How To Fix W3_TOOL080 - No start tag character '<' found

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: W3_TOOL - ITS: Maintenance Messages

• Message number: 080

• Message text: No start tag character '<' found

Self-Explanatory Message

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• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message W3_TOOL080 - No start tag character '<' found ?

  SAP Error Message:
  
  W3_TOOL080 No start tag character '<' found
  
  Cause
  This error typically occurs when the SAP Web Service or XML processing tool expects an XML document but does not find the expected start tag character <. In other words, the system tries to parse an XML input or response, but the content is either:
  
  Not XML at all (e.g., plain text, HTML error page, or empty content), or  
  Malformed XML missing the opening < tag, or  
  The response from a web service or HTTP call is not XML (e.g., an error message, HTML page, or some other format).
  
  Common scenarios include:
  
  Calling a web service and receiving an HTTP error page (like 404 or 500) instead of the expected XML response.  
  Network or connectivity issues causing incomplete or corrupted data.  
  Incorrect URL or endpoint leading to a non-XML response.  
  Proxy or firewall returning an HTML error page instead of XML.  
  The XML document is empty or truncated.
  
  
  Solution
  
  
  Check the Input/Response Content:  
  
  Verify the actual content being processed. Use tools like SAP transaction SMICM (for HTTP traces), ST22 (for dumps), or external tools (e.g., Postman, SOAP UI) to inspect the raw response.  
  If the response is HTML or plain text, identify why the web service is not returning XML.
  
  
  
  Validate the URL/Endpoint:  
  
  Ensure the web service URL or endpoint is correct and accessible.  
  Test the URL outside SAP to confirm it returns valid XML.
  
  
  
  Check Network and Proxy Settings:  
  
  Verify that no proxy or firewall is intercepting and modifying the response.  
  Check SAP's HTTP connection settings in SM59 if applicable.
  
  
  
  Enable and Analyze Traces:  
  
  Enable HTTP or web service traces in SAP to capture the exact response.  
  Use transaction SICF to check the service and logs.
  
  
  
  Correct the XML Input:  
  
  If the error occurs during XML input processing, ensure the XML is well-formed and starts with <.
  
  
  
  Handle Error Responses Gracefully:  
  
  Implement error handling to detect non-XML responses and log or handle them appropriately.
  
  
  
  
  Related Information
  
  SAP Notes:
  
  Search for SAP Notes related to W3_TOOL080 or XML parsing errors in your SAP system version.  
  Transactions:  
  
  SMICM (Internet Communication Manager) for HTTP traces.  
  SICF (Maintain Services) to check web service configurations.  
  SM59 (RFC Destinations) for HTTP connections.  
  
  
  Tools:  
  
  External tools like SOAP UI or Postman to test web service endpoints.  
  
  
  Documentation:  
  
  SAP Help Portal on Web Services and XML processing.  
  SAP Basis and NetWeaver documentation on HTTP and web service configuration.
  
  
  
  
  Summary
  
  
  
  Aspect
  Details
  
  
  
  
  Cause
  XML parser expects < but input is not XML (empty, HTML error, malformed XML, etc.)
  
  
  Solution
  Check and correct the input/response content, verify endpoint, network, and proxy settings
  
  
  Related
  Use SAP transactions SMICM, SICF, SM59; external tools for testing; check SAP Notes
  
  
  
  
  If you provide more context (e.g., when exactly the error occurs, the scenario, or logs), I can help with a more specific diagnosis.