ABAP: An Introduction

by Brian O'Neill, Jelena Perfiljeva

Overview

Step into ABAP with this beginner's guide. First understand ABAP syntax and find out how to add data and logic to your applications. Then delve into backend programming: learn to work with the ABAP data dictionary, create database objects, and process and store data. Round out your skill set by practicing error handling, modularization, string manipulation, and more. With guided examples, step-by-step instructions, and detailed code you'll become an ABAP developer in no time!

Highlights:

• Procedural programming
• Object-oriented programming
• Flow control
• Arithmetic operations
• Data dictionary
• Defining variables and constants
• Creating tables
• Database read/write
• Modularization
• Debugging
• SAP List Viewer (ALV)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493218806
Publisher:	SAP Press
Publication date:	12/19/2019
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	684
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

Brian O'Neill is an ABAP developer with experience working across different SAP ERP modules and custom applications. He has worked in a variety of IT positions, from business analyst to ABAP developer. He is currently writing applications that can connect to an SAP backend using SAP Gateway. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from California State University.

Table of Contents

... Preface ... 17

... Audience ... 17

... Your ABAP Learning Path ... 18

1 ... Introduction to SAP’s ERP Systems ... 23

1.1 ... What Are SAP and ABAP? ... 23

1.2 ... Current State of SAP’s ERP Systems ... 24

1.3 ... “Old” versus “New” ABAP ... 26

1.4 ... Navigating SAP ERP Systems ... 28

1.5 ... Summary ... 34

2 ... Creating Your First Program ... 35

2.1 ... “Hello, World!” ... 35

2.2 ... Summary ... 49

3 ... ABAP 101 ... 51

3.1 ... Variables and Constants in ABAP ... 51

3.2 ... Arithmetic and Basic Math Functions ... 65

3.3 ... Flow Control ... 72

3.4 ... Selection Screen Programming ... 80

3.5 ... Event Blocks ... 92

3.6 ... Formatting Code ... 95

3.7 ... Comments ... 97

3.8 ... Debugging Basics ... 100

3.9 ... Tying It All Together ... 117

3.10 ... Summary ... 120

4 ... Data Dictionary Objects ... 121

4.1 ... What Is a Database? ... 121

4.2 ... What Is a Data Dictionary? ... 122

4.3 ... Database Design ... 123

4.4 ... Navigation to ABAP Dictionary Objects ... 127

4.5 ... Table, Data Element, and Domain ... 129

4.6 ... Training Data Model and Example Definition ... 132

4.7 ... Creating a New Domain ... 135

4.8 ... Creating a New Data Element ... 139

4.9 ... Creating and Editing Tables ... 144

4.10 ... Documentation ... 161

4.11 ... Viewing Data in the Database Tables ... 162

4.12 ... Table Maintenance Dialogs ... 170

4.13 ... Structures and Table Types ... 174

4.14 ... Search Help ... 177

4.15 ... Views ... 181

4.16 ... Summary ... 184

5 ... Accessing the Database ... 185

5.1 ... SQL Console in Eclipse ... 186

5.2 ... Reading Data ... 187

5.3 ... Changing Data ... 210

5.4 ... Table Locks ... 214

5.5 ... Performance Topics ... 224

5.6 ... Obsolete Database Access Keywords ... 226

5.7 ... Summary ... 227

6 ... Storing Data in Working Memory ... 229

6.1 ... Using ABAP Dictionary Data Types ... 229

6.2 ... Creating Data Types with the TYPE Keyword ... 231

6.3 ... Field Symbols ... 233

6.4 ... Defining Internal Tables ... 234

6.5 ... Reading Data from Internal Tables ... 241

6.6 ... Modifying Internal Tables ... 250

6.7 ... Other Internal Table Operations ... 257

6.8 ... Which Table Should Be Used? ... 261

6.9 ... Updating ABAP Dictionary Table Type ... 263

6.10 ... Obsolete Working Memory Syntax ... 265

6.11 ... Summary ... 268

7 ... Making Programs Modular ... 269

7.1 ... Separation of Concerns ... 269

7.2 ... Subroutines ... 272

7.3 ... Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming ... 274

7.4 ... Structuring Classes ... 277

7.5 ... Global Classes ... 308

7.6 ... Design Patterns ... 317

7.7 ... Function Modules ... 317

7.8 ... Summary ... 327

8 ... Error Handling ... 329

8.1 ... SY-SUBRC ... 329

8.2 ... Message Classes ... 331

8.3 ... Exception Classes ... 341

8.4 ... Non-Class-Based Exceptions ... 355

8.5 ... Summary ... 358

9 ... Presenting Data Using the ABAP List Viewer ... 361

9.1 ... What Is ALV? ... 361

9.2 ... Report Example Using an SALV Table ... 366

9.3 ... Report Example Using SALV Tree ... 371

9.4 ... ALV with Integrated Data Access ... 380

9.5 ... Outdated ALV Frameworks ... 383

9.6 ... Summary ... 386

10 ... Creating a Shopping Cart Example ... 387

10.1 ... The Design ... 388

10.2 ... Database Solution ... 392

10.3 ... Accessing the Database Solution ... 405

10.4 ... Creating a Message Class for the Solution ... 415

10.5 ... Creating Classic Screens for the Solution ... 416

10.6 ... Summary ... 429

11 ... Working with Strings and Texts ... 431

11.1 ... String Manipulation ... 431

11.2 ... Text Symbols ... 437

11.3 ... Translating Data in Tables ... 445

11.4 ... Translating Messages ... 451

11.5 ... Obsolete String and Text Commands ... 453

11.6 ... Updating the Shopping Cart Example ... 454

11.7 ... Summary ... 463

12 ... Working with Dates, Times, Quantities, and Currencies ... 465

12.1 ... Dates ... 465

12.2 ... Times ... 477

12.3 ... Quantities ... 482

12.4 ... Currencies ... 486

12.5 ... Updating the Shopping Cart Example ... 490

12.6 ... Summary ... 504

13 ... User Interface Technologies ... 505

13.1 ... Working with Classic Dynpro Screens ... 505

13.2 ... Modern UI Technologies ... 528

13.3 ... Summary ... 534

14 ... Working with ABAP Professionally ... 535

14.1 ... ABAP System Architecture Basics ... 535

14.2 ... Transport Management ... 539

14.3 ... Authorization Concept ... 550

14.4 ... Working with Files ... 566

14.5 ... ABAP Development Guidelines ... 582

14.6 ... Maintaining Documentation ... 586

14.7 ... ABAP Unit Tests ... 593

14.8 ... Background Jobs ... 602

14.9 ... Tools of the Trade ... 611

14.10 ... Backward Compatibility and Dealing with Legacy Code ... 621

14.11 ... Summary ... 623

A ... Preparing Your Development Environment ... 627

A.1 ... ABAP Developer Edition Overview ... 627

A.2 ... ABAP Trial System Using SAP CAL ... 630

A.3 ... ABAP Trial System Using the Download Option ... 632

A.4 ... Getting Started with ABAP in Eclipse ... 633

A.5 ... ABAP-Based IDEs ... 639

B ... Interfaces, Forms, Enhancements ... 645

B.1 ... Interfaces ... 645

B.2 ... Output Implementation in SAP ERP ... 649

B.3 ... Enhancements ... 654

C ... Differences Between ABAP Versions ... 661

C.1 ... Release 7.0 ... 661

C.2 ... Release 7.02 (7.0 EHP 2) ... 662

C.3 ... Release 7.4 ... 663

C.4 ... Release 7.4 SP 5 ... 663

C.5 ... Release 7.4 SP 8 ... 663

C.6 ... Release 7.50 ... 664

C.7 ... Release 7.51 ... 664

C.8 ... Release 7.52 ... 664

C.9 ... Release 7.53 ... 665

D ... Other Resources ... 667

D.1 ... SAP PRESS Books ... 667

D.2 ... SAP Community ... 668

D.3 ... openSAP ... 669

D.4 ... SAP Certifications ... 669

D.5 ... SAP TechEd Conferences ... 669

D.6 ... SAP Community Events ... 670

E ... The Authors ... 671

... Index ... 673