ABAP/4: Programming the SAP R/3 System, 2/e

Summary

Many of the introductory SAP books currently on the market provide only a brief overview of ABAP. In ABAP/4 Programming the SAP/3 System, Bernd Matzke builds on this information to look in depth at the programming language at the heart of the SAP R/3 system.

This new and fully updated edition of the definitive guide to ABAP/4 aims to make the fundamentals of this evolving programming language accessible to anybody developing or maintaining an SAP R/3 system. Starting with the basic principles, it explains the essential characteristics of ABAP/4 and the SAP programming concept.

With this book you will learn how to:

· Master the ABAP/4 commands in order to analyze existing standard applications and write new programs
· Understand function modules to use program code from other applications
· Create your own programs and construct your own test environments with an expansive set of examples designed to build up knowledge and programming skills

NEW! Covers new concepts affecting the development environment and program, in line with R/3 Release 4.6
NEW! Covers features of completely redesigned user interface
NEW! Reference section covering ABAP commands in Release 4.6B
NEW! CD-Rom containing source code of all examples plus SAP transport files with examples

The sample programs in this book were developed on a 4.6B-system but can also run on other versions of the R/3 system.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the nd edition v
1. Introduction.

About the contents of this book.
Exercises.
Naming conventions.

2. The Elements of the Development Environment.

The Data Dictionary.
Authorizations.
Number ranges.
Transactions.
Reports
Dialog-oriented applications.
Object-oriented extensions to ABAP.
User interface.
Functional modules and dialog modules.
Error handling and message concept.
Help and possible entries.
System tables and system fields.

3. The Path to the Program.

The development tools.
Basic statements.
The interface.
Default reports.
Interactive reports.
Logical databases.
Dialog applications.
Relationship between list and dialog processing.
Function modules and dialog modules.
Function modules for general use.
How to process forms.

4. ABAP Objects.

Terms from the world of ABAP Objects.
Commands.

5. Maintaining Data Dictionary Elements.

Domains, data elements, tables and structures.
Views.
Search help.
Matchcodes.
Lock objects.
Type groups.
Exercises.

6. Resource in the Development Environment.

Transport management system.
Authorization concept.

7. An Example.

Program structure.
Program : SAPMYZS.
Program : SAPMYZP.

8. Tips and Traps.

Tips.
Tricks.
Traps.

9. Summary Reference.

Metasymbols description.
References and parameter repetition.
ABAP commands overview.
Flow logic command overview.
System fields.

10. Listings.

Flow logic of the base screen.
Flow logic processing picture.
Global declarations.
PBO modules.
PAI modules.
Subroutines.

11. The CD.
Index.