This book helps newcomers to ABAP gain an instant sense of achievement, while hurtling up the learning curve towards the development their own source code. The author's practical "on the job" approach ensures that you'll quickly familiarize yourself with all of the most important aspects of ABAP programming. Using straightforward examples, you'll begin learning how to build your own programming solutions starting right on the first page. From the single-line ABAP report to modularized flow control and complex data transfer structure, step-by-step instructions with volumes of commented code samples and screenshots serve to ensure your rapid progress in the world of ABAP programming.

Getting started with ABAP
Learn everything you'll need to get started: Architecture of the SAP system, development tools, and structure of ABAP reports

Your first ABAP report
Create your first report, maintain its properties, create its source code, and execute it

Follow along with an extended real-life example
Starting on the first page, a simple, ongoing example guides you through the book as you create database tables and lists, calculate with numbers, and find program errors with the ABAP Debugger

Take your skills to the next level
Make case distinctions, implement control structures and branches, and learn about logical expressions, selection screens, and the modularization of programs

Learn ABAP the easy way
Benefit from concise learning units, helpful tips and tricks, numerous screenshots, and comprehensive sample code

Highlights

• Data Dictionary and ABAP Editor
• Fields and Calculations
• Calculating with Date and Time, Quantities, and Currencies
• Transparent Database Tables, Internal Tables
• Flow Control and Logical Expressions
• Selection Screens

About the Author(s)

Karl-Heinz Kühnhauser is a managing partner of RGS GmbH & Co. KG, an SAP service partner. He has more than 25 years of experience in software development and more than 20 years in customer trainings in different industries. He is also an assistant lecturer at the technical college of Ansbach, Germany.

Table of Contents

Who This Book Is For ... 15
What You'll Discover ... 16
Navigational Tools for This Book ... 16
System Requirements ... 16
What's In This Book? ... 17
Code Samples for Download ... 19
Acknowledgments ... 19

1 ABAP and Getting Started with the SAP System .... 21
... Overview of the Architecture of an SAP System ... 22
....... Technical Architecture ... 23
....... Business Organization Architecture ... 24
....... Platform-Independence ... 27
... Application Programs and Runtime Environment ... 28
....... Work Processes ... 29
....... Structure of ABAP Programs ... 31
... Logging On and Off the System ... 33
....... Overview of Business Modules ... 35
....... ABAP Workbench ... 37

2 Data Dictionary ... 43
... Getting Started with the ABAP Dictionary ... 44
....... Database Tables ... 44
....... Creating and Maintaining Tables ... 46
... Data Elements and Domains ... 50
....... Creating a Data Element ... 50
....... Creating Domains ... 55
....... Checking and Activating a Data Element ... 60
....... Maintaining the Technical Settings of the Table ... 62
... Creating Data Records ... 64
....... Entering Data Records ... 65
....... Displaying the Contents of the Table ... 66

3 Programming in the ABAP Editor ... 69
... Creating an ABAP Report ... 69
... ABAP Editor: Overview ... 73
....... Modes of the ABAP Editor ... 74
....... Controlling the ABAP Editor ... 75
... Understanding and Editing ABAP Programs ... 81
... Executing an ABAP Report ... 83
... Reading and Outputting Database Tables ... 85
... Formatting Lists ... 86
....... Chain Statement ... 87
....... Lines ... 87
....... Blank Lines ... 87
... Writing and Editing Source Code ... 88
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 89
....... List Screen from Our Sample Source Code ... 94

4 Fields and Calculations ... 97
... Preparing the Report ... 98
... Declaring Fields ... 102
....... Declaring Variables ... 103
....... Declaring Constants ... 107
... Basic Arithmetic Operations ... 108
....... Compatible and Convertible Data Objects ... 110
....... Conversion Rules ... 111
....... Special Features of Division Operations ... 113
... Sample Code for Fields and Calculations ... 114
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 115
....... Improved List Format ... 118

5 Modifying Character Strings ... 121
... Declaring Character Strings ... 122
... String Operations ... 124
....... Shifting Character Strings ... 124
....... Replacing Character Strings ... 126
....... Condensing Character Strings ... 127
....... Concatenating String Fields ... 128
....... Splitting Character Strings ... 130
....... String Operations with Direct Positioning ... 130
... Sample Code for String Operations ... 132
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 134
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 137

6 Debugging Programs ... 139
... Overview ... 140
... Calling the ABAP Debugger ... 140
... Working with the ABAP Debugger ... 144
....... Fields Mode ... 144
....... Table Mode ... 148
....... Watchpoints Mode ... 150
....... Breakpoints Mode ... 154
....... Static Breakpoints ... 157

7 Modifying Transparent Database Tables ... 159
... Copying a Database Table ... 161
... Enhancing Non-Key Fields ... 165
....... Maintaining Fixed Values in Domains ... 166
....... Special Points for Currency and Quantity Fields ... 169
....... Maintaining Foreign Keys ... 171
....... Maintaining Append Structures ... 179
....... Maintaining an Include Structure ... 183
... Manipulating Key Fields of Tables ... 188
... Deleting Table Fields ... 192
... Deleting Tables ... 194

8 Calculating Dates, Times, Quantities, andCurrencies ... 199
... Field Definitions ... 199
... Using Date Fields in Arithmetic Operations ... 202
... Using Time Fields in Arithmetic Operations ... 209
... Using Quantity and Currency Fields in Arithmetic Operations ... 214
... Sample Code for Date, Time, and Currency Fields ... 217
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 221
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 228

9 Modifying Data in a Database Table ... 231
... Authorization Concept ... 232
... Lock Concept ... 234
... Open SQL Statements ... 237
....... Creating a New Data Record ... 238
....... Modifying an Existing Data Record ... 241
....... Modifying a Data Record ... 242
....... Deleting a Data Record ... 243
... Sample Code for INSERT ... 245
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 247
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 248
... Sample Code for UPDATE ... 249
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 251
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 252
... Sample Code for MODIFY ... 252
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 254
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 255
... Sample Code for DELETE ... 256
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 258
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 259

10 Program Flow Control and Logical Expressions ... 261
... Control Structures ... 262
... Using Patterns ... 263
... Branches ... 266
....... IF Structure ... 267
....... CASE Structure ... 270
... Loops ... 272
....... SELECT Loop ... 273
....... DO Loop ... 273
....... WHILE Loop ... 275
....... Termination Statements for Loops ... 277
... Logical Expressions ... 281
....... Simple Logical Expressions ... 281
....... Linked Logical Expressions ... 284
... Sample Code for IF ... 288
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 290
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 292
... Sample Code for CASE ... 293
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 295
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 296
... Sample Code for DO and Termination Conditions ... 298
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 300
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 302
... Sample Code for WHILE and Logical Expressions ... 303
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 306
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 308

11 Selection Screens ... 311
... Events ... 313
....... Order of Events ... 313
....... Examples of Events ... 314
... Simple Selections ... 316
....... PARAMETERS Statement ... 317
....... Additions to the PARAMETERS Statement ... 318
... Complex Selections ... 323
....... SELECT-OPTIONS Statement ... 324
....... Multiple Selections ... 326
....... Additions to the SELECT-OPTIONS Statement ... 328
... Using Selection Texts ... 329
....... Overview of Text Elements ... 329
....... Creating Selection Texts ... 330
... Saving the Selection Screen ... 333
....... Creating Selection Variants ... 334
....... Starting a Report with a Variant ... 340
... Completing Text Objects ... 341
....... Creating Text Symbols ... 342
....... Creating Messages ... 343
... Free Layout of the Selection Screen ... 347
....... Formatting Single Lines ... 348
....... Formatting a Line Block ... 350
... Sample Code for Selection Screen (Simple Form) ... 351
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 354
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 356
... Sample Code for Selection Screen (Extended Form) ... 356
....... Notes on the Source Code ... 361
....... Outputting the Source Code ... 365

12 Internal Tables ... 369
... Purpose of Internal Tables ... 370
... Structure and Types of Internal Tables ... 372
... Creating an Internal Standard Table ... 375
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