How To Fix VC173 - You cannot use special characters, only letters and digits.

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VC - SD Customizing

• Message number: 173

• Message text: You cannot use special characters, only letters and digits.

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.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message VC173 - You cannot use special characters, only letters and digits. ?

  The SAP error message VC173 indicates that you are trying to use special characters in a field that only allows letters and digits. This error typically occurs in various SAP modules, especially when dealing with naming conventions for objects like material numbers, customer IDs, or other identifiers.
  Cause:
  The error is triggered when the input contains characters that are not permitted. Common special characters that may cause this error include:
  
  Spaces
  Symbols (e.g., @, #, $, %, &, *, etc.)
  Punctuation marks (e.g., ., ,, ;, :, etc.)
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the VC173 error, you should:
  
  Review the Input: Check the field where the error occurred and ensure that you are only using letters (A-Z, a-z) and digits (0-9).
  Remove Special Characters: If you find any special characters, remove them or replace them with valid characters (letters or digits).
  Follow Naming Conventions: Ensure that you are adhering to the specific naming conventions set by your organization or the SAP system for the particular field you are working with.
  Validation: If you are using a program or transaction that allows for batch input, ensure that the data being processed does not contain invalid characters.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Field Specifications: Check the documentation or field specifications for the specific SAP module you are working with to understand the allowed character set.
  SAP Notes: Sometimes, there may be specific SAP Notes related to this error that provide additional context or solutions. You can search the SAP Support Portal for relevant notes.
  User Training: If this error occurs frequently, consider providing training for users on the correct input formats and naming conventions to minimize errors.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the VC173 error and successfully input the required data into the SAP system.