IBM Global Services

ABAP Dictionary Objects

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Accessing the ABAP Dictionary

Use transaction code SE11 to access the ABAP Dictionary

Data
Dictionary

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Basic Objects of the ABAP Data Dictionary

Table A

Data Element 1

Table B

Table C

Data Element 2

Domain

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

NAME1

Dec-2008

ORT02

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Object Navigator
The Object Navigator is used to organize your programming in an integrated
development environment

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Create a Table
Enter a description (short text)
Maintain delivery class

Table maintenance attribute

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Data Elements
A data element provides a meaningful description for a field

Table A

Table B

Data
Data Element
Element 11

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Pre-Defined Data Elements

SAP R/3 comes delivered with many pre-defined data elements

10

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Create Data Element

Enter a description (short text).

Enter domain name.

11

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Create Data Element (Contd.)

Maintain field labels or column headers in the Field Label tab

12

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Data Element Documentation

In addition to providing field descriptions and headers, data elements
can provide detailed field documentation

13

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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

14

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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 fields output characteristics

Table A

Data Elements

Domain

15

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Allowed Values
Domain

Domain

January
February

Value Table

March
..
..
..
.
December

16

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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
values

17

invalid
values

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Create a Domain

Enter a description (short text)

Enter data type

Enter the number of characters
allowed for this domain

18

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Create a Domain (Contd.)

Activate Icon

Assign Single Values

Assign Interval Values

Assign a Value Table

19

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Add Fields to Table

Enter the Field Name FIRSTNAME

Enter Data Element ZXXFIRSTNAME

Check the Primary Key Checkbox

20

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Maintain Technical Settings of a Table

Enter a Data Class

Enter a Size Category

21

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Demonstration
Creation of a transparent table using transaction SE11 along with the
relevant data-element and domains.

22

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Practice
Creation of a transparent table using transaction SE11 along with the
relevant data-element and domains.

23

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

Using a Table in Program Code

DATA : WA_YEMPLOY TYPE YEMPLOY.

SELECT
FROM

*
YEMPLOY INTO WA_YEMPLOY.

WRITE: / WA_YEMPLOY-ID
WA_YEMPLOY-NAME
WA_YEMPLOY-SALARY
ENDSELECT.

24

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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 |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation

IBM Global Services

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 ?

26

ABAP Dictionary Objects |

Dec-2008

2005 IBM Corporation