How To Fix SY256 - INTO field string must not include more than & fields

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SY - ABAP/4 system messages

• Message number: 256

• Message text: INTO field string must not include more than & fields

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.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.

What else can you do?

First, use our AnswerBot below to get a possible cause and solution (requires a premium subscription).

Also, review the in-depth Common Questions & Answers listed below; you could discover a solution there or be able to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

You can also try searching the SAP support portal (support.sap.com) but you need a special user ID to access it. It is possible that an SAP support note exists that provides additional details about the mistake or even steps for fixing it.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SY256 - INTO field string must not include more than & fields ?

  The SAP error message SY256 indicates that there is an issue with the number of fields being included in a string when using the INTO clause in an ABAP statement. Specifically, the error message states: "INTO field string must not include more than & fields," where & represents the maximum number of fields allowed.
  Cause:
  This error typically occurs when you are trying to assign values to a target field string that exceeds the allowed limit of fields. In ABAP, when using the INTO clause, you can only specify a limited number of fields (usually up to 255 fields) in a single statement. If you exceed this limit, the SY256 error will be triggered.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Reduce the Number of Fields: Check the INTO clause in your ABAP code and ensure that you are not trying to assign more fields than allowed. If you are, consider breaking the assignment into multiple statements.
  
  
  Use a Structure: If you are trying to select many fields, consider defining a structure that contains the fields you need. You can then select into this structure instead of individual fields.
  TYPES: BEGIN OF ty_my_structure,
           field1 TYPE data_type1,
           field2 TYPE data_type2,
           ...
         END OF ty_my_structure.
  
  DATA: my_structure TYPE ty_my_structure.
  
  SELECT field1, field2, ...
  INTO my_structure
  FROM my_table
  WHERE condition.
  
  
  Use Internal Tables: If you are working with multiple records, consider using an internal table to store the results instead of trying to select into multiple fields.
  DATA: lt_results TYPE TABLE OF ty_my_structure.
  
  SELECT field1, field2, ...
  INTO TABLE lt_results
  FROM my_table
  WHERE condition.
  
  
  Check for Unused Fields: Review your code to see if there are any fields in the INTO clause that are not necessary for your logic. Removing these can help you stay within the limit.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  ABAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP ABAP documentation for more details on the SELECT statement and the INTO clause.
  Performance Considerations: When selecting large datasets, consider performance implications and whether you need all the fields you are selecting.
  Debugging: Use the ABAP debugger to step through your code and inspect the values being assigned to the INTO clause to identify where the issue arises.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the SY256 error and ensure that your ABAP code runs smoothly.