How To Fix SY380 - OVERFLOW field in SCAN ABAP-SOURCE is too small for &

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SY - ABAP/4 system messages

• Message number: 380

• Message text: OVERFLOW field in SCAN ABAP-SOURCE is too small for &

What causes this issue?

The effect of the SCAN ABAP-SOURCE command is to place character
strings more than 30 characters long in an overflow field. For &V1&,
this field is too small.

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?

If possible, extend the overflow field.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SY380 - OVERFLOW field in SCAN ABAP-SOURCE is too small for & ?

  The SAP error message SY380 indicates that there is an overflow issue in your ABAP program, specifically when using the SCAN statement. This error occurs when the field defined for the SCAN operation is not large enough to hold the data being processed.
  Cause:
  The error typically arises in the following scenarios:
  
  Data Length Mismatch: The field specified in the SCAN statement is too small to accommodate the data being scanned. For example, if you are scanning a string that is longer than the defined length of the target field.
  Incorrect Data Types: Using incompatible data types or structures that do not match the expected length can also lead to this overflow error.
  Dynamic Data: If the data being processed is dynamic and its length can vary significantly, it may exceed the predefined length of the field.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the SY380 error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Increase Field Length: Ensure that the field you are using in the SCAN statement is large enough to hold the data. You can increase the length of the field in the data declaration.
  DATA: lv_string TYPE string.
  
  
  Use Appropriate Data Types: Make sure you are using the correct data types that can handle the expected data size. For example, using STRING instead of CHAR for variable-length strings.
  
  
  Check Input Data: Validate the input data to ensure it does not exceed the expected length. You can implement checks before performing the SCAN operation.
  
  
  Debugging: Use debugging tools to inspect the values being processed at runtime. This can help identify the exact point where the overflow occurs.
  
  
  Review Logic: Review the logic of your program to ensure that the SCAN operation is being used correctly and that the data being scanned is as expected.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SCAN Statement: The SCAN statement is used to search for a substring within a string. It is important to ensure that the target field can accommodate the substring being searched.
  Data Types in ABAP: Familiarize yourself with the different data types in ABAP, especially CHAR, STRING, and XSTRING, to choose the appropriate type for your variables.
  Performance Considerations: When working with large datasets, consider performance implications and memory usage, especially when using dynamic data types.
  
  By following these steps and understanding the underlying causes, you should be able to resolve the SY380 overflow error in your ABAP program.