How To Fix SF683 - A subnode cannot be assigned to a reference to a structure

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SF - SAPfind: Message Texts

• Message number: 683

• Message text: A subnode cannot be assigned to a reference to a structure

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SF683 - A subnode cannot be assigned to a reference to a structure ?

  The SAP error message SF683, which states "A subnode cannot be assigned to a reference to a structure," typically occurs in the context of SAP ABAP programming, particularly when dealing with data structures and references.
  Cause:
  This error usually arises when there is an attempt to assign a subnode (or a field) of a structure to a reference variable that is expected to point to the entire structure rather than just a part of it. In ABAP, a reference variable must match the type of the data it is pointing to, and if you try to assign a subfield to a reference variable that is not compatible, this error will be triggered.
  Example Scenario:
  Suppose you have a structure defined as follows:
  TYPES: BEGIN OF ty_example,
           field1 TYPE i,
           field2 TYPE c LENGTH 10,
         END OF ty_example.
  
  DATA: ls_example TYPE ty_example,
        lr_example TYPE REF TO ty_example.
  If you try to assign ls_example-field1 to lr_example, you will encounter the SF683 error because lr_example is a reference to the entire structure, not just a single field.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, ensure that you are assigning the entire structure to the reference variable, not just a subfield. Here’s how you can do it correctly:
  DATA: lr_example TYPE REF TO ty_example.
  
  CREATE OBJECT lr_example.  " Create an instance of the structure
  
  ls_example-field1 = 10.
  ls_example-field2 = 'Example'.
  
  MOVE ls_example TO lr_example.  " Correctly assign the entire structure
  Related Information:
  
  Data Types: Understand the difference between structures and fields in ABAP. A structure can contain multiple fields, while a field is a single data element.
  References: Familiarize yourself with how references work in ABAP. A reference variable must point to a compatible data type.
  Debugging: Use the ABAP debugger to inspect the types of variables and ensure that assignments are valid.
  Documentation: Refer to the SAP Help Portal or ABAP documentation for more details on data types and structures.
  
  By ensuring that you are assigning the correct types and using the appropriate references, you can avoid encountering the SF683 error in your ABAP programs.