302063 - Correspondence Language

 

Symptom

Other Terms

User defined language, customer reserved language

Reason and Prerequisites

In non-Unicode SAP systems, only a limited number of language codes is available. The following requirements cannot be fulfilled in a non-Unicode system:

• A language code is required for a variant of an existing language. Different terms or wordings are used to describe the same item in same text format for different variants of one language. For example, there are variants of English like English in Great Britain, English in Australia, etc. 
  (In a Unicode system, most of such variants are already available as predefined language codes.)
• A language code is required for different, country dependent formats or layouts of a text. Examples are invoices or legal files. 
  (In a Unicode system, this can also be covered by the existing predefined variants.)
• In a non-Unicode system, documents or forms in an unsupported language code are required. 
  (In a Unicode system, all ISO 639 language codes are supported.)

Solution
 

Concept

Correspondence Languages are a means to partly overcome the limitations of non-Unicode systems outlined above. The available language codes are 'Z2' to 'Z9'. A Correspondence Language in a non-Unicode system can be defined with the same technical properties as one existing language, the 'master language'. It must use a code page which is configured in the system.

Example: A system is configured as a single code page system with English and Spanish (code page 1100). In this system, one could define a Correspondence Language "Basque" using code page 1100.

Limitations and disadvantages

• The Correspondence Languages 'Z2' to 'Z9' and the customer language 'Z1' are SAP proprietary and only known to ABAP based components. They are not understood in Java or Web based environments. It is therefore no longer recommended to use these language codes.
• A Correspondence Language is defined within one system. When data is exchanged between systems in a system landscape, the definition of the Correspondence Language must be identical in each system.
• A Correspondence Language can only be used for creating SAPscript standard texts, forms, and styles, not for other purposes.  It cannot be used as a logon language. This is a difference to the customer language 'Z1' (see SAP Note 112065).
• Once 'Z1' or a Correspondence Language has been introduced, there is no migration tool available to automatically migrate the data to a regular language code.
• Before deleting or redefining an existing Correspondence Language, you have to check manually whether this language code is still used in SAPscript or Smartforms documents (forms, styles or standard texts).

Correspondence Languages in Unicode systems

In case you still have a non-Unicode system, we strongly recommend to convert it to Unicode before introducing any new languages. In Unicode systems all ISO 639 language codes are supported, as well as many combinations of language with country or region or script. Please see SAP Note 42305 on how to activate them.

Therefore, it is generally not necessary to set up a Correspondence Language in a Unicode system. Exceptions are the following cases:

• The language exists in a non-Unicode system, and you want to continue using it after the conversion to Unicode.
• You need to exchange data in a system landscape between Unicode and non-Unicode systems. The language code used for the data is a Correspondence Language code (see SAP Note 871945).

Maintaining Correspondence Languages

• Run the report 'RSCPCOLA' to define, redefine, or delete a Correspondence Language.
  • To define or redefine a Correspondence Language:
    • Select a Correspondence Language code (Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z8, or Z9).
    • Type the description of that language into the 'New language name' field.
    • Select a master language of the Correspondence Language. In a non-Unicode system, the master language selection determines the character set of the Correspondence Language. The master language must be one of the supported languages in your system.
    • Press the 'Assign' button.
    • Choose 'Yes' to confirm it, otherwise 'No' or 'Cancel'.
  • To delete an existing Correspondence Language:
    • Select the line with the Correspondence Language you want to delete from the 'Currently installed Corresponding Language' table.
    • Press the 'Delete' button.
    • Choose 'Yes' to confirm it, otherwise 'No' or 'Cancel'.
• Run the report 'RSCPINST' to activate or deactivate a Correspondence Language.
  
  Follow the steps described in SAP Note 42305, section "Solution", for the Correspondence Language.

Attention

After an upgrade of the SAP system, you have to run the report RSCPCOLA again.