Database Reference
In-Depth Information
11.1.2.8.4 SQL Trace
This tool enables the analysis and display of the database calls made by reports and transactions
written in ABAP. This assists in performance analysis, especially for batch programs.
11.1.2.9 Workbench Organizer
The Workbench organizer provides an environment and tools for the ABAP development.
11.1.3 Programming in ABAP
ABAP is a full-featured 4GL that originated as a reporting language. Like any traditional com-
puter language, ABAP's features can be described by broadly dividing them as follows:
◾
Data definition statements
: These describe the data processed in an ABAP program, for
example, DATA, TYPES, and TABLES.
◾
Data query statements
: These specify the attributes of the data record that must be retrieved
and processed, for example, SELECT.
◾
Data manipulation statements
: These render standard manipulation of data, for example,
ADD, SUBTRACT, MOVE, and COMPUTE.
◾
Data control statements
: These signal control structures such as loops, decisions, and subrou-
tines, for example, DO, WHILE, IF, CASE, and PERFORM.
◾
Data event statements
: These trigger the execution of certain routines depending on the
occurrence of certain predefined events, for example, Pfnn, GET/SET, END-OF-PAGE,
AT USER-COMMAND, and AT LINE-SELECTION.
11.1.3.1 Data Types and Operations
ABAP supports most of the standard data types. Based on those basic data types, ABAP also
enables you to develop complex data types or structures. It is in this area that the influence of
languages such as COBOL is striking.
ABAP also has all the standard language elements for manipulation of data such as assign-
ment, comparison, computation, and complex computation involving data of different types. It
also provides extensive functions for processing textual data, including assignment, truncating or
adding blank spaces, searching for a specific string, matching strings, concatenating strings, and
comparing strings. ABAP also provides various operations for date calculations, such as calculat-
ing time periods in days, future dates, and comparison of dates.
11.1.3.2 Data Table Processing
ABAP permits access to data tables defined in the ABAP dictionary as well as those in the underly-
ing database. The former is achieved through SAP's Open SQL and the latter through the native
SQL specific to any of the standard databases, such as Oracle, DB2, and Informix. To retain the
independence of the SAP system from the underlying databases, Open SQL implements the barest
set of SQL commands and features. The relational join operation, although not available in Open
SQL, can be used through views defined by ABAP dictionary.
