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osted in May 17, 2009 5:27 pmh. CINTHIA NAZNEEN Q. Whats the full form of ECC? An
s: Enterprice Central Component. Q. Whats the full form of IDES? Ans: Internet De
monstration and Evaluation System. Q. Whats ABAP dictionary and its role in SAP?
Ans: ABAP dictionary is the central information base for the developers. This ma
nages all definitions(metadata) required for different applications in SAP. ABAP
dictionary is completely integrated into ABAP development workbench. All other
component of ABAP development workbench can access the data definitions(meta dat
a) stored in the data dictionary. Role: ABAP data dictionary supports definition
of user-defined types (data elements, structures, table types). structure of da
tabase objects (tables, indexes and views) can also be defined. These user-defin
ed types/objects are then automatically created in the underlying relational dat
abase using the above data definitions. The ABAP dictionary also provides tools
for editing screen fields (e.g., for assigning a field an input help i.e. F4 hel
p). Data dictionary ensures data integrity, consistency and security. Q. What ar
e the main object types of ABAP dictionary? Ans: The object types of ABAP dictio
nary can be of following type: Tables: Tables are defined in the ABAP Dictionary
independently of the database. A table having the same structure is then create
d from this table definition in the underlying database. Views: are logical view
s on more than one table. The structure of the view is defined in the ABAP Dicti
onary. A view on the database can then be created from this structure. Types (el
ements, structures, table types): Types are created in ABAP programs. The struct
ure of a type can be defined globally in ABAP programs. Changes to a type automa
tically take effect in all the programs using the type. Lock objects:are used to
synchronize access to the same data by more than one user. Function modules tha
t can be used in application programs are generated from the definition of a loc
k object in the ABAP Dictionary. Domains: Different fields having the same techn
ical type can be combined in domains. Domain defines the value range of all tabl
e fields and structure components that refer to this domain. Data element: The A
BAP Dictionary also contains the information displayed with the F1 and F4 help f
or a field in an input template. The documentation about the field is created fo
r a data element. Input help: The list of possible input values that appears for
the input help is created by a foreign key or a search help. Q. Note on SAP tab
les(defining through ABAP dictionary). Ans: Tables are defined independently of
the database in ABAP dictionary. The fields of the table are defined with their
(Database-independent) data types and lengths. Using the table definitions store
d in the ABAP dictionary, a table is automatically created in the physical datab
ase(when the table is activated). Q. What are the components of a table definiti
on. Ans: Table fields: For table fields, field names and data types are defined.

Foreign keys: Relationship between the table and the other tables are defined. T
echnical settings: Data class and size category defines that what type of table
to be created and how much space required. Indexes: Secondary indexes are create
d for a table for faster data selection. Again following are defined for a table
fields: Field name can be of maximum 16 characters in a table and must start wi
th a letter. Key flag determines if a field should be the table key. Field type
depicts the data type of the field in the ABAP dictionary. Field length denotes
the number of valid places in the field. Decimal places Number of places after d
ecimal point for float type value. Short text describes the business meaning of
the field. Also fields from other structures can be added to the table definitio
n as include. Q. How data Type, field Length and short Text of any field is assi
gned? Ans: i. Data type, field length (and if necessary decimal places) short te
xt can be directly assigned to a field in the table definition. ii. Data element
can be assigned to a field so that data type, field length (and decimal places)
are automatically determined from the domain of the data element. The short des
cription of the data element is then assigned to the field as a short text. Q. W
hat are the assignment options to the field? Ans: i. Direct assignment of data t
ypes, field length, short text to a field. ii. Data element assignment to a fiel
d. iii. An input check(check table) for a field can be defined with a foreign ke
y. iv. A search help can be assigned to a field. v. Reference field or reference
table must be specified for a table field that holds currency or quantity type
value. Q. Whats reference table and reference field? Ans: Reference table is spec
ified for fields containing quantities(data type QUAN) or currency(Data type CUR
R). This reference table must contain a field with the format for the currency k
ey (data type CUKY) or unit of measure (data type UNIT). This field is called th
e reference field of the output field. The reference field can also reside in th
e table itself. E.g.: TAB1 contains the field PRICE which holds price values. Fi
eld UNIT contains currency key for PRICE. So,TAB1 is the reference table for fie
ld PRICE and UNIT is the reference field for field PRICE. Q. Whats table include?
Ans: In addition to listing the individual fields in a table or structure, fiel
ds from another structure can be included as includes. Q. Whats named include? An
s: If an include is added to define a database table or database structure, a na
me can be assigned to that included (included substructure). The group of fields
of that include can be addressed as a whole in ABAP application programs with a
group name which is called as named include. E.g.:We can access field of a tabl
e/ structure in the ABAP application program in the following manner: <TABLE / S
TRUCTURE NAME > - < FIELD NAME> <TABLE / STRUCTURE NAME > - <GROUP NAME>-<FIELD
NAME> <TABLE / STRUCTURE NAME > - <GROUP NAME> Q. Give an example of nested incl
ude.

Ans: Structure S1 may include structure S2 and again S2 may include S3. Q.Whats t
he maximum depth of nested includes in a table? Ans: Maximum depth is 9 i.e. max
imum 9 structures can be included in a table/structure. Q. Whats the number of ch
aracters limit for field name? Ans: A field name may not have more than 16 chara
cters in a table, but in a structure maximum 30 characters are allowed for a fie
ld name. Q. What are foreign keys? Ans: Relationships between tables are defined
in the ABAP dictionary by creating foreign keys. Q. Whare are the uses of forei
gn keys in SAP? Ans: Using foreign keys(as main table-field is linked with check
table), input value check for any input field can be done. Foreign keys can als
o be used to link several tables. Explaination on foreign keys: Suppose, tab1(Fo
reign key table or dependent table) contains the following fields: fld1(primary
key), fld2, fld3, fld4, fld5 and Tab2(Referenced table) contains the following f
ields: fld6(primary key), fld7(primary key), fld8, fld9 and tab1-fld2 is connect
ed to tab2-fld5, tab1-fld4 is connected to tab2-fld6Therefore, fld2 and fld4 fie
lds of the table tab1 are called as foreign key fields to the table tab2 and tab
2 is called as check table or referenced table. Q. What are foreign key fields?
Ans: One field of the foreign key table corresponds to each key field of the che
ck table. That field of the is called as foreign key field. Uses: A foreign key
permits assigning data records in the foreign key table and check table. One rec
ord of the foreign key table uniquely identifies a record of the check table (us
ing the value entries in the foreign key fields of the foreign key table). Q. Wh
ats check table? Ans: Check table is maintained at field level for data validatio
n. Q. Whats check field? Ans: One of the foreign key field is marked as the check
field. This depicts that the foreign key relationship is maintained for that fi
eld. When a value is entered for that check field in the table, input validation
checking is done i.e. a checking is done that whether the inserted value exists
in the check table or not. If doesnt exist then system rejects the entry else in
put validation check for that field is successful. Q. Whats generic and constant
foreign keys? Q. Whats cardinality? Q. What are the types of foreign key fields?
Q. What are text table? Q. What is technical settings of a table?What are the impo
rtant parameters to be mentioned within it? Q. Whats data class? Ans: Data class
is that which allows the table to get automatically assigned under specific tabl
espace/dbspace during table creation in the SAP database i.e. dataclass determin
es that under which table space/dbspace the table will be stored. Q. How many ty
pes of data classes are there in SAP? Data classes are mainly of three types(for
application tables): i.Choose APPL0(master data) for data that is frequently ac
cessed but rarely updated/changed.

ii.Choose APPL1(transaction data) for data that is frequently changed. iii.Choos

e APPL2(organizational data) for customizing data that is defined/entered during
system installation and rarely changed. The other two types of data classes are
:USR and USR1(for customers own development purpose). Q. Whats size category? Ans:
The Size category is used to defined the space requirement for the table in the
database. Q. How many types of size category are there in SAP? Ans: There are f
ive size categories. Size category from 0 to 4 can be choosen for the tables. A
certain fixed memory size is assigned to each category in the SAP database. Q. W
hats the utility of size category? Ans: During table creation, the SAP system res
erves an initial space i.e. an initial extent) in the database.If in any case mo
re space is needed, then additional memory is added according to the mentioned s
ize category for that table. correct size category prevents the creation of a la
rge number of small extents for a table i.e. prevents memory wastage. Q. Whats bu
ffering? Q. How buffers are filled up? Q. What are the different buffering types
? Q. What are the different buffering permissions? Q. How database tables are bu
ffered? Q. Whats logging? Q. How many tables are there in SAP? Ans: i. Transparen
t tables, ii. Pool tables, iii. Cluster tables. Q. What is transparent table? An
s: The tables which create 1-to-1 correspondence between the table definition in
the ABAP data dictionary and the table definition in the physical database are
called as transparent tables in SAP. Q. Give examples of transparent table. Ans:
VBAK, VBAP, KNA1 etc. Q. What is table pool? Ans: Table pool is a table in the
SAP database in which many pool tables are assigned. Q. What are pool tables? An
s: Tables assigned to a table pool are called as pool tables. Q. What are table
clusters? Ans: Table cluster is a table in the SAP database in which many cluste
r tables are stored. Q. What are clustered tables? Ans: Tables assigned to a Tab
le cluster are called as clustered tables. Q. Uses of table pool or table cluste
r. Ans: Table pool or table cluster is used to store SAPs internal control inform
ation (screen sequences, program parameters, temporary data, continuous texts su
ch as documentation). Q. Example of table cluster and cluster tables. Ans: i. Th
e table cluster RFBLG holds data for five transparent tables i.e. BSEC, BSED, BS
EG, BSES and BSET. ii. Other examples of table clusters are CDCLS, CDHDR, RFBLG,
DOKCLU, DOKTL . Q. What are the differences between transparent and cluster/poo
l tables? Ans: i. A transparent table has 1-to-1 cardinality between the table d
efinition in the data dictionary and in the table definition of sap database whe
reas cluster/pool tables have many-to-1 cardinality between the table definition
in the data dictionary and in the table definition of sap database. ii. Transpa
rent tables are accessible both by Open and native SQL statements

whereas table pool/cluster tables are accessible only by open SQL but never by n
ative SQL. iii. Transparent tables can store table relevant data whereas table p
ool or cluster tables can store only system data/ application data based on the
transparent tables. Q. What are tabs under the maintenance screen of the ABAP da
ta dictionary screen? Ans: There are five tabs under ABAP dictionary. i.Attribut
es, ii.Delivery & maintenance, iii. Fields, iv. Entry help/check, v. Currency/Qu
antity fields. Q. What is delivery class? Ans: We need to insert an delivery cla
ss value while creating customized table in SAP through the transaction code SE1
1. Delivery class is that which regulates the transport of the tables data record
s (during SAP installations, SAP software upgrade, client copies, and data trans
port to other SAP system). SAP and its customers have different write types depe
nding on the variety of delivery class. If Delivery class is A, it depicts that
the application table for master and transaction data changes only rarely. Q. Ho
w many types of delivery classes are there in SAP? Ans: There are following deli
very classes: i. A: Application table (master and transaction data) is maintaine
d by the customers using application transaction. ii. C: Customer table. Data is
maintained only by the customer. iii. L: Table for storing temporary data. iv.
G: Customer table, new data records can be inserted but may not overwrite or del
ete existing ones. v. E: System table with its own namespaces for customer entri
es. vi. S: System table, data changes have the status of program changes i.e. Sy
stem table for programs nature. Maintained only by SAP. E.g.: Codes for SAP trans
actions. vii. W: System table for system operation and maintenance. Table conten
ts are maintained by maintenance transactions. E.g.: function module table. Q. W
hat are the differences between domain and data element? Ans: i.Domain depicts t
he technical attributes of a field (its data type, field length, no. of decimal
places, appreance on the sreen) of a SAP database table. Whereas data element de
notes the semantic attributes(short description, label names) for a field. ii.Da
ta elements are directly attaced to the fields of SAP database tables and each d
ata element has an underlying domain within it. Whereas domains are not directly
attached to the fields and a single domain can be under many data elements. iii
.Within domain value range of a field can be described. Whereas within the data
element parameter id and search help for a particular field can be assigned. Q.
Whats value table? Ans: Value table is maintained at domain level in SAP. During
domain creation, value range of the domain is defined by specifying value table.
Suppose for a particular domain, its value table holds the values A, B, Z. So wheneve
r the domain will be used, system will allow to use these values only. Above que
stion-answers are prepared and posted by: Cinthia Nazneen

Notes ABAP DATA DICTIONARY, ABAP Dictionary, APPLICATION TABLE, BSEC, BSED, BSEG
, BSESM BSET, CARDINALITY, CDCLS, CDHDR, CHECK TABLE, CLUSTER TABLES, CLUSTERED
TABLES, CUSTOMER TABLE, DATA CLASS, DATA CONSISTENCY, DATA DICTIONARY, DATA ELEM
ENT, DATA ELEMENTS, DATA INTEGRITY, DATA SECURITY, DELIVERY CLASS, DOKCLU, DOKTL
, DOMAIN, DOMAIN INTEGRITY, DOMAINS, ECC, ENTITY INTEGRITY, FOREIGN KEY, FOREIGN
KEYS, IDES, INDEXES, INPUT HELP, KNA1, LOCK OBJECTS, MAINTENANCE SCREEN, MAINTE
NANCE SCREEN OF ABAP DICTIONARY, MASTER DATA, METADATA, NAMED INCLUDE, NATIVE SQ
L, NESTER INCLUDES, OBJECT TYPES OF ABAP DICTIONARY, OPEN SQL, ORGANIZATIONAL DA
TA, POOL TABLES, REFERENCE FIELD, REFERENCE TABLE, REFERENTIAL INTEGRITY, RFBLG,
SAP TABLES, SECURITY, SIZE CATEGORY, STRUCTURES, SYSTEM TABLE, TABLE CLUSTER, T
ABLE INCLUDE, TABLE POOL, TABLE TYPES, TABLES, TECHNICAL SETTINGS, TRANSACTIONAL
DATA, TRANSPARENT TABLES, TYPES, Value table, VBAK, VBAP, VIEWS You can follow
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or trackback from your own site. One Comment Austin Obleness Says: Its such an im
portant topic and ignored by so many people, even professionals. I thank you for
helping making people more educated about this topic. July 9th, 2010 at 10:40 p
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