SMARTSite Error: Server error in ‘/’ application – Illegal characters in path

Problem:

My website seems to be experiencing issues right now.  After logging in as a user and clicking on the product link we are seeing:

Server error in ‘/’ application

Illegal characters in path.

Solution:

This problem is caused by a product code with an illegal special character in it.

Illegal special characters are:

\   /   :   *   ?   ”   <   >   |

Example:

The product code 6″MINI has a quantity available for sale online of 5.

The addition of an “illegal character,” in this case the “quote” symbol, will cause the server error.  If the quantity is changed to 0 the site will appear normally.

Avoid using special characters in product codes.  Product codes are used as file names on the website.  Special characters can cause the Server Error problem on the site.

To fully resolve the problem, inactivate the problem inventory item and create a new item that does not contain any illegal characters.  In the example given, this product code – 6″MINI – could be re-created as this – 6INCHMINI.