Introduction to ABAP Programming for SAP 3rd Edition

PART I ABAP/4 BASICS

Chapter 1 Data Types and Definitions

In This Chapter

Building ABAP/4 Statements

Commenting Your Code

Improving Statement Readability with the Colon Notation

Defining Programs (REPORT)

Using Variables

Variable Data Types

Defining Variables (DATA)

Grouping Variables into Records

Defining New Data Types (TYPES)

Defining Constant Data Elements (CONSTANTS)

Using Runtime Parameters

Using Field Symbols

Assigning Values to Variables

Using MOVE to Assign Variables

Data Type Conversion During Assignments

Summary

Chapter 2 Displaying and Printing Data

In This Chapter

Setting Up the Page (REPORT)

General Features of the WRITE Statement

Outputting Plain Text

Outputting Field Names (Variables)

Outputting Groups of Text and Data Fields

Formatting the Output

Column Positioning

Dynamic Positioning and Output

Breaking to a New Line (Inserting Carriage Returns)

Controlling the Output Length

Default Data Alignment

Using Text Elements

Advanced Features of the WRITE Statement

Masking the Output (USING EDIT MASK and USING NO EDIT MASK)

Suppressing Blanks (NO-ZERO)

Suppressing Number (+/-) Signs (NO-SIGN)

Choosing a Date Format

Displaying Currency (CURRENCY)

Aligning Fields Vertically (UNDER)

Closing Gaps Between Fields (NO-GAP)

Specifying Decimal Places (DECIMALS)

Specifying Justification (LEFT-JUSTIFIED, CENTERED, RIGHT-JUSTIFIED)

Transferring Data with a Specified Format (WRITE... TO)

Inserting Horizontal Lines (ULINE)

Inserting Blank Lines (SKIP)

Controlling Horizontal Positioning (POSITION)

Displaying Messages (MESSAGE)

Using the FORMAT Command

Boldfacing (INTENSIFIED)

Changing Colors (COLOR)

Reversing the Text (INVERSE)

Restoring the Default Settings (RESET)

Summary

Chapter 3 Manipulating Data

In This Chapter

Working with Numeric Data

Performing Math (COMPUTE)

Controlling Precision in Expressions

Alternatives to COMPUTE (ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, and DIVIDE)

Adding Sequential Fields (ADD)

Using the CORRESPONDING Commands

Manipulating Character Data

Defining Substrings with Offsets

Using Variable Offsets to Define Substrings

Using Other Text-Processing Commands

Shifting Characters Right or Left (SHIFT)

Changing the Capitalization (TRANSLATE)

Replacing Individual Characters (OVERLAY)

Replacing Multiple Characters (REPLACE)

Searching for Characters (SEARCH)

Dividing Strings (SPLIT)

Merging Strings (CONCATENATE)

Removing Spaces (CONDENSE)

Working with Date Variables

Using Time Variables

Manipulating Field Symbols

Assigning a Variable to a Field Symbol (ASSIGN)

Summary

Chapter 4 Using Conditional Operators

In This Chapter

Using the CASE Statement

Using IF with Logical Operators

Using Comparison Operators

Comparing Non-Numeric Values

Using Equal/Not Equal Operators

Determining Whether Values Have Changed (IS INITIAL)

Determining Whether a Value Is Included in a Range (IS BETWEEN)

Using the NOT Operator

Comparing Character Fields (CO, CA, CS, and CP)

CO (Contains Only)

CA (Contains Any)

CS (Contains String)

CP (Contains Pattern)

Nesting Statements

Summary

Chapter 5 Using the Looping Commands

In This Chapter

Using the DO Loop Command

Exiting the Loop

When to Use DO Loops

Nesting DO Loops

Using the WHILE Loop

Nesting WHILE Loops

Using the LOOP Statement

When to Use the LOOP Command

Looping Selectively Through Internal Tables

Summary

Chapter 6 Working with Internal Tables

In This Chapter

Understanding the Structure of an Internal Table

Defining a Table

Determining the Number of Records

Using Field Strings

Including Structures

Manipulating Data in Tables

Moving Data into a Table

Modifying Records (READ and MODIFY)

Deleting Records (DELETE)

Collecting Records (COLLECT)

Clearing the Structure Record (CLEAR)

Refreshing a Table (REFRESH)

Reading Internal Tables

Using INDEX with READ

Using the WITH KEY Addition with READ

Conducting Binary Searches

Using Other Table Commands

Determining Table Properties (DESCRIBE)

Sorting Records with the SORT Command

Looping with LOOP AT and LOOP AT WHERE

Using ON CHANGE OF Inside a Loop

Summary

Chapter 7 Working with the Data Dictionary

In This Chapter

Data and Structure Definitions

Tables

Organizing Your Data

Domains

Data Elements

Fields

Data Dictionary Tools

General Table Display (se16 and se17)

Displaying Fields, Data Elements, and Domains (se15)

Summary

PART II ACCESSING THE DATABASE

Chapter 8 Using SAP SQL to Access Database Tables

In This Chapter

Using SQL to Access Tables and Views

Using SQL with Transactions

Reading Data from the Database (SELECT)

Using WHERE to Limit the Data Returned with SELECT

Using Operators with WHERE

Using AND and OR with WHERE

Using NOT with WHERE

WHERE Clause Examples

Options for the SELECT Command

Inserting Records Into an Internal Table (INTO TABLE)

Appending Selected Records to a Table (APPENDING TABLE)

Selecting a Single Row (SELECT SINGLE)

Using ORDER BY to Sort Data

SELECT Examples

Updating Tables (UPDATE)

Using SET with UPDATE

Using the FROM TABLE Option with UPDATE

Inserting Data (INSERT)

Inserting Explicit Data

Inserting Data with FROM TABLE

Deleting Rows (DELETE)

Using WHERE with DELETE

Deleting Multiple Rows with FROM TABLE

Learning Advanced Techniques

Using Explicit Field Lists

Using Aggregate Functions to Process Data

Using GROUP BY to Subtotal Data

Using INNER JOIN to Access Multiple Tables

Summary

Chapter 9 Working with External Files

In This Chapter

Data Mapping

Establishing the Path and File Name

Opening the File (OPEN DATASET)

Marking a File for Output (FOR OUTPUT)

Marking a File for Input (FOR INPUT)

Selecting a Transfer Mode (IN TEXT MODE/IN BINARY MODE)

Writing to the End of a File (FOR APPENDING)

Indicating the Start of the Read (AT POSITION)

Adding a System Message (MESSAGE)

Sending a Command to the Server (FILTER)

Writing the Data to the Server (TRANSFER)

Reading the Data from the Data File (READ)

Closing the File (CLOSE DATASET)

Summary

Chapter 10 Advanced Data Outputs

In This Chapter

Processing Events in ABAP/4

Setting Initial Values (INITIALIZATION)

Using the START-OF-SELECTION and END-OF-SELECTION Markers

Triggering Code with an AT Event

Using Field Groups as an Alternative to Internal Tables

Defining Field Groups

Extracting Data

Sorting the Records (SORT)

Copying Records to Fields with LOOP

Triggering an Event with a New Value (AT field-group)

Summary

Chapter 11 Adding Subroutines to Your Program

In This Chapter

Executing Subroutines (PERFORM)

The TABLES, USING, and CHANGING Parameters

Defining Subroutines (FORM)

Using Parameters to Pass Data

Indicating the Structure of the Incoming Parameter (STRUCTURE)

Understanding the Scope of Local and Global Variables

Persistent Local Variables (STATICS)

Looking at Form Examples

Summary

Chapter 12 Using Function Modules and BAPIs

In This Chapter

Using the Function Modules Screen

Searching for a Specific Function Module

Testing Individual Function Modules

Creating a Custom Function Module

Defining Input/Output Parameters

Developing the ABAP Code

Defining Tables and Handling Errors

Activating the Function Module

Using Function Modules in ABAP Code

Processing Input/Output Parameters

Defining Errors Encountered in Function Calls

Some Useful Function Modules

Summary

Chapter 13 Working with Logical Databases

In This Chapter

Advantages of Logical Databases

Using the GET Event to Retrieve Data

Using GET LATE

Limiting Data with Logical Database Parameters

Summary

PART III COMMON ABAP PROGRAMS

Chapter 14 Writing a Report

In This Chapter

Determining the Functional Specifications

Selecting Data

Choosing the Right Tables (Verifying the Functional Spec)

Determining the Order of Data Selection

Field Groups versus Internal Tables

Specifying the Data Types

Data Selection

Creating Organized Output

Setting Up Titles and Headers

Printing the Report

Viewing the Complete Program

Summary

Chapter 15 Web Dynpro

In This Chapter

Architecture of Web Dynpro

Web Dynpro Component

Interface Controller

Web Dynpro Application

Web Dynpro Application URL

Building a Simple Application

Testing Your Web Dynpro Component

Summary

Chapter 16 Writing a Data Extract

In This Chapter

Steps in a Data Extract

Determining the Data to Be Extracted

Extracting the Data

Writing the Data to a File

Transferring the File to the Target System

Example Extracts

Check Payments

Purchase Orders

Inventory Changes

Summary

Chapter 17 Writing a BDC Program

In This Chapter

Understanding the Steps in a BDC

Identifying Screens in a Transaction

Building the BDC Table

Submitting the BDC Table

Example BDC Sessions

A BDC Program to Change a Vendor’s Address

Comparing Different Processing Techniques

A BDC Program to Create Project-Planning Data

Summary

Chapter 18 Working with SAP Security and Authorizations

In This Chapter

The SAP Security Model

The Authorization Object

Authorization Fields

Creating Authorization Objects

Using the AUTHORITY-CHECK Command

Summary

PART IV ADVANCED TECHNICAL ISSUES

Chapter 19 ABAP Workbench (Debugger)

In This Chapter

The ABAP Debugger

Entering Debug Mode

Defining the Debugger’s Screen

General Commands

The Return Command

The Primary Screen

Using Watchpoints

Internal Tables

More About Breakpoints

Tips and Techniques for Debugging

Summary

Chapter 20 Performance Analysis and Tuning

In This Chapter

Using SELECT *

Using the Primary Key

Using CHECK Statements

Using Tables

Cluster Tables versus Transparent Tables

Avoid Tables with Many Records

Selecting into Tables

Using the MOVE Statement

Looping

Using WHILE

Using DO

Using LOOP

Choosing Internal Tables versus Field Groups

Working with Logical Databases

Reading Specific Tables

Optimizing with Obligatory Fields

Using Batching versus Online Programs

Summary

Chapter 21 Web Services

In This Chapter

Creating and Publishing a Web Service in SAP

Creating a SOAP Web Service

Creating a REST Web Service

Summary

Chapter 22 BADIs and User Exits

In This Chapter

Understanding BADIs

Using Filters

Creating a BADI Implementation

Finding a BADI

Useful BADIs

Understanding User Exits

Finding User Exits

Summary

Chapter 23 Object Oriented ABAP

In This Chapter

Object Oriented ABAP Basics

Classes

ABAP Class Structure

Visibility Concepts

Public Section

Protected Section

Private Section

Handling ABAP Objects

Object Reference Variables

Data Types for References

Creating Objects

Addressing the Components of Objects

Declaring Methods

Implementing Methods

Static Method Call

Constructors

SAP Tools Example: Creating a Sample Class and Method

Extra Help

Sample ABAP Program Using Object Oriented Concepts

Summary

Chapter 24 One Order Model for CRM ABAP Programming

In This Chapter

Introduction to Table Structure in CRM

Understanding the One Order Framework

Understanding GUID

Looking at Some Example Transactions

Function Modules Used

Debugging and Finding the Data You Need

Using BADIs

Summary

PART V ABAP APPENDIXES

Appendix A Using the ABAP Editor

Getting to Know the Editor

Editing Programs

Appendix B SAP System Fields

Appendix C ABAP ERP and CRM Tables

Index