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ABAP Dictionary Objects
ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 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
5 ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 2005 IBM Corporation
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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
8 ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 2005 IBM Corporation
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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
15 ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 2005 IBM Corporation
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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
17 ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 2005 IBM Corporation
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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
TABLES: YEMPLOY.
SELECT *
FROM YEMPLOY.
WRITE: / YEMPLOY_ID
YEMPLOY_NAME
YEMPLOY_SALARY
ENDSELECT.
24 ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 2005 IBM Corporation
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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
25 ABAP Dictionary Objects | 2.02 March-2005 © 2005 IBM Corporation
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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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