> Source: [sk161294](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk161294)

# sk161294 - Clone Policy Package task in SmartConsole fails with the error "The object name must not contain whitespace characters at the beginning or the end"

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk161294 |
| Date Created | 2019-08-26 |
| Last Modified | 2026-07-05 |
| Technical Level | General |
| Products | Security Management Server, Multi-Domain Security Management Server |
| Versions | R82.10, R82, R81.20, R82.10, R81.10 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81.20, R82 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Symptoms

- The Clone Policy Package task in SmartConsole fails with the error "`The object name must not contain whitespace characters at the beginning or the end`".

The error message does not contain the name of the problematic rule or object.

## Cause

In the Access Control policy, or in the NAT policy, or in the HTTPS Inspection policy, at least one rule name or one section title contains:

* A space character in the beginning or in the end.
* A new line character.

Note - SmartConsole does not allow to enter these characters (it automatically removes them). This issue was caused by a manual editing of the policy rules.

## Solution

### Part 1 - Upgrade to improve the error message

> This problem was fixed. The fix is included in:
>
> * [Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator for R82](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Jumbo_HFA/R82/Default.htm) starting from Take 41
> * [Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator for R81.20](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Jumbo_HFA/R81.20/Default.htm) starting from Take 115
> * [Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator for R81.10](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Jumbo_HFA/R81.10/Default.htm) starting from Take 183
>
> This fix changes the error message to contain the problematic rule name and the rule type (Access Control, NAT, HTTPS Inspection).
>
> <br />
>
> If you choose not to upgrade, Check Point can supply a **Hotfix** . [Contact Check Point Support](https://www.checkpoint.com/support-services/contact-support/) to get a Hotfix for this issue.  
> A Support Engineer will make sure the Hotfix is compatible with your environment before providing the Hotfix.  
> For faster resolution and verification, please collect [CPinfo files](http://supportcontent.checkpoint.com/solutions?id=sk92739) from the Security Management Server and Security Gateways involved in the case.
>
> **Hotfix installation instructions:**   
> Refer to [sk168597 - How to install a Hotfix](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk168597).

### Part 2 - Remove or replace all space characters in the Policy Package

1. In SmartConsole, on the left navigation panel, click **Security Policies**.
2. In the top panel, in the **Access Control** section, click **Policy** :
   1. Examine each rule name and each section title.
   2. Remove all space characters in the beginning and in the end.
   3. Remove all new line characters - the text must appear on one line.
3. In the top panel, in the **Access Control** section, click **NAT** :
   1. Examine each rule name and each section title.
   2. Remove all space characters in the beginning and in the end.
   3. Remove all new line characters - the text must appear on one line.
4. In the top panel, in the **Threat Prevention** section, click **Custom Policy** :
   1. Examine each rule name.
   2. Remove all space characters in the beginning and in the end.
   3. Remove all new line characters - the text must appear on one line.
5. In the top panel, in the **HTTPS Inspection** section, click **Inbound Policy** :
   1. Examine each rule name and each section title.
   2. Remove all space characters in the beginning and in the end.
   3. Remove all new line characters - the text must appear on one line.
6. In the top panel, in the **HTTPS Inspection** section, click **Outbound Policy** :
   1. Examine each rule name and each section title.
   2. Remove all space characters in the beginning and in the end.
   3. Remove all new line characters - the text must appear on one line.
7. In the top panel, in the **Shared Policies** section, click **Mobile Access** \> **Policy** :
   1. Examine each rule name and each section title.
   2. Remove all space characters in the beginning and in the end.
   3. Remove all new line characters - the text must appear on one line.
8. Publish the session.
9. Clone the Policy Package.

If the issue persists, follow these steps to find the problematic rule that contains the new line character:

1. Connect to the command line on the Management Server.
2. Log in to the Expert mode.
3. On a Multi-Domain Security Management Server, go to the context of the relevant Domain Management Server:  
   `mdsenv <IP Address of Domain Management Server>`
4. Connect to the PostgreSQL database:  
   `psql_client cpm postgres`
5. Find the problematic rules:  
   `select replace(rule_dref.name, chr(10), '<br />') as "Rule name", rule_dref.objid as "Rule UUID", owner_dref.name as "Policy name / Layer name" from dleobjectderef_data rule_dref join rulebaseentitylocalinstance_data rlb_entity on (rlb_entity.entity = rule_dref.objid) join dleobjectderef_data owner_dref on (owner_dref.objid = rlb_entity.owner) where rule_dref.dlesession >= 0 and not rule_dref.deleted and (rule_dref.name like ('%'||chr(10)||'%') OR rule_dref.name like ' %' OR rule_dref.name like '% ');`
6. Quit the PostgreSQL database:  
   `\q`

---

# Agent Instructions

This content is from the Check Point Support Center (https://support.checkpoint.com), the official knowledge base for Check Point cybersecurity products.

## Navigating This Knowledge Base

- **Complete index**: [llms.txt](https://support.checkpoint.com/llms.txt)
- **All SK articles**: [SecureKnowledge Sitemap](https://support.checkpoint.com/sitemaps/secureknowledge-sitemap-index.xml)
- **SK article URL pattern**: `https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/{skId}`
- **Markdown responses**: AI bot User-Agents automatically receive `text/markdown` content