SAP ABAP Development Skill

Related Skills

• sap-abap-cds: Use when developing CDS views for ABAP-backed Fiori applications or defining data models with annotations
• sap-btp-cloud-platform: Use when working with ABAP Environment on BTP or deploying ABAP applications to the cloud
• sap-cap-capire: Use when connecting ABAP systems with CAP applications or integrating with OData services
• sap-fiori-tools: Use when building Fiori applications with ABAP backends or consuming OData services from ABAP systems
• sap-api-style: Use when documenting ABAP APIs or following SAP API documentation standards

Version Compatibility

This skill covers ABAP syntax from 7.40 SP08 through ABAP Cloud. Features requiring a higher release are annotated with inline comments in code examples using the format " [7.xx+] or noted in reference files. The table below summarizes the key version boundaries.

On a 7.40 system: Replace any FINAL(...) with DATA(...), and avoid 7.50+ features marked in bold above. Most modern ABAP syntax (VALUE, NEW, CONV, inline declarations, table expressions, REDUCE, FILTER, GROUP BY) is available since 7.40 SP08.

Table of Contents

• Version Compatibility
• Quick Reference
• Bundled Resources
• Common Patterns
• Error Catalog
• Performance Tips
• Source Documentation

Quick Reference

Data Types and Declarations

" Elementary types
DATA num TYPE i VALUE 123.
DATA txt TYPE string VALUE `Hello`.
DATA flag TYPE abap_bool VALUE abap_true.

" Inline declarations
DATA(result) = some_method( ).
FINAL(immutable) = `constant value`.              " [7.50+] Use DATA(...) on 7.40

" Structures
DATA: BEGIN OF struc,
        id   TYPE i,
        name TYPE string,
      END OF struc.

" Internal tables
DATA itab TYPE TABLE OF string WITH EMPTY KEY.
DATA sorted_tab TYPE SORTED TABLE OF struct WITH UNIQUE KEY id.
DATA hashed_tab TYPE HASHED TABLE OF struct WITH UNIQUE KEY id.

Internal Tables - Essential Operations

" Create with VALUE
itab = VALUE #( ( col1 = 1 col2 = `a` )
                ( col1 = 2 col2 = `b` ) ).

" Read operations
DATA(line) = itab[ 1 ].                    " By index
DATA(line2) = itab[ col1 = 1 ].            " By key
READ TABLE itab INTO wa INDEX 1.
READ TABLE itab ASSIGNING FIELD-SYMBOL(<fs>) WITH KEY col1 = 1.

" Modify operations
MODIFY TABLE itab FROM VALUE #( col1 = 1 col2 = `updated` ).
itab[ 1 ]-col2 = `changed`.

" Loop processing
LOOP AT itab ASSIGNING FIELD-SYMBOL(<line>).
  <line>-col2 = to_upper( <line>-col2 ).
ENDLOOP.

" Delete
DELETE itab WHERE col1 > 5.
DELETE TABLE itab FROM VALUE #( col1 = 1 ).

ABAP SQL Essentials

" SELECT into table
SELECT * FROM dbtab INTO TABLE @DATA(result_tab).   " @ syntax: 7.40 SP05+

" SELECT with conditions
SELECT carrid, connid, fldate                          " comma syntax: 7.40 SP05+
  FROM zdemo_abap_fli
  WHERE carrid = 'LH'
  INTO TABLE @DATA(flights).

" Aggregate functions
SELECT carrid, COUNT(*) AS cnt, AVG( price ) AS avg_price
  FROM zdemo_abap_fli
  GROUP BY carrid
  INTO TABLE @DATA(stats).

" JOIN operations
SELECT a~carrid, a~connid, b~carrname
  FROM zdemo_abap_fli AS a
  INNER JOIN zdemo_abap_carr AS b ON a~carrid = b~carrid
  INTO TABLE @DATA(joined).