ABAP Programming

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ABAP Programming (BC-ABA)

This documentation describes how to write application programs within the three-tier client/server architecture of the R/3 System.





R/3 applications are written in the ABAP programming language, and run within the application layer of the R/3 System.

ABAP programs communicate with the database management system of the central relational database (RDBMS), and with the graphical user interface (SAPgui) at presentation level.

Contents

The documentation is divided into five sections:

Introduction to ABAP
This contains the basics of application programming in the R/3 System. This information is essential for an understanding of ABAP programming. Following an overview of the R/3 Basis system, it introduces the essential features of application programs and the ABAP programming language. Finally, it gives a short introduction to how you can create an application program in the ABAP Workbench.
The ABAP Programming Language

This section describes the statements in the ABAP programming language. Beginning with simple statements for data declarations, data processing, and program flow control, it progresses to topics such as modularization and special techniques, explaining which ABAP statements can be used for which purposes.

ABAP User Dialogs

The different screens that can belong to ABAP programs are displayed here. This shows how you can program and control interaction between ABAP programs and users in the form of screens.

Running ABAP Programs

This section explains how ABAP programs are executed in the R/3 System. It shows how you can start programs, the conditions under which you must start them, and the different kinds of program execution.

ABAP Database Access

This section explains how to work with the database in the R/3 System. It describes the parts of the programming language that are converted into SQL statements in the database, and shows how you can program database updates.

ABAP Objects

This is an introduction to ABAP Objects, the object-oriented extension of ABAP. Objects, classes and interfaces are introduced as the basic elements of ABAP objects. It shows how classes can be defined independently using interfaces or inheritance. It then goes on to introduce further components of classes, namely methods and events.

ABAP and JavaScript

The section describes how to link JavaScript programs in ABAP using class CL_JAVA_SCRIPT.

Appendix
The appendix contains summary descriptions and overviews, including a list of all system fields, an ABAP statement reference and a glossary.

Sample Programs
Note that the sample programs in this documentation can be used for testing purposes in every R/3 System starting with Release 4.5. They can be found in Transaction ABAPDOCU . The program structure corresponds to that of this documentation.

Further Reading

SAP Style Guide
Changing the SAP Standard
ABAP Workbench: Tools
ABAP Dictionary
Remote Communications
RFC Programming in ABAP
ABAP as an OLE Automation Controller
Basis Programming Interfaces
ABAP Query

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Introduction to ABAP



The R/3 Basis System: Overview

The R/3 Basis system is the platform for all other applications (financial accounting, logistics, human resources management) in the R/3 System.


This documentation explains just what the Basis system is, and how it ties in with the R/3 System as a whole. It starts by introducing the Basis system in general.


The second part concentrates on one central component - the application server. Finally, it will explain about work processes, which are components of the application server.


Overview of the Components of Application Programs


This overview describes application programming in the R/3 System. All application programs, along with parts of the R/3 Basis system, are written in the ABAP Workbench using ABAP, SAP’s programming language.



The individual components of application programs are stored in a special section of the database called the R/3 Repository. The R/3 Repository serves as a central store for all of the development objects in the R/3 System.


The following sections of this documentation cover the basics and characteristics of application programming.

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Creating and Changing ABAP Programs

ABAP programs are objects of the R/3 Repository. Like all other Repository objects, you maintain them using an ABAP Workbench tool - in this case, the ABAP Editor.


This section provides a brief description of the ABAP Workbench and an overview of how to create and edit ABAP programs. It describes the different ways of starting the ABAP Editor. In the text below, 'open a program' always means 'start the ABAP Editor and use it to open a program'.


Starting the ABAP Editor




To start the ABAP Editor to create or change ABAP programs, the R/3 system offers three possibilities:



Opening Programs in the Object Navigator

The Object Navigator of the ABAP Workbench (Transaction SE80) offers a hierarchical overview of all R/3 Repository objects, ordered by package, user name of the programmer, object types, and so on.



By selecting a program, the Object Navigator supplies direct access to all components of a program, such as main program, includes, classes, or global data.



By selecting a program object in the Object Navigator and calling a maintenance transaction, you directly open the appropriate tool for this object, in this case the ABAP Editor.




This way is appropriate for all ABAP programs, as the Object Navigator gives you a constant overview of all components of a program. In particular, screens and user interfaces are displayed.



Using the ABAP Editor

To open ABAP programs directly from the tool ABAP Editor, select the menu path Tools ® ABAP Workbench ® Overview ® Development ® ABAP Editor from the SAP menu of SAP Easy Access (or start Transaction SE38).


If you want to change a program using this method, you must already know its name and environment.




This procedure is only suited for maintaining or creating relatively simple or short programs, which have few or no additional components.

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Using Forward Navigation

In any of the tools in the ABAP Workbench, you can open a different Repository object by positioning the cursor on it and double-clicking. The system automatically opens the object using the correct tool.



This also applies to editing ABAP programs.


Forward navigation by double-click can be used at any point where the names of ABAP programs appear in the ABAP Workbench.

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Naming ABAP Programs


The name of an ABAP program can be between 1 and 30 characters long. The following symbols and signs must not be used in program names: Period (.), comma (,), space ( ), parentheses (), apostrophe (‘), inverted commas ("), equals sign (=), asterisk (*), accented characters or German umlauts (à, é, ø, ä, ß, and so on), percentage signs (%), or underscores (_).


Program Attributes


Like many other Repository objects, ABAP programs have attributes, which are important in determining the function of the program within the R/3 System. For an overview of program attributes, refer to Maintaining Program Attributes.


Source Code


ABAP source code defines the processing logic of R/3 application programs. For an introduction to writing source code, refer to Editing Programs.

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The ABAP Programming Language



ABAP Syntax Basic Statements
Processing Large Volumes of Data
Saving Data Externally
Modularization Techniques
Special Techniques