How To Fix SY473 - READ BINARY SEARCH check switch on

SY473 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: SY - ABAP/4 system messages

• Message number: 473

• Message text: READ BINARY SEARCH check switch on

What causes this issue?

You can only use the READ ... BINARY SEARCH statement if the relevant
internal table is sorted by the key used. Otherwise any table row will
be found.

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

To find such program errors there is a test that can be switched on in
the ABAP Debugger. This test checks before every READ ... BINARY SEARCH
statement whether the table is sorted. If this is not the case, a
runtime error occurs.
With large tables this test takes a long time and hence can have a
significant negative effect on the program's runtime.

System Response

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message SY473 - READ BINARY SEARCH check switch on ?

  The SAP error message SY473 "READ BINARY SEARCH check switch on" typically occurs when there is an issue with the binary search operation in ABAP programs. This error indicates that the system is trying to perform a binary search on a table or internal table, but the necessary conditions for a binary search are not met.
  
  Cause:
  
  Table Not Sorted: The internal table or database table being searched is not sorted in ascending order based on the key fields required for the binary search.
  Incorrect Key Specification: The key fields specified for the binary search do not match the actual structure of the table.
  Switch Configuration: The binary search switch may not be enabled in the system settings.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Sort the Table: Ensure that the internal table or database table is sorted in ascending order based on the key fields before performing the binary search. You can use the SORT statement in ABAP to sort the