How To Fix SALV_X_API168 - Serialization of PDF configuration failed: &1

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SALV_X_API - Messages for ALV API exceptions

• Message number: 168

• Message text: Serialization of PDF configuration failed: &1

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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SALV_X_API168 - Serialization of PDF configuration failed: &1 ?

  The SAP error message SALV_X_API168 indicates that there was a failure in the serialization of PDF configuration. This error typically occurs when trying to generate or export a PDF document from an ALV (ABAP List Viewer) report or similar functionality in SAP.
  Causes:
  
  Configuration Issues: The PDF configuration settings may not be properly set up in the system.
  Data Issues: The data being processed may contain invalid or unexpected values that cannot be serialized into a PDF format.
  Authorization Problems: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to perform the PDF generation.
  System Limitations: There may be limitations in the system regarding memory or processing power that prevent the PDF from being generated.
  Software Bugs: There could be bugs in the SAP version you are using that affect PDF generation.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Check Configuration:
  
  Verify the PDF configuration settings in the SAP system. Ensure that all necessary parameters are correctly set.
  Check transaction codes like S_ALR_87012086 or S_ALR_87012087 for ALV settings.
  
  
  
  Review Data:
  
  Inspect the data being processed to ensure it does not contain any anomalies or unexpected formats.
  If possible, try to generate the PDF with a smaller dataset to see if the issue persists.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check:
  
  Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to generate PDFs. Check roles and authorizations related to ALV and PDF generation.
  
  
  
  System Resources:
  
  Monitor system resources (memory, CPU) during the PDF generation process. If resources are low, consider optimizing the report or increasing system resources.
  
  
  
  Update SAP:
  
  Check for any available patches or updates for your SAP system that may address known bugs related to PDF generation.
  
  
  
  Debugging:
  
  If you have access to the ABAP code, you can debug the program to identify where the serialization is failing. Look for any exceptions or errors in the code that handles PDF generation.
  
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes:
  
  Search the SAP Support Portal for any relevant SAP Notes that may provide additional insights or fixes related to this error.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Documentation: Review the official SAP documentation for ALV and PDF generation for best practices and configuration guidelines.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums to see if other users have encountered similar issues and what solutions they found effective.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as SE38 (ABAP Editor) and SE80 (Object Navigator) for debugging and analyzing the report.
  
  If the issue persists after trying the above solutions, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.