SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

1407830 - Error: 'illegal zero-length identifier', when refreshing a report in Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • When using a SQL Expression Field, and adding an Overridden Qualified Table Name in Crystal Reports, you receive the error:

    'Illegal zero-length identifier'

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2020
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2025

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports, create a report off Oracle.
  2. Create a SQL Expression Fields.
  3. Under the menu "Database", select "Set Data Source location", and under the table "Properties", add a table name for the option: "Overridden Qualified Table Name"

Cause

  • No schema added to the table name of the SQL Expression Field, and therefore this is why it fails.

Resolution

  • In the SQL Expression Fields, add the schema name in front of the Table name in the SQL Expression Field.

Keywords

Oracle , KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , Problem

Product

SAP Crystal Reports 2016 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2020 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2025