How To Fix WS_TOOL238 - '&1' is no valid XML name, in XML '&2' will be used instead

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WS_TOOL - Message Class for Web Services and Virtual Endpoints

• Message number: 238

• Message text: '&1' is no valid XML name, in XML '&2' will be used instead

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WS_TOOL238 - '&1' is no valid XML name, in XML '&2' will be used instead ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation of the SAP error message:
  
  SAP Error Message:
  WS_TOOL238 '&1' is no valid XML name, in XML '&2' will be used instead
  
  Cause:
  This warning message occurs during XML processing in SAP when a name (usually an element or attribute name) used in the XML document does not conform to the XML naming rules. Specifically, the name provided (&1) is not a valid XML name according to the XML specification.
  Common reasons for invalid XML names include:
  
  The name starts with a number or invalid character.
  The name contains spaces or special characters not allowed in XML names.
  The name includes characters that are not allowed in XML element or attribute names (e.g., &, <, >, etc.).
  The name uses reserved prefixes or characters.
  
  SAP detects this invalid name and automatically replaces it with a valid XML name (&2) to ensure the XML document remains well-formed.
  
  Explanation of the placeholders:
  
  &1 = The original invalid name found in the data.
  &2 = The corrected valid XML name that SAP will use instead.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Identify the source of the invalid name:
  
  Check the data or metadata that is being converted to XML.
  Look for element or attribute names that violate XML naming rules.
  
  
  
  Correct the invalid names at the source:
  
  Ensure that names start with a letter or underscore (_).
  Avoid spaces, special characters, or starting with numbers.
  Use only allowed characters: letters, digits, hyphens (-), underscores (_), and periods (.).
  Avoid reserved XML prefixes like xml.
  
  
  
  If the invalid names come from external data or user input:
  
  Implement validation or sanitization before XML generation.
  Map or translate invalid names to valid XML names explicitly.
  
  
  
  Review the XML generation logic:
  
  If you are using custom code or tools to generate XML, add checks or transformations to ensure valid XML names.
  
  
  
  
  Additional Information:
  
  This message is a warning, not an error, meaning SAP will still generate the XML but with modified names.
  The automatic replacement helps avoid XML parsing errors downstream.
  You can trace the message in transaction SLG1 (Application Log) or check the XML output to see the replaced names.
  Understanding XML naming rules is crucial for integration scenarios involving XML (e.g., IDocs, web services, PI/PO, etc.).
  
  
  XML Naming Rules Summary:
  
  Names must start with a letter or underscore (_).
  Names cannot start with the letters xml (in any case).
  Names can contain letters, digits, hyphens (-), underscores (_), and periods (.).
  Names cannot contain spaces or special characters like &, <, >, ', ".
  
  
  If you provide the exact invalid name (&1) and the replacement (&2), I can help you analyze the specific case further.
  
  In brief:
  
  The message means SAP found an invalid XML name and replaced it with a valid one to keep the XML well-formed. Fix the source data or XML generation logic to prevent this warning.
  
  If you need help with a specific scenario or code snippet, feel free to share!