it can lead to this error.
  Custom Code Issues: If there are custom programs or enhancements that manipulate character strings, they may not handle the lengths correctly, leading to this error.
  
  Configuration Issues: Sometimes, configuration settings in the system