· Includes a comprehensive description of all important ABAP commands
· Provides an introduction to the concepts of object orientation
· Offers step-by-step techniques to develop your first working ABAP application

In its newly revised and updated second edition, ABAP Basics is an ideal companion on your journey towards your first working ABAP applications. Whether you are already familiar with another programming language or ABAP is your first, this book provides you with comprehensive and structured basics on programming business-critical software. Get to know all relevant programming concepts and methods from scratch and implement them based on a holistic, real-life example. Procedural and object-oriented language elements are presented with step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and tried-and-tested tips. With every chapter, this book extends the sample application so that you are able to reproduce a comprehensive ABAP application with all its details.

Introduction to ABAP Programming
Get to know the most important ABAP statements and concepts of object orientation in order to write your first functional applications.

Language Requirements
Learn the programming language of SAP, while understanding the connections between ABAP programming and other programs.

Standard Solutions
Read about typical problems and their solutions, while referencing solution screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

Latest Updates
Explore updated content, such as a new overview to SAP software and architecture, as well as updated references to terminology, source references, and programming errors.

Practice Scenario
Use the practice scenario provided in this book to embark on a real-life programming project.

Highlights Include

· Object Navigator
· Procedural Language Elements
· Database Access
· User Interface and Screen Input/Output
· Object-Oriented Language Elements
· Software Architecture and Software Design
· SAP Programming Guidelines and Tools

The Authors

Günther Färber and Julia Kirchner are partners of NEXONTIS IT GmbH, which specializes in consulting services in the area of new software technologies and business applications in the SAP environment. They both have many years of experience in ABAP programming and in the development and implementation of ABAP trainings and workshops.

Table of Contents

• ... Preface ... 11
• ... Introduction ... 13
• 1 ... Technical Overview and Getting Started in the System ... 19
• 1.1 ... Overview of SAP Software and Architecture ... 19
• 1.2 ... Notes for Setting Up Access to SAP Software ... 24
• 1.2.1 ... Regular System ... 25
• 1.2.2 ... Test Systems ... 26
• 1.3 ... Programmer’s Checklist for Getting Started ... 27
• 1.4 ... Logon, Getting Started, and System Setup ... 32
• 2 ... Working with the Development Environ­ment: SAP Object Navigator ... 55
• 2.1 ... Getting Started with the SAP Object Navigator ... 59
• 2.2 ... Development Classes and Packages ... 68
• 2.3 ... Namespaces ... 72
• 2.4 ... First Program: “Hello World”—REPORT, INCLUDE, and Application Menu ... 78
• 2.5 ... Online Help, help.sap.com, service.sap.com, and SAP Notes ... 105
• 3 ... Procedural Language Elements ... 117
• 3.1 ... Basic Commands and Fields WRITE, PARAMETERS, MOVE, SY Fields ... 120
• 3.2 ... Data and Data Types—DATA, PARAMETERS, CONSTANTS, FIELD SYMBOLS, TYPE, CREATE, Text Elements ... 127
• 3.3 ... Structures and Internal Tables—TABLE, MOVE-CORRESPONDING, INSERT, APPEND, READ, MODIFY, DELETE, LOOP ... 151
• 3.4 ... Subprograms and Functions—FORM, FUNC­TION, EXCEPTIONS ... 163
• 3.5 ... Branches and Logical Expressions—IF, CASE ... 183
• 3.6 ...  Loops—WHILE, DO ... 198
• 4 ... Defining and Managing Database Tables ... 205
• 4.1 ... Field Properties—DATA ELEMENT, DOMAIN ... 207
• 4.2 ... Defining and Processing Database Tables—SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ... 222
• 5 ... Screen Input and Output ... 243
• 5.1 ... Simple Input and Output Interfaces—SELECTION SCREEN, SELECT-OPTIONS, CALL SELECTION SCREEN, SAP List Viewer ... 245
• 5.2 ...  Complex Input and Output Interfaces—Dynpros ... 278
• 6 ... Object-Oriented Language Elements ... 343
• 6.1 ... Classes and Objects—CLASS, CREATE OBJECT, METHOD ... 345
• 6.2 ... Inheritance and Polymorphism—INHERITING FROM, REDEFINITION ... 377
• 6.3 ... EVENTS ... 396
• 7 ... Practice Scenario—Automated Accounting for Corporate Subsidiaries ... 421
• 7.1 ... Defining the Requirements and a List of Functions for the Application ... 422
• 7.1.1 ... List of Functions ... 424
• 7.1.2 ... Selection List ... 425
• 7.2 ... Software Architecture ... 427
• 7.3 ... Software Design ... 430
• 7.3.1 ... Rough Design ... 431
• 7.3.2 ... Detailed Design ... 435
• 7.4 ... Implementation ... 445
• 7.4.1 ... Dictionary Objects ... 445
• 7.4.2 ... Programs ... 451
• 7.4.3 ... Function Groups ... 453
• ... Appendices ... 477
• A ... Programming Guidelines and Tools ... 479
• A.1 ... Programming Guidelines ... 479
• A.2 ... Program Check Tools ... 489
• B ... Glossary ... 491
• C ... Sources and Literature Recommendations ... 495
• D ... The Authors ... 497
• ... Index ... 501