SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

3446576 - Error: Encountered an improper argument, when refreshing reports based on SAP BW Query in Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • Error: Encountered an improper argument.
  • Error: Invalid Argument provided.
  • Reports based on SAP BW Query used to refresh successfully in Crystal Reports.
  • After performing a change to the report, or performing a set data source location to a different SAP BW System, when refreshing the report based on SAP BW Query, it fails with the error: "Encountered an improper argument" or "Invalid Argument provided"


Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016 - Support Pack 09 - Patch 5

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports 2016 - SP09 - Patch 5, open a report based on an SAP BW Query.
  2. Perform a set data source location to another SAP BW System.
  3. Save and close the report.
  4. Re-open the report, and when attempting to refresh it, it fails with the error: "Encountered an improper argument" 

Cause

  • Corrupted report file, in which it is missing SAP BW Query parameter(s) information.

Resolution

  • Perform a set data source location of the report based on SAP BW Query in Crystal Reports 2016 - Support Pack 09 - Patch 18, and re-save the report.
      
    1. Download and install Crystal Reports 2016 - Support Pack 09 - Patch 1800

      For steps on how to download Crystal Reports, see the SAP Knowledge Base Article: 2175455 

    2. In Crystal Reports , perform a set data source location to the same SAP BW System.

    3. Save the report.

Keywords

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

Product

SAP Crystal Reports 2016