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ABAP Dictionary Objects

ABAP Dictionary Objects | Dec-2008 © 2005 IBM Corporation

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Objectives

 The participants will be able to:

 Access the ABAP Dictionary
 Discuss the Basic Objects (Domain, Data Element, Table etc.) of the ABAP Dictionary
 Define and create a Table, Data Element, and Domain

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Accessing the ABAP Dictionary

 Use transaction code SE11 to access the ABAP Dictionary

Data
Dictionary

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Basic Objects of the ABAP Data Dictionary

Table A Table B Table C

Data Element 1 Data Element 2

Domain

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Tables

 Tables store the information that is in the database.

 They consist of rows (records) and columns (fields).

TABLE KNA1
(Customers)

Table:
Table: KNA1
KNA1

MANDT KUNNR NAME1 ORT02

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Object Navigator

 The Object Navigator is used to organize your programming in an integrated

development environment

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Create a Table

Enter a description (short text)

Maintain delivery class

Table maintenance attribute

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Two-Level Domain Concept

 In SAP R/3, a field is defined by being assigned to a data element, which is in

turn assigned to a domain

Data Element 1 Data Element 2

Domain

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Data Elements

 A data element provides a meaningful description for a field

Table A Table B

Data
Data Element
Element 11

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Pre-Defined Data Elements

 SAP R/3 comes delivered with many pre-defined data elements

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Create Data Element

Enter a description (short text).

Enter domain name.

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Create Data Element (Contd.)

Maintain field labels or column headers in the Field Label tab

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Data Element Documentation

 In addition to providing field descriptions and headers, data elements

can provide detailed field documentation

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Domains

 A domain specifies the technical characteristics and the allowed

values of a field
 Domains are linked to fields via data elements

Table A

Data Elements

Domain

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Characteristics of Domains

 Domains can exist independently in the ABAP Dictionary

 Multiple data elements may be assigned to the same domain
 Pre-defined domains exist in the SAP system
 Domains can also specify a field’s output characteristics

Table A

Data Elements

Domain

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Allowed Values

Domain Domain

January
February Value Table
March
..
..
..
.
December

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Benefits of Using Allowed Values

 By defining valid values for a domain, automatic validation is

provided for any fields that point to that domain

valid invalid
values values

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Create a Domain

Enter a description (short text)

Enter data type

Enter the number of characters

allowed for this domain

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Create a Domain (Contd.)

Activate Icon

Assign Single Values

Assign Interval Values

Assign a Value Table

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Add Fields to Table

Enter the Field Name “FIRSTNAME”

Enter Data Element “ZXXFIRSTNAME”

Check the Primary Key Checkbox

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Maintain Technical Settings of a Table

Enter a Data Class

Enter a Size Category

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Demonstration

 Creation of a transparent table using transaction SE11 along with the

relevant data-element and domains.

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Practice

 Creation of a transparent table using transaction SE11 along with the

relevant data-element and domains.

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Using a Table in Program Code

DATA : WA_YEMPLOY TYPE YEMPLOY.

SELECT *
FROM YEMPLOY INTO WA_YEMPLOY.

WRITE: / WA_YEMPLOY-ID
WA_YEMPLOY-NAME
WA_YEMPLOY-SALARY

ENDSELECT.

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Summary

 Use transaction code SE11 to access the ABAP Dictionary

 The basic objects of the ABAP Dictionary are tables, data elements, and
domains
 Tables are the objects that actually hold the information in a database
 A data element provides a meaningful description for a field
 A domain specifies the technical characteristics and the allowed values
of a field

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Questions

 What is the transaction to access the ABAP Dictionary ?

 What is a data element ?
 What is a domain ?
 What is a value table in a domain ?

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