How To Fix SO688 - & is not a valid X.400 address

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SO - SAPoffice: message texts

• Message number: 688

• Message text: & is not a valid X.400 address

What causes this issue?

An X.400 address consists of at least the country (C) and the
administrative domain (A). Other valid abbreviations are O, OU1-OU4, S,
G, I, Q, and P for the respective components of the X.400 address. The
individual components are separated by a semicolon (;).
Either an incorrect separation character was used or an invalid
abbreviation was entered or the country or administrative domain was
not specified.

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?

Please enter the address in the way described above.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SO688 - & is not a valid X.400 address ?

  The SAP error message SO688 indicates that the system has encountered an issue with an X.400 address that is not valid. This error typically arises when attempting to send emails or messages through the SAP system using the X.400 protocol, which is a standard for electronic messaging.
  Cause:
  
  Invalid Address Format: The X.400 address may not conform to the required format. X.400 addresses have a specific structure that must be followed.
  Missing Components: Essential components of the X.400 address, such as the organization, domain, or other required fields, may be missing.
  Configuration Issues: The SAP system may not be properly configured to handle X.400 addresses, or there may be issues with the underlying mail system.
  Typographical Errors: Simple typographical errors in the address can lead to this error.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Address Format: Ensure that the X.400 address is correctly formatted. A typical X.400 address might look like this: C=Country; A=Routing; P=Organization; O=Organization; S=User.
  Verify Components: Make sure all necessary components of the address are present and correctly specified.
  Configuration Review: Review the configuration settings in SAP for the communication method being used. Ensure that the X.400 settings are correctly configured in transaction code SO01 (SAPconnect).
  Test with a Valid Address: Try sending a message to a known valid X.400 address to determine if the issue is with the specific address or a broader configuration issue.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidelines on configuring and using X.400 addresses.
  Contact Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to SAP support or your system administrator for further assistance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAPconnect: This is the component in SAP that handles external communication, including email. You can access it via transaction code SCOT.
  X.400 Address Structure: Familiarize yourself with the structure and components of X.400 addresses to avoid formatting issues.
  Transaction Codes: Use transaction codes like SO01 for managing messages and SCOT for configuring communication methods.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue related to the SO688 error message in SAP.