Format file problem uploading electronic bank statement files FF_5 RFEBKA00

Question

hello
I am facing a problem when uploading electronic bank statement files with the file format. The situation is as follows:
1- Electronic bank statement files are sent by FTP from the bank to a certain directory in AL11
2- we have developed a "z" program that just picks electronic bank statement files from AL11 directory and process them using standard FF_5 (RFEBKA00) program.
3- When processing some files had an error, when debugging we have verified that errors are caused by some "special" characters non Unicode as "®" (=Hex'AE') with UTF-8, a '#' is displayed.
SAP answers a question as follows:
AL11 is designed to display os-files (log-files, trace-files etc.)
from within the SAP-system for supporting purposes in order not to
logon to the os itself.
It was not designed to display any file-content in the system created
with any code-page.
AL11 opens the file in textmode with encoding option default, which
means UTF-8 in a unicode system and NON-UNICODE in the other case.
You cannot change this setting.
If you have the need to specify these options, depending on your files,
you can make a copy of report RSWATCH0 and customize the OPEN-statement
to yor needs.
On a Unicode system, the files need to be in Unicode format (UTF-8).
Eg:When you interpret a non-Unicode "®" (=Hex'AE') with UTF-8, a '#' is
displayed.
Case 1:
Who is creating those files? Are these files
1) created by you
2) are they written by a SAP application?
==>There are the notes 752835 and 747615 for cases like these.
In case 2) it may be that the application responsible for the file
download (not AL11!) should be the problem, considering note 752835.
There is also the possibility for you to convert the file to the correct format using our tool RSCP_CONVERT_FILE (note 747615).
System administrator has told me to copy standard RFEBKA00 program and modify the OPEN-statement but I am not agree because I think that the problem is when generating the files in bank's system and/or sending the files to SAP by FTP.
Does any body face a problem like this before? Any ideas?
Thanks a lot

Answer 1

Hello,
The files that are available in AL11 are in Unicode.
Can you convert them to text by using the following method and then try:
You must have mapped this directory and having access.
Right click on file
Open with: Microsoft Office Word
Then the pop-up comes: File conversion - bacs
Select Other encoding radio button
Then select "Unicode" from list
and say OK
Now the file is being opened in readable format:
File SAVE as PLAIN TEXT
Save the file in the same folder that you are referring to in AL11
Now if you try with this .txt file, it should work in FF_5
Thanks,
Ravi