How To Fix /SMB/SBA1068 - Encoding of the file & is not unicode (UTF-16)

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: /SMB/SBA1 -

• Message number: 068

• Message text: Encoding of the file & is not unicode (UTF-16)

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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message /SMB/SBA1068 - Encoding of the file & is not unicode (UTF-16) ?

  The SAP error message /SMB/SBA1068 Encoding of the file & is not unicode (UTF-16) indicates that the system is expecting a file to be in UTF-16 encoding, but the file provided does not meet this requirement. This error typically arises when dealing with file uploads or data imports where the encoding format is crucial for proper processing.
  Cause:
  
  Incorrect File Encoding: The file you are trying to upload or process is not encoded in UTF-16. It may be in a different encoding format such as UTF-8, ASCII, or ISO-8859-1.
  File Corruption: The file may be corrupted or improperly formatted, leading to encoding issues.
  Misconfiguration: There may be a misconfiguration in the system settings that specifies the expected encoding format.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Convert the File Encoding:
  
  Use a text editor or a file conversion tool to convert the file to UTF-16 encoding. Most modern text editors (like Notepad++, Visual Studio Code, or Sublime Text) allow you to change the encoding of a file.
  In Notepad++, for example, you can go to Encoding > Convert to UTF-16 LE and then save the file.
  
  
  
  Verify File Integrity:
  
  Ensure that the file is not corrupted. You can try opening it in a text editor to see if it displays correctly.
  If the file is generated by another system, check the export settings to ensure it is set to export in UTF-16.
  
  
  
  Check SAP Configuration:
  
  Review the configuration settings in SAP related to file processing to ensure that the expected encoding is set correctly.
  Consult with your SAP Basis or technical team if there are specific settings that need to be adjusted.
  
  
  
  Test with a Sample File:
  
  Create a simple text file with known content and save it in UTF-16 encoding. Try uploading this file to see if the error persists. This can help isolate whether the issue is with the specific file or a broader configuration issue.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  UTF-16 Encoding: This is a character encoding capable of encoding all possible characters (code points) in Unicode. It uses one or two 16-bit code units to represent characters.
  SAP File Uploads: When uploading files in SAP, it is essential to ensure that the file format and encoding match the expected parameters to avoid errors.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes or the SAP Community for any known issues or patches related to file encoding errors.
  
  If the problem persists after trying the above solutions, consider reaching out to SAP support or consulting with a technical expert familiar with your specific SAP environment.