How To Fix SOI1522 - Alter &1 field &2 from &3 to &4 not possible as fulltext index exists

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SOI1 - Safe Online Import/Upgrade Messages continued

• Message number: 522

• Message text: Alter &1 field &2 from &3 to &4 not possible as fulltext index exists

What causes this issue?

The length of column of type string or char is increased.

System Response

The action cannot be executed on Database via alter statement as the
Database does not support
it. Reason is that the table owns a fulltext index. Increasing the
length of a column in this case is only
supported if either old and new length are smaller than 1024 characters
or both are bigger than 1024 character.

How to fix this error?

Only change the table in a way described above if you want the table to
be altered.

Procedure for System Administrators

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SOI1522 - Alter &1 field &2 from &3 to &4 not possible as fulltext index exists ?

  The SAP error message SOI1522 indicates that there is an issue with altering a field in a database table that is associated with a full-text index. Specifically, the error message states that the alteration of the field (from one data type or length to another) is not possible because a full-text index exists on that field.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the field you are trying to alter is part of a full-text index. Full-text indexes are used to optimize search operations on text fields, and certain alterations to the structure of these fields (like changing the data type or length) are not allowed while the index is in place.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Drop the Full-Text Index: Before making any changes to the field, you need to drop the full-text index associated with it. This can usually be done through the database management tools or directly in the SAP system.
  
  
  Alter the Field: Once the full-text index has been dropped, you can proceed to alter the field as needed (e.g., changing its data type or length).
  
  
  Recreate the Full-Text Index: After successfully altering the field, you can recreate the full-text index on the modified field to restore the search functionality.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Backup: Always ensure that you have a backup of your data before making structural changes to the database.
  Testing: After making changes, test the functionality to ensure that everything works as expected.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or your organization's guidelines for specific commands and procedures related to managing full-text indexes and altering database fields.
  Performance Considerations: Be aware that dropping and recreating indexes can impact performance, especially in production environments. Plan to perform these operations during maintenance windows if possible.
  
  If you continue to experience issues or if the steps above do not resolve the error, consider consulting with your SAP Basis team or a database administrator for further assistance.