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ABAP/4 Data Dictionary

Presentation Overview
 Contents
 Introduction to ABAP/4 Data Dictionary
 Definition
 Function
 Basic Objects of ABAP/4 Dictionary
 Tables and Structures
 Data Elements
 Domain
 Domains
 Data Elements
 Tables & Structures
 Aggregated Objects
 Views
 Search Help
 Lock Objects
Presentation Overview

 Demo
 Basic transactions
 Creation of Domains
 Creation of Data Elements
 Creation of Tables
 Generation of Maintenance View for tables
Data Dictionary

 Definition
 A data dictionary is a central source of information for the data in a data
management system. Its main function is to support the creation and management of
data definitions (or "metadata”)

 Functions
 Management of data definitions
 Provision of information for evaluations
 Support for software development
 Support for documentation
 Ensuring that data definitions are flexible and up-to-date
Data Dictionary
Basic Objects of ABAP/4 Dictionary

Objects in the ABAP/4 Dictionary resided on three levels that support


their re-usability. These levels are:

1. Tables and structures

2. Data elements

3. Domains
Elements hierarchy
• Fields

• Data element

• Domain

• Data type
Domains

 Describes the technical characteristics of a table field

 Specifies a value range which describes allowed data values for the
fields

 Fields referring to the same domain (via the data elements assigned
to them) are changed when a change is made to the domain

 Ensures consistency
 e.g., Purchasing document number (EBELN)
How does it look like in SAP ?
Data Elements

 Describes the role played by a field in a technical context

 Fields of same semantic meaning can refer to the same data element

 Contains the field information


- eg. Purchasing document number (EBELN)
How does it look like in SAP ?
Tables & Structures

 Tables
 Represent the Database Tables where data actually resides.
 Tables can be defined independently of the database in the ABAP Dictionary.
 The fields of the table are defined with their (database-independent) ABAP/4 data
types and lengths.

 Structures
 Are record declarations that do not correspond to a Database Table.
 Just like user-defined data type.
 Defined like a table and can then be addressed from ABAP/4 programs.
 Structures contain data only during the runtime of a program.
How does a transparent table look like
in SAP ?
How does a Structure look like in SAP ?
Demo

 Transactions to play with 


 SE11 : Data Dictionary Initial Screen (SE12 Display only)
 SE13 : ABAP Dictionary : Technical Settings
 SE14 : Database Utility
 SE15 : Repository Information System
 SE16 : Data Browser
 SE17 : General table Display
 SE55 : Table View Maintenance
 SM30 : Table Maintenance
Demo

 Creation of Domains (Things to Keep in mind)


 Data Type
 Length
 Output Length
 Conversion Routines
 Value Length
 Activation & Syntax Checks
Demo

 Creation of Data Elements


 Domain
 Texts
 Documentation
 Activation & Syntax Checks
Demo

 Creation of Tables (Things to Keep in mind)


 Client Dependency
 Delivery Class
 Table Maintenance
 Foreign Keys (Check tables)
 Other Attributes
 Technical Settings
 Table Maintenance Views
 Activation & Syntax Checks
Demo

 Technical Settings
 Data Class
 Size Category
 Buffering
Demo

 Generation of Table Maintenance Views


 Authorization Group
 Function Group
Aggregated Objects of ABAP/4
Dictionary
Aggregated means consisting of several components. In the ABAP/4
Dictionary, aggregated objects are objects which come from several
different transparent tables.

1. Views
2. Search Help
3. Lock Objects
Views (Aggregated Objects)
 Tailored to the needs of
a specific application

 Used to summarize data


which is distributed
among several tables

 The data of a view is


not actually physically
stored. The data of a
view is instead derived
from one or more other
tables
How does a view look like in SAP ?
Search Help (Match codes)
 A Search help is a tool to
help you search for data
records in the system

 An efficient and user-


friendly search aid for
cases where the key of a
record is unknown
Search help in SAP
Lock Objects

 Simultaneous accessing of the same data record by two users in the


SAP system is synchronized by a lock mechanism.
 Locks are set and released by calling certain function modules. These
function modules are generated automatically from the definition of
so-called lock objects in the ABAP/4 Dictionary
 Function modules :
 Enqueue_<obj name> - to lock the table

 dequeue_<obj name> - to release the lock


How does a Lock object look like in SAP
?
ABAP/4 Repository Information
 The ABAP/4 Repository Information System allows you to obtain information
about objects (tables, fields, domains, etc.) in the ABAP/4 Repository.
 You can find anything that is used in programs by using the Data Repository

? Search by attributes Where-used lists


?
Display all objects of type X Display all objects of type Y
with attribute Y which use attribute X

Data
Info. about tables Repository
& relationships Modified objects

Display all table fields Display all objects of


with check table X type X which were changed by

?
user Y on date DDMMYY
?

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