IDOC empty fields filled with the character /

[Former Member]

Dear SDN community members,

I have a case with an outbound ERP IDOC (MATMAS)for which all the empty fields are filled with the character "/". Does anyone know if I can I live the empty fields blanks ? and how I can do it ?

Thanks in advanced,

John Syrigos

[Former Member]

Dear SDN community members,

I have a case with an outbound ERP IDOC (MATMAS)for which all the empty fields are filled with the character "/". Does anyone know if I can I live the empty fields blanks ? and how I can do it ?

Thanks in advanced,

John Syrigos

[Former Member]

Does anyone know if I can I live the empty fields blanks?

Assuming that you're using standard SAP functionality for processing the material master IDocs (something like <em>idoc_input_matmas01</em>) I suspect you want to leave it as is: The slash "/" is a no-data indicator, which basically tells SAP that there is no data specified for this field. You can actually easily try it yourself, if you'd remove the no-data indicator "/" from those fields, your update results in the target system might be different (for example if different default values are used for certain fields).

The no-data indicator can be relevant for driving behavior on the given field or possibly affect also other fields. If you check function module idoc_input_matmas01 you'll know what I mean. Note that such no-data indicators are commonly used in cases (often BDC's) where you need to distinguish between setting a value for a field (including possibly blank) and not setting a value and just let SAP possibly figure out any default values...

Cheers, harald

[Former Member]

Thanks harald,

the strange in my case is the the standard IDOC MATMAS04 works for more than 18 months in a productive environment and fills only the fields that have values. Suddenly and for a strange reason (someone I suppose changed something) start to fill all the empty fields with the character '/'. Is there any parameters somewhere that i can select how the system will works with the blanks/empty fields on the IDOC ? At the same time other IDOCs on the same system works as before, without filling the blank fields with the character '/'.

Thanks in advanced, John

[Former Member]

Is there any parameters somewhere that i can select how the system will works with the blanks/empty fields on the IDoc?

I'm not aware of any such parameter and I doubt that it exists specifically for the material master interface or in general (let's see if someone corrects me). It is reasonable that not all IDocs are affected, because you can easily check many of the standard inbound IDoc processing function modules and see that there is absolutely no logic for handling a special no-data indicator.

So based on your comment I'd expect that someone has made some code change (and not a configuration change). The easiest way would be to debug the IDoc creation process and see where those indicators get added. Shouldn't be too tough to figure that out....

[Former Member]

Dear All,

the problem caused when I extend the filter set for the specific message type. When I delete all the active change pointer for the specific message (transaction BD53) and recreate it, works !!!!

[Former Member]

Hi,

"/" is used in cases like if you don't want to pass the value to the idoc field but you want to regain the field value present before,.

ex : in debmas06 idoc, field E1KNA1M-LIFNR have value "1000". next time you are updating the same customer but you are not sending any value to that value. At that time of updation LIFNR get updated to blank. inorder to over come this we will pass"/" in that field place so that the original value isretained.

BR,

Lokeswari.