Core Data Services for ABAP

by Renzo Colle, Ralf Dentzer, Jan Hrastnik

Overview

The definitive CDS resource is back and bigger than ever! Begin with the basics: explore CDS syntax and model types. Then learn to define CDS entities and model SAP S/4HANA application data with step-by-step instructions. You’ll develop models for analytical and transactional applications, work with the SAP S/4HANA virtual data model, and get to know the ABAP RESTful application programming model. Round out your knowledge with details on extensibility, testing, and troubleshooting. Get on the cutting edge of data modeling!

In this book, you’ll learn about:

a. CDS Data Modeling
Get started with the CDS fundamentals. Model your first CDS view and understand how to work with entity types, associations, annotations, access controls, business services, and more. Explore all-new ABAP functionality and syntax.

b. ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model
Develop application models based on SAP S/4HANA’s new ABAP RESTful application programming model. Create behavior definitions, add advanced functions, and implement handlers.

c. Extending, Testing, and Troubleshooting
Customize your applications and ensure they’re running smoothly. Extend CDS views with CDS entity extensions, test them with the test double framework, and troubleshoot any issues.

Highlights include:

1) Data modeling
2) Associations
3) Annotations
4) Access controls
5) Business services
6) ABAP RESTful application programming model
7) Virtual data model (VDM)
8) Analytical and transactional applications
9) Hierarchies
10) Extensions
11) Automated testing
Troubleshooting

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493223763
Publisher:	Rheinwerk Publishing, Inc.
Publication date:	11/23/2023
Edition description:	Enlarged
Pages:	715
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Renzo Colle is currently responsible for the programming model of SAP S/4HANA in the central architecture group. He studied business mathematics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (https://www.kit.edu/english/) and has worked at SAP for more than 24 years in a wide variety of areas and roles. He started his career at SAP as a developer in strategic customer development. In SAP Business ByDesign, he was responsible for logistics and was the lead architect of the SAP ByDesign platform for cloud applications. As the inventor of the Business Object Processing Framework (BOPF) and the lead architect of the ABAP RESTful application programming model, he has worked on model-driven software development and transactional applications for more than 20 years. Further information about Renzo can be found at https://de.linkedin.com/in/renzo-colle-30804ba1/de.

Ralf Dentzer has been working for several years in the central architecture group of the SAP S/4HANA suite with a focus on the use of core data services in SAP S/4HANA. He joined SAP more than 20 years ago. He developed HR applications for SAP R/3, SAP ERP, and SAP Business ByDesign. After that, his tasks shifted to questions of overall architecture for new solutions. Ralf studied mathematics and received his doctorate from the University of Heidelberg. He is married and has two sons.

Jan Hrastnik is a member of the SAP S/4HANA suite’s architecture team, where he focuses on the virtual data model and the use of core data services in ABAP applications. He has worked in various SAP development areas for more than 15 years. At the beginning of his career, he supported numerous customer projects in the automotive industry. Subsequently, he worked in the supply chain management development of SAP Business ByDesign. Jan’s work initially focused on developing the master data required for the production processes, before he took on overarching expert tasks in central architecture topics. He then worked on the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central solution and native SAP HANA application development.

Table of Contents

... Preface ... 15

... Structure of the Book ... 16

... Acknowledgments ... 19

1 ... Modeling Your First CDS View ... 21

1.1 ... Define the Data Model of the Application ... 22

1.2 ... Implement the Data Model of the Application ... 25

1.3 ... Summary ... 54

2 ... Fundamentals of CDS Data Modeling ... 55

2.1 ... Overview of CDS Syntax ... 56

2.2 ... Key Fields ... 59

2.3 ... Cast Operations ... 61

2.4 ... Case Statements ... 63

2.5 ... Session Variables ... 64

2.6 ... Client Handling ... 66

2.7 ... Union Views ... 68

2.8 ... Joins ... 76

2.9 ... SQL Aggregation Functions ... 82

2.10 ... Associations ... 85

2.11 ... Parameters ... 106

2.12 ... Conversion Functions for Currencies and Quantity Units ... 112

2.13 ... Performance Aspects ... 116

2.14 ... Summary ... 123

3 ... Annotations ... 125

3.1 ... Annotation Definitions ... 126

3.2 ... Effects of Annotations ... 136

3.3 ... Propagation Logic of Element Annotations ... 139

3.4 ... CDS Metadata Extensions ... 146

3.5 ... Active Annotations ... 150

3.6 ... Summary ... 152

4 ... Access Controls ... 153

4.1 ... Fundamentals of Access Controls ... 154

4.2 ... Mode of Action of Access Controls ... 157

4.3 ... Implementation Patterns for Access Controls ... 162

4.4 ... Test Access Controls ... 183

4.5 ... Summary ... 186

5 ... Native SAP HANA Functions in CDS ... 187

5.1 ... Implementation of a CDS Table Function ... 188

5.2 ... Application Scenarios ... 195

5.3 ... Aspects for Consideration ... 196

5.4 ... Summary ... 197

6 ... Modeling Application Data ... 199

6.1 ... Application Architecture in SAP S/4HANA ... 200

6.2 ... Field Labels ... 204

6.3 ... Field Semantics ... 208

6.4 ... Foreign Key Relations ... 214

6.5 ... Text Relations ... 220

6.6 ... Composition Relations ... 222

6.7 ... Time-Dependent Data ... 225

6.8 ... Hierarchies ... 226

6.9 ... Summary ... 237

7 ... The Virtual Data Model in SAP S/4HANA ... 239

7.1 ... Why a Virtual Data Model? ... 239

7.2 ... Structure of the Virtual Data Model ... 241

7.3 ... Naming in the Virtual Data Model ... 249

7.4 ... Basic Interface View for the Sales Order ... 254

7.5 ... Tips for Finding Virtual Data Model Views ... 262

7.6 ... Summary ... 270

8 ... Modeling Analytical Applications ... 271

8.1 ... Analytics in SAP S/4HANA ... 272

8.2 ... Analytic Views ... 273

8.3 ... Analytic Queries ... 295

8.4 ... Analytic Infrastructure ... 321

8.5 ... Summary ... 323

9 ... Modeling Transactional Applications ... 325

9.1 ... Transactional Applications ... 325

9.2 ... Transactional Infrastructure in SAP S/4HANA ... 327

9.3 ... Transactional Object Models ... 331

9.4 ... Transactional Service Models ... 370

9.5 ... Summary ... 385

10 ... CDS-Based Search Functionality ... 387

10.1 ... Modeling Value Help Views ... 388

10.2 ... Free-Text Search Functionality in OData Services ... 396

10.3 ... Summary ... 402

11 ... Extensions of CDS Views ... 403

11.1 ... Extension Options and Released CDS Views ... 404

11.2 ... CDS Extend Views with Custom Fields ... 407

11.3 ... Usage of CDS Extend Views ... 417

11.4 ... Summary ... 425

12 ... Automated Testing ... 427

12.1 ... Fundamentals of the Test Double Framework ... 428

12.2 ... Overview of the Test Sample ... 429

12.3 ... Test CDS Views ... 432

12.4 ... Test ABAP Logic with SQL Accesses to CDS Views ... 448

12.5 ... Summary ... 451

13 ... Troubleshooting ... 453

13.1 ... Troubleshoot Implementations of CDS Models ... 453

13.2 ... Troubleshoot Activation Issues ... 461

13.3 ... Summary ... 466

A ... CDS Annotation Reference ... 467

B ... The Authors ... 477

... Index ... 479