How To Fix SD_EXPRESSION005 - Literal & of type NUMC can only be defined with length <= 255

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SD_EXPRESSION - Messages processing AST expressions

• Message number: 005

• Message text: Literal & of type NUMC can only be defined with length <= 255

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SD_EXPRESSION005 - Literal & of type NUMC can only be defined with length <= 255 ?

  The SAP error message SD_EXPRESSION005 indicates that there is an issue with a literal of type NUMC (numeric character) that has been defined with a length greater than 255 characters. In SAP, NUMC fields are typically used to store numeric values in character format, and they have a maximum length restriction.
  Cause:
  The error occurs when:
  
  A NUMC literal is defined with a length greater than 255 characters in a program, function module, or any other ABAP object.
  This can happen during the creation of expressions, calculations, or when defining data types in ABAP code.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check the Definition: Review the code where the NUMC literal is defined. Ensure that the length of the NUMC literal does not exceed 255 characters.
  
  
  Modify the Length: If you find that the length exceeds 255, modify the definition to ensure it is within the allowed limit. For example, if you have:
  DATA(lv_numc) TYPE c LENGTH 300.
  Change it to:
  DATA(lv_numc) TYPE c LENGTH 255.
  
  
  Use Alternative Data Types: If you need to store numeric values that exceed 255 characters, consider using other data types such as CHAR or STRING, depending on your requirements.
  
  
  Review Related Code: If the error is occurring in a specific function or module, review the related code to ensure that all NUMC literals are defined correctly.
  
  
  Testing: After making the necessary changes, test the program or function to ensure that the error is resolved and that the functionality remains intact.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  NUMC Data Type: In SAP ABAP, NUMC is used for storing numeric values as character strings. The maximum length for NUMC fields is 255 characters.
  ABAP Data Types: Familiarize yourself with other ABAP data types and their limitations to avoid similar issues in the future.
  SAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for more details on data types and their constraints.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the SD_EXPRESSION005 error and ensure that your ABAP code adheres to the defined constraints for NUMC literals.