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DBIF_RSQL_INVALID_REQUEST

The database rejected the SQL statement as structurally invalid.

The ABAP kernel sent a statement to the database that the database engine could not parse or execute. No data was read or modified.

Symptom

ST22 shows:

Runtime Errors         DBIF_RSQL_INVALID_REQUEST
Exception              CX_SY_OPEN_SQL_DB
Short text             SQL request is invalid.

The dump includes a "Database error text" section with the underlying DB error message — read this first, it tells you exactly what the database rejected.

Cause

Trigger Details
Dynamic WHERE clause with invalid syntax A string built at runtime produces broken SQL
Unknown field name in dynamic clause WHERE (lv_where) references a column that does not exist in the table
IN list exceeding database limit Oracle/HANA reject IN (...) with more than ~65 000 entries
Invalid date or number format in a condition Passing '2024-01-01' where YYYYMMDD is expected
Mismatched parentheses in dynamic WHERE Un-closed bracket in a runtime-built condition string
Empty string passed as dynamic clause WHERE ('') is not valid SQL

Dynamic WHERE clauses are the most common culprit

Whenever you build a WHERE clause as a string and pass it to a SELECT, the ABAP runtime validates syntax at execution time, not compile time. A typo or wrong field name only surfaces as this dump.

Reproduce

DATA lv_where TYPE string VALUE 'NOT_A_COLUMN = ''X'''.

" The column NOT_A_COLUMN doesn't exist in MARA — database rejects it
SELECT * FROM mara
  INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_result)
  WHERE (lv_where).

Oversized IN list:

" If lt_keys has more than ~65000 entries, some databases dump here
SELECT * FROM vbap
  INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_items)
  FOR ALL ENTRIES IN @lt_keys
  WHERE vbeln = @lt_keys-vbeln.

Fix

DATA lv_where TYPE string.
DATA lt_errors TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF string.

" Build the condition
lv_where = |MATNR = '{ lv_matnr }'|.

" Guard: reject empty string — empty WHERE dumps
IF lv_where IS INITIAL.
  MESSAGE 'WHERE condition is empty' TYPE 'E'.
  RETURN.
ENDIF.

TRY.
    SELECT * FROM mara
      INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_result)
      WHERE (lv_where).
  CATCH cx_sy_open_sql_db INTO DATA(lx).
    MESSAGE lx->get_text( ) TYPE 'E'.
ENDTRY.

DATA lt_all_results TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF vbap.
DATA lt_chunk       TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF ty_key.
DATA lv_offset      TYPE i VALUE 0.
DATA lv_chunk_size  TYPE i VALUE 1000.

WHILE lv_offset < lines( lt_keys ).
  " Take the next chunk
  lt_chunk = lt_keys.
  DELETE lt_chunk FROM lv_chunk_size + 1.     " keep only chunk_size rows
  DELETE lt_chunk TO lv_offset.               " skip already-processed rows

  IF lt_chunk IS NOT INITIAL.
    SELECT * FROM vbap
      APPENDING TABLE @lt_all_results
      FOR ALL ENTRIES IN @lt_chunk
      WHERE vbeln = @lt_chunk-vbeln.
  ENDIF.

  lv_offset = lv_offset + lv_chunk_size.
ENDWHILE.

" Dynamic — risky
DATA lv_where TYPE string VALUE |STATUS = '{ lv_status }'|.
SELECT * FROM vbak INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_orders) WHERE (lv_where).

" Static — safe and faster
SELECT * FROM vbak INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_orders)
  WHERE status = @lv_status.

Read the database error text in ST22

Open the dump in ST22, scroll to "Database error text". Oracle says ORA-00904: invalid identifier, HANA says invalid column name. The exact column or syntax error is named there — much faster than guessing.

Prevention

  • Prefer static WHERE clauses. Use dynamic WHERE (lv_cond) only when the number of filter fields genuinely varies at runtime.
  • Always validate dynamic WHERE strings with CL_ABAP_COMPILER or a test SELECT UP TO 0 ROWS in a TRY block before the real query.
  • Never pass raw user input directly into a dynamic WHERE — sanitise field names against the Data Dictionary (DD03L).
  • Wrap dynamic SELECTs in TRY ... CATCH cx_sy_open_sql_db so a bad clause produces a handled error instead of a dump.
  • For FOR ALL ENTRIES, cap the driver table size or process in batches.

See also

  • SAPSQL_ARRAY_INSERT_DUPREC — related database dump for duplicate key inserts
  • CX_SY_OPEN_SQL_DB — exception class for Open SQL errors
  • Transaction ST22 — ABAP runtime error analysis (check "Database error text")
  • Transaction ST05 — SQL trace, shows the exact statement sent to the database

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