Preface – This post is part of the ABAP Beginner series.
Table of Contents
SAP Tables
Unlike other Database where we write SQL commands (DDL) to create table, SAP provides us option to create Tables in ABAP Dictionary. Upon Activation, SAP Tables are actually defined in database.
Creation of SAP Tables:
#Using ABAP Dictionary
Step 01: Open SE11.
Step 02: Click Database table Radio Button and give your Table name starting with Z or Y e.g. “ZBarry_Table”.
Step 03: Click Create, Enter explanatory description for table in Short Description e.g. “Table for Test”.
Step 04: Under Delivery & Maintenance tab maintain the following:
| FIELDS | Value | Description |
| Delivery Class | Select from given drop down A –Application Table C – Customer Table | A Delivery class controls the transport of table data. |
| Data Browser/ Table View Maint. | Select the Maintenance option from given drop down | If allowed, It allows the table owner to maintain data via SE16. |
Step 05: Under Fields tab maintain the following:
| FIELDS | Value | Description |
| Field | It can be 16 digit Alphanumeric word starting with a letter and can contain underscore | It is the column name of your table |
| Key | Tick all the fields whose value will be unique and can define the relationship with other tables | A table must contain at least one key field, else it can’t be activated. |
| Initial Value Indicator | Tick if the field must have an initial value | All key fields must always be given initial values. By default all fields are assigned initial values irrespective of indicator. |
| Data Element | Select your Data Element or create one | If you are not using Predefined Type, you need to provide a Data Element |
| Predefined Type : If you are not using Data Element, click the Predefined Type tab & enter following: | ||
| Data type | Any Data type like CHAR,INT | According to requirement specify the data type |
| Length | Give max length of your field | Length will be dependent upon Data Type |
| Decimal places | Number of places after decimal point | Mainly for Float variables |
| Short description | Explanatory statement for your field | What your field means/doing |
| Include Structure: Whenever we include a structure in table, it might have fields with same name as there are other fields in table. To avoid conflict we address the field with a suffix (3-27 Character with ‘-‘) for that structure. This suffix is given in Group tab. | ||
| Group | 3-27 Character | To Address Include Structure fields |
Note: Maintain foreign key relationship by clicking. Also maintain Search Help by clicking Srch Help tab.
Step 06: Under Entry help/check tab maintain the following: It will be maintained automatically after step 05. [You can skip this step]
| FIELDS | Value | Description |
| Field | Same as above | Same as above |
| Data Element | Same as above | Same as above |
| Data Type | Same as above | Same as above |
| Foreign Keys | Foreign Keys for that field | It will be reflected after you maintain Foreign Key relationships |
| Check Table | Check Table for Field | It will be reflected once you have check table relationship for the field |
| Origin of input help | Input help with fixed values, with check table, search helps, Static Input Help | It reflects the way your input will be made to the given field |
| Srch Help | Your Search Help name | To attach Search Helps to field |
| Defaults | Any Value depending upon the type of field | To assign Default value for the field |
| Domain | Domain of specified Data Element | If your Data Element has a Domain, it will reflect here |
Step 07: Under Currency/ Quantity Fields tab maintain the following: [You can skip this step]
| FIELDS | Value | Description |
| Field | Same as above | Same as above |
| Data Element | Same as above | Same as above |
| Data Type | Same as above | Same as above |
| Reference Table | Reference Table name | If your data element refers to a table |
| Reference Field | Field of Reference table being Referred | It is actually the field being referred by the data element |
| Short Description | Same as above | Same as above |
Step 07: Maintain Indexes and Append Structure from respective tab. [You can skip this step]
Step 08: Maintain following @Technical Settings: [Important Step]
| FIELDS | Value | Description |
| Data Class | APPL0 – Master Data APPL1 – Transaction DataAPPL2 – Organizational Data | It describes the type of Data you will be storing |
| Size category | From 0 to 4 | It defines the expected space required for table in database |
| Buffering | Choose from Radio Button | It tells whether your table will be using buffering or not. If yes, then which type of Buffering. |
Step 09: Once all the above fields are maintained, save, check for errors and activate your table.
Additional Information
- All Key fields should be maintained in the beginning.
- Maximum 16 key fields are permitted per table.
- Length of key field can be max 255 characters (and 120 if data is to be transported).
- A table can have total 249 fields.
- A field name must not be longer than 16 characters.
- Fields of type STRING, LRAW, LCHR must be at the end of table.
- Fields without data element cannot have foreign keys, F1 Help and fixed values.
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