SAP Note 23690 - Special characters in keys (names)

Symptom:

When you use unsuited special characters in keys, problems can occur during the database access or matchcode search. This particularly applies to the project numbers of the work breakdown structure (WBS), project definition and WBS element. However, you should also avoid the special characters in other keys, for example, network (during external number assignment) or PS text.

Cause and prerequisites

The special characters are interpreted by the database system or basis system and have a special meaning there (see "Solution")

Solution

Please avoid the following special characters in keys:

• . Period is used as a field separation character during the matchcode search.

• * Asterisk is in certain cases interpreted as a mask (wildcard).

• ? Question mark is in certain cases interpreted as a mask (wildcard).

• % Percent is interpreted as a mask (wildcard) by the DB system for as many characters as desired.

• _ Underscore is interpreted as a mask (wildcard) by the DB system for an individual character.