How To Fix SALV_BS_MSG201 - Column '&1' contains cell variants and cannot be exported

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SALV_BS_MSG -

• Message number: 201

• Message text: Column '&1' contains cell variants and cannot be exported

What causes this issue?

Column '&V1&' with techncal column ID '&V2&' contains cell variants and
can therefore not be exported.

System Response

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

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SALV_BS_MSG201 - Column '&1' contains cell variants and cannot be exported ?

  The SAP error message SALV_BS_MSG201 indicates that a specific column in a SAP ALV (ABAP List Viewer) report contains cell variants, which prevents the data from being exported. This typically occurs when the ALV grid is configured to display data in a way that includes different formats or styles for individual cells within a column, which is not compatible with the export functionality.
  Cause:
  The error arises when:
  
  The column in question has been defined with cell variants (e.g., different colors, fonts, or other formatting) that cannot be represented in the export format (like Excel or CSV).
  The ALV grid is trying to export a column that has inconsistent data representation due to these cell variants.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this issue, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Column Configuration: Review the configuration of the ALV report to identify which column is causing the issue. Look for any cell variants applied to that column.
  
  
  Remove Cell Variants: If possible, modify the ALV configuration to remove the cell variants from the problematic column. This can often be done in the ABAP code where the ALV is defined.
  
  
  Use a Different Export Method: If removing cell variants is not feasible, consider using a different method for exporting the data that can handle cell variants, or export the data in a different format that does not require uniformity in cell representation.
  
  
  Fallback to Standard Export: If the ALV grid is using a custom export function, try using the standard export functionality provided by SAP, which may handle the data differently.
  
  
  Debugging: If you have access to the ABAP code, you can debug the ALV report to see how the data is being processed and identify where the cell variants are being applied.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  ALV Grid Control: Understand how the ALV grid control works and how to manage cell formatting and variants.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to ALV exports and cell variants.
  Documentation: Refer to the SAP documentation for ALV reporting to understand best practices for configuring ALV reports and handling exports.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the SALV_BS_MSG201 error and successfully export your ALV report data.