ABAP Cheat Sheets

Explore ABAP syntax in a nutshell & executable examples

How to Use · Cheat Sheets · Examples

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ABAP cheat sheets¹ ...

• provide a collection of information on selected ABAP topics in a nutshell for your reference.

• focus on ABAP syntax in the restricted ABAP language version ABAP for Cloud Development.

• include code snippets.

• are supported by easy-to-consume demonstration examples that you can import into your system using abapGit to run and check out ABAP syntax in action in simple contexts:

  Environment	Branch	ABAP language version
  SAP BTP ABAP environment	main branch	ABAP for Cloud Development
  System that supports classic ABAP	The repository branches other than main. Check the available ABAP releases.	Standard ABAP

• are enriched by links to glossary entries and chapters of the ABAP Keyword Documentation (the F1 help) and more for you to deep dive into the respective ABAP topics and get more comprehensive information.

💡 Note

• Since the ABAP cheat sheets provide information in a nutshell, they do not claim to be fully comprehensive as far as the described syntax and concepts are concerned. If you need more details, you can always consult the ABAP Keyword Documentation, for example, by choosing F1 on a keyword in your code, or by searching directly using the online or the system-internal version.
• Unless otherwise stated in the cheat sheets, the content of this repository is relevant for these ABAP language versions, with a focus on ABAP for Cloud Development ⚠️:
  • ABAP for Cloud Development: Restricted ABAP language scope for ABAP Cloud → Online version of the documentation
  • Standard ABAP: Unrestricted ABAP language scope, for example, for classic ABAP → Online version of the documentation (latest version)
• Some of the embedded code snippets in the cheat sheets only display high-level code patterns, while others are fully functional and can be directly copied into an ABAP test program for exploration.
• Check the Known Issues and Disclaimer.
• The cheat sheets provide links to glossary entries and topics in the ABAP Keyword Documentation. Note that unlike the classic ABAP-only cheat sheets, in most cases these links refer to ABAP for Cloud Development.
• Here is an overview of the different ABAP language elements in the different ABAP versions, i.e. what is allowed in ABAP Cloud and what is not. See also the released APIs here.
• In order to have all ABAP cheat sheet documents in one place, the main branch (for examples to be imported into the SAP BTP ABAP environment) also contains the ABAP cheat sheet documents that are only relevant for classic ABAP.
• The example classes contained in the branches for classic ABAP mostly use syntax that is also available in ABAP for Cloud Development. Only the TEST_ABAP_CHEAT_SHEETS_CLASSIC subpackage contains syntax relevant to Standard ABAP and that is not available in ABAP for Cloud Development, such as dynpro-related ABAP keywords.
• The code snippets in the ABAP cheat sheet documents and the executable examples include many comments. While it is generally not recommended to overuse comments in your code, they are used here to explain and provide context directly where it is needed. In many cases, they illustrate the results of ABAP statements.
• As previously mentioned, the cheat sheet documents and examples primarily focus on syntax options. The usage and names of data objects, classes, methods etc. are nonsemantic.
• Many ABAP statements allow additions in various orders, and these orders are not always fixed.

🏗️ How to Use

1. ABAP syntax info: Get info in a nutshell on ABAP syntax and concepts related to various ABAP topics in the ABAP cheat sheets.
2. Demo examples: Import the ABAP development objects of this repository (Note: main branch for the SAP BTP ABAP environment only) into your system using abapGit as described here and run the demo classes by choosing F9 in the ABAP development tools for Eclipse (ADT) for checking out the ABAP syntax in action.

📝 ABAP Cheat Sheets Overview

Cheat Sheet	Topics Covered	Demo Example
ABAP for Cloud Development	Briefly outlines the terms ABAP Cloud and classic ABAP to set the context for ABAP for Cloud Development	zcl_demo_abap_cloud_excursion (see the notes in the cheat sheet)
Data Types and Data Objects	Contains basic information about data types and data objects in ABAP	zcl_demo_abap_dtype_dobj
Internal Tables	Creating, filling, reading from, sorting, modifying internal tables	zcl_demo_abap_internal_tables
Structures	Some basics when working with structures	zcl_demo_abap_structures
ABAP SQL	Reading from database tables using SELECT, changing data in database tables using INSERT, UPDATE, MODIFY and DELETE	zcl_demo_abap_sql
ABAP Object Orientation	Working with objects and components, concepts such as inheritance, interfaces, and more	zcl_demo_abap_objects zcl_demo_abap_objects_misc zcl_demo_abap_oo_inheritance_1
Constructor Expressions	Covers constructor expressions with operators such as VALUE, CORRESPONDING, NEW, CONV, EXACT, REF, CAST, COND, SWITCH, FILTER, REDUCE, iteration expressions with FOR, LET expressions	zcl_demo_abap_constructor_expr
Dynamic Programming	Covers field symbols and data references as supporting elements for dynamic programming, dynamic ABAP syntax components, runtime type services (RTTS), i. e. runtime type identification (RTTI) and runtime type creation (RTTC)	zcl_demo_abap_dynamic_prog
String Processing	Creating strings and assigning values, chaining strings, string templates, concatenating, splitting, modifying strings, searching and replacing	zcl_demo_abap_string_proc
ABAP for RAP: Entity Manipulation Language (ABAP EML)	Setting EML in the context of RAP, standard (create, read, update, delete) and non-standard operations (actions)	Demo RAP scenario with a managed RAP BO, external numbering (zcl_demo_abap_rap_ext_num_m) Demo RAP scenario with an unmanaged RAP BO, external numbering (zcl_demo_abap_rap_ext_num_u) Demo RAP scenario ("RAP calculator") with a managed, draft-enabled RAP BO, late numbering (zcl_demo_abap_rap_draft_ln_m) Note that this example can also be checked out using the preview version of an SAP Fiori UI. Check the comments in the class for the steps. Demonstrating the local consumption of RAP business events in the context of a RAP demo scenario, managed RAP BO with managed internal numbering and additional save (zcl_demo_abap_rap_m_as)
Excursion Down to Bits and Bytes	Covers the technical background of data types and data objects	-
ABAP SQL: Working with Hierarchies	Summarizes the functions ABAP SQL offers together with ABAP CDS for working with hierarchical data that is stored in database tables	-
Internal Tables: Grouping	Covers the GROUP BY clause in statements for internal tables.	zcl_demo_abap_sql_group_by
ABAP Managed Database Procedures (AMDP)	Covers ABAP Managed Database Procedures (AMDP): AMDP Procedures and AMDP Functions (including CDS Table Functions)	zcl_demo_abap_amdp
Program Flow Logic	Deals with control structures (IF, CASE), loops (DO, WHILE) and exception handling	zcl_demo_abap_prog_flow_logic
ABAP Unit Tests	Contains basic information about unit testing in ABAP	zcl_demo_abap_unit_test
CDS View Entities	Note that cheat sheet content is available in this blog. The focus here is on the example CDS artifacts and the executable example class, which include comments.	zcl_demo_abap_cds_ve
SAP LUW	Provides a high-level overview of the SAP LUW concept that deals with data consistency with a focus on SAP LUW-related statements 💡 Several statements covered in the cheat sheet and the executable example are only relevant to classic ABAP.	Program ZDEMO_ABAP_SAP_LUW
Dynpro	Provides a high-level overview of dynpro topics with a focus on dynpro-related statements 💡 The content of this cheat sheet and the executable example are only relevant to classic ABAP.	Program ZDEMO_ABAP_DYNPRO
Selection Screens and Classic Lists	Provides a high-level overview of selection screens and classic lists with a focus on related statements. It includes an excursion into the SAP List Viewer (ALV). 💡 The content of this cheat sheet and the executable examples are only relevant to classic ABAP.	Program ZDEMO_ABAP_SELSCR_LISTS_INTRO (the "intro" program, from which the other related example programs can be started)
Working with XML and JSON in ABAP	Covers processing XML using class libraries, XML transformations using XSLT and Simple Transformations (ST), serializations (ABAP to XML) and deserializations (XML to ABAP), dealing with JSON data	zcl_demo_abap_xml_json
Released ABAP Classes	Contains a selection of ABAP classes, serving as a quick introduction, along with code snippets to explore the functionality in action	- (The cheat sheet includes copy and paste code snippets and example classes)
Date, Time, and Time Stamp	Covers how to handle and process dates, times, and time stamps in ABAP	zcl_demo_abap_date_time
Built-In Functions	Covers a variety of built-in functions in ABAP	zcl_demo_abap_builtin_func
Authorization Checks	Provides a high-level overview of explicit and implicit authorization checks in ABAP	- (The cheat sheet includes a copy and paste example class)
ABAP Dictionary	Covers a selection of repository objects in the ABAP Dictionary (DDIC) that represent global types	- (The cheat sheet includes a copy and paste example class)
Exceptions and Runtime Errors	Provides an overview on exceptions and runtime errors	zcl_demo_abap_error_handling
Regular Expressions in ABAP	Includes an overview of common regular expressions and their use in ABAP through statements, built-in functions, and system classes	zcl_demo_abap_regex

🎬 Getting Started with the Examples

The main focus of the ABAP cheat sheets is ABAP for Cloud Development. The examples in the main branch of the repository are designed to be imported into the SAP BTP ABAP environment. For Standard ABAP, you can find examples in the other branches of the repository (note that except for specific examples, the example code there uses syntax that is also availabe in ABAP for Cloud Development) that you can import into your sandbox SAP system. Just select the appropriate version (v757 stands for ABAP version 7.57). Check the information in the following collapsible sections for your system environment and perform the required steps.

1) General info

• Some DDIC artifacts, such as database tables, are part of the repository. They are used by the examples to ensure self-contained examples. All artifacts must be imported for all examples to work.
• Most examples are designed to display some output in the ADT console. Once successfully imported, you can run the examples in ADT by choosing F9 to display the output in the ADT console. The programs included in the branches for classic ABAP can be executed with F8.
• The examples include descriptions and comments in the code to provide explanations and set the context.

2a) SAP BTP ABAP environment

Prerequisites

• You have access to an SAP BTP ABAP Environment instance (see here for additional information).
• You have downloaded and installed the ABAP development tools for Eclipse (ADT). Make sure that you are using the latest version, as indicated on the installation page.
• Before importing the code, you have performed a system-wide search for classes named ZCL_DEMO_ABAP*, for example, so that you do not run into errors when you try to import the code. If someone has already imported the content into the system, you can simply check out that imported version and proceed to the step 3) Run the code.
• You have created an ABAP cloud project in ADT that allows you to access your SAP BTP ABAP Environment instance (see here for more information). Your login language is English.
• You have installed the abapGit plug-in for ADT from the update site.

Import Code

Use the abapGit plug-in to install the ABAP cheat sheets by carrying out the following steps:

1. In your ABAP cloud project, create a package, for example, ZABAP_CHEAT_SHEETS as the target package. It is recommended that you assign the package to a transport request that is suitable for demo content.

2. Add the package to the Favorite Packages in the Project Explorer view in ADT.

3. To add the abapGit Repositories view to the ABAP perspective, choose Window → Show View → Other... from the menu bar and choose abapGit Repositories.

4. In the abapGit Repositories view, click the + icon in the upper right corner of the ADT tab to link a new abapGit repository.
   

5. The Link abapGit Repository popup appears. Enter the following URL:

https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-cheat-sheets.git

6. Choose Next.

7. On the Branch and Package Selection screen, enter the name of the created package (for example, ZABAP_CHEAT_SHEETS) in the Package field.

8. Choose Next.

9. On the Select Transport Request screen, select the created transport request that is suitable for the demo content and choose Finish to link the Git repository to your ABAP cloud project. If the created package is already assigned to a transport request for the demo content, and a message appears that an object is already locked in a transport request, choose Finish, too.

10. In the abapGit Repositories view, filter for your package. The repository appears in the abapGit Repositories view with the status Linked.

11. Right-click on the new abapGit repository and choose Pull... to start the cloning of the repository contents.

12. On the Branch and Package Selection screen, choose Next.

13. If the Locally Modified Object screen is displayed, select the objects (for example, the package to automatically select all artifacts) from the list and choose Next.

14. On the next screen, select a transport request and choose Finish. Same as above, if an object already locked message is displayed, choose Finish as well. The status in the abapGit Repositories view changes to Pull running.... Note that the pull run may take several minutes.

15. Once the cloning is complete, the status changes to Pulled Successfully. You may need to refresh the abapGit Repositories view to see the progress of the import. To do this, choose the Refresh icon in the upper right corner of the view.

16. Refresh your project tree. For example, in ADT, right-click the package and choose Refresh. The package should contain all the artifacts from the GitHub repository.

17. Make sure that all artifacts are active. To activate all inactive development objects, choose the Activate all inactive ABAP development objects button from the menu (or choose CTRL+Shift+F3).

2b) System supporting classic ABAP

Prerequisites

• You are running an ABAP release for which examples are available. See the different branches of the repository. For example, you can find out about your ABAP release by checking the value of sy-saprl:

  DATA rel LIKE sy-saprl.
  rel = sy-saprl.
  BREAK-POINT.

• Before importing the code, you have performed a system-wide search for classes named ZCL_DEMO_ABAP*, for example, to avoid errors when you try to import the code. If someone has already imported the content into the system, you can simply check out that imported version and proceed to the step 3) Run the code.
• You have downloaded and installed the ABAP development tools for Eclipse (ADT). Make sure that you are using the latest version, as indicated on the installation page.
• You have created an ABAP project in ADT that allows you to access your application server as mentioned above. Your login language is English.
• You have downloaded and installed the standalone version of the abapGit report. Make sure you are using the latest version, as indicated on the installation page. You can create a report, for example, zabapgit_standalone, and copy and paste this code into the program.

Import Code

Use the standalone version of the abapGit report to import the demo examples of the ABAP cheat sheets by performing the following steps:

1. In your ABAP project, create a package, such as TEST_ABAP_CHEAT_SHEETS as a target package suitable for demo content (for example, by using LOCAL as the software component).
2. Add the package to the Favorite Packages in the Project Explorer view in ADT.
3. Run the standalone version of the abapGit report.
4. Choose the New Online button. If the button is not available, for example, if another repository is already open, choose the Repository List button.
5. On the New Online Repository screen, make the following entries:

   • Git Repository URL:

     https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-cheat-sheets.git
     

   • Package: Your demo package, for example, TEST_ABAP_CHEAT_SHEETS

   • Branch: Choose the button with the 3 dots to the right of the input field. In the pop-up window, select the appropriate branch, e.g. v757 if your ABAP release is 7.57, and choose the Continue (✔️) button. Note: The examples in the main branch are designed to be imported into the SAP BTP ABAP environment only.

   • Folder Logic: Full

6. Choose Create Online Repo.
7. The Repository screen displays the available ABAP artifacts to be imported into your ABAP system.
8. Choose the Pull button. The import of the artifacts is triggered. This may take a while.
9. If the Inactive Objects popup is displayed, select all artifacts and choose Continue (✔️).
10. When the cloning is complete, refresh your project tree. For example, in ADT, right-click on the package and choose Refresh. The package should contain all artifacts from the GitHub repository.
11. Make sure that all artifacts are active. To activate all inactive development objects, choose the Activate all inactive ABAP development objects button from the menu (or choose CTRL+Shift+F3).

3) Run the code

• Open the package you created containing the imported ABAP artifacts in the ABAP development tools for Eclipse (ADT).
• Classes:
  • Open one of the ABAP cheat sheet example classes listed in the ABAP Cheat Sheets Overview section, for example, zcl_demo_abap_string_proc. The classes are located in the Source Code Library → Classes folder.
  • Choose F9 to run the class. Alternatively, choose Run → Run As → 2 ABAP Application (Console) from the menu.
  • Check the console output.

    💡 Note
    

    • Check the notes on the context and the ABAP syntax used that are included as comments in the class.
    • Due to the amount of output in the console, the examples include numbers (e.g. 1) ..., 2) ..., 3) ...) that represent the headers of each example code section. Also, in most cases, the variable name is displayed in the console. Therefore, to find the relevant output in the console more easily and quickly, simply search the console for the number (e.g. search for 3) for the particular output) or variable name (CTRL+F in the console), or use breakpoints in the code to check variables in the debugger.
    • You may want to clear the console by right-clicking in the console and choosing Clear before running another demo class to avoid confusing the output of multiple classes.

• Programs:
  • The programs included in the repository can be executed with F8 (or Run → Run As → 1 ABAP Application).

⚡ Known Issues

• Only one user on the system can import this repository because all object names must be globally unique.
• Regarding possible code check warnings, e.g. for the many strings in the code, not using an ORDER BY clause, or messages regarding using SELECT *, the code deliberately avoids pragmas and pseudo comments in order to focus on the available ABAP syntax. See also the Disclaimer.
• Regarding the examples to be imported into a system supporting classic ABAP (where Standard ABAP is supported), note the following: In most cases, the cheat sheet documents and examples focus on ABAP for Cloud Development. Therefore, the lower the ABAP release in your system, the fewer syntax options and examples are available. For example, the RAP examples need at least ABAP version 7.56. Or, the FINAL declaration operator is not available in ABAP version 7.56. The code examples in the classic ABAP branches do not necessarily reflect all (described) syntax variations and options that are available in classic ABAP and in the particular ABAP release. For more information on new ABAP features by release, see the ABAP Release News:
  • ABAP Release News for ABAP for Cloud Development. Note the ABAP release cycles listed there.
  • For Standard ABAP, see the ABAP relese news here.
• If you encounter import problems with the XSLT/ST objects, try to manually paste the code from the 3 ...source.xml files (zdemo_abap_st_carrhtml, zdemo_abap_st_strhtml, zdemo_abap_xslt_fl) into the improperly imported objects and activate all inactive objects.

ℹ️ More Information

• For the system-internal version of the ABAP Keyword Documentation in

  • ... classic ABAP: Access the documentation in the SAP GUI via the transactions ABAPDOCU (opens the documentation directly) and ABAPHELP (opens an input field with which you can search the documentation content, for example, you can search for a keyword such as SELECT). Or, of course, choose F1 on a keyword in your code. If you are in the SAP GUI (e.g. in SE80), the system-internal version opens. If you are in ADT, the documentation opens in the ABAP Language Help view.
  • ... ABAP Cloud: In ADT, the documentation is in the ABAP Language Help view, where you can also search. If you choose F1 on a keyword in your code, the documentation opens there.

• Links to the online version of the ABAP Keyword Documentation for:

  • Standard ABAP: Unrestricted ABAP language scope for classic ABAP → Online version of the documentation (latest version). To access the online documentation for a specific ABAP version, e.g. 7.54, you can select the version from the drop-down list here (latest is preselected). The ABAP link under Development will take you to the documentation of choice.
  • ABAP for Cloud Development: Restricted ABAP language scope for developments, for example, in the SAP BTP ABAP environment → Online version of the documentation

• For demonstration examples of the ABAP Keyword Documentation in classic ABAP, see the SABAPDEMOS package. This package contains all the examples used in the ABAP Keyword Documentation. For the context, class/program name, etc., see the example page, which is also available in the system-internal SAP GUI version as a node in the topic tree and which summarizes the executable examples. Of course, you can also find the example topics in the context of the individual topic of the ABAP keyword documentation. The example topics are marked with a ⚙️ icon:

  

⚠️ Disclaimer

The code examples presented in this repository are only syntax examples and are not intended for direct use in a production system environment. The code examples are primarily intended to provide a better explanation and visualization of the syntax and semantics of ABAP statements and not to solve concrete programming tasks. For production application programs, a dedicated solution should therefore always be worked out for each individual case. There is no guarantee for either the correctness or the completeness of the code. In addition, there is no legal responsibility or liability for possible errors or their consequences, which occur through the use of the example code.

📟 Support

This is not intended to be a contribution repository, so please do not create pull requests. If you like to address issues or suggestions regarding additional syntax to be covered, please create an issue. However, this project is provided "as-is": there is no guarantee that raised issues will be answered or addressed in future releases.

📜 License

Copyright (c) 2024 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. This project is licensed under the Apache Software License, version 2.0 except as noted otherwise in the LICENSE file.

Footnotes

1. "A written [...] aid (such as a sheet of notes) that can be referred to for help in understanding or remembering something complex" (Definition for "cheat sheet" in Merriam-Webster Dictionary). ↩