Omkar Tamhane

Myriad Soft Corporation

ABAP Objects as a strategic SAP technology

 Programming with objects, classes, and

interfaces in ABAP

 Interoperability with other object systems

 Benefits of object orientation
 Current situation
◦ External interoperability

◦ ABAP programming

 What are ABAP Objects ?

 Benefits of ABAP Objects
 Encapsulation - outside vs. inside
 Explicit interfaces
 Control of complexity and dependencies
 Reuse - of components and by inheritance
 Maintainability
 Interoperability across languages (Java, VB, ...)
and object systems (DCOM/CORBA)
 Foundation for patterns and frameworks
 BOR (Business Object Repository)
◦ Foundation for DCOM/CORBA connection

◦ Fully featured standard object model

◦ Medium level object wrappers for business functionality

written in standard ABAP

 BAPIs (Business APIs)

◦ Defined within the BOR

◦ Function-oriented, stable interfaces to R/3 applications

◦ Support for Internet applications

 Complexity reduction by powerful high-level
programming constructs
◦ Procedural abstraction (function library)

◦ Data abstraction (type pools, complex data types)

◦ Logical databases for hierarchical data access

◦ Event-oriented programming with logical databases and

interactive reporting

◦ Fully integrated SQL interface

◦ In-memory tables: fast key access, sorted and/or nested, group

control, ...

◦ ...
 Complete integration of a fully featured object
model into the ABAP programming language
 100% upward-compatible extension of ABAP/4
◦ Bottom up: use objects in existing ABAP programs (reports,
module- and function-pools)

◦ Top down: call forms and functions from within objects

◦ All ABAP language constructs are available within objects

◦ Fully integrated into the ABAP Workbench

 Class library for global classes (will absorb

BOR)
 Identical object model for external access
and internal usage
 Seamless object model from analysis
through design to implementation
 Kernel-embedded foundation for objects
◦ Make OO benefits available for the implementation of the
world’s largest business application
◦ True two-way interoperability: ABAP <=> Java, ABAP <=>
VB, ...
◦ Speed, speed, speed !
 Enabling technology for GUI programming
with frontend controls (ActiveX, JavaBeans)
 ABAP Objects as a strategic SAP technology

Programming with objects, classes, and

interfaces in ABAP

 Interoperability with other object systems

 Objects occur 'naturally' in the world. We
want to model our software accordingly
◦ E.g.: Transportation company: trucks (various kinds), loads
(various), etc.
 Functions and data
◦ ‘Big common data structure’ and some common functions
◦ Lots of CASE statements, sparsely filled data structures
 Objects: car, truck, load, …
◦ Various kinds of everything, objects for truck, load, …
◦ Object: data and functions that belong together to model /
implement a specific concept
◦ Fewer CASE statements, densely filled data, cohesion
 Objects have…
◦ ...state, described by its attributes

◦ ...behavior, described by its methods

◦ ...identity to distinguish them from other objects

with same state and behavior

 Objects can interact with each other...

◦ ...by accessing (public) attributes

◦ ...by calling methods

◦ ...by raising or handling events

 Objects are instances of classes

 Classes…
◦ ...specify behavior of ‘same kind of’ objects
◦ ...define how objects can be accessed from outside
(public vs. protected vs. private)
◦ ...hide implementation details
◦ ...may be specialized in subclasses
CLASS class DEFINITION
[ INHERITNG FROM superclass ].

[ PUBLIC SECTION.
...<definition of public components> ]
[ PROTECTED SECTION.
...<definition of protected components> ]
[ PRIVATE SECTION.
...<definition of private components> ]
ENDCLASS.

CLASS class IMPLEMENTATION.

[...<method implementations> ]
ENDCLASS.
CLASS CTruck DEFINITION.
PUBLIC SECTION.
DATA: VehicleId TYPE I READ-ONLY.
METHODS: LoadParcel IMPORTING Parcel TYPE REF TO CParcel,
UnloadParcel …
PRIVATE SECTION.
DATA: ParcelTab TYPE REF TO CParcel OCCURS 0.
ENDCLASS.
CLASS CTruck IMPLEMENTATION.
METHOD LoadParcel.
APPEND Parcel TO ParcelTab.
“-- do more stuff …
ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

PROGRAM xy.
DATA: Parcel TYPE REF TO CParcel,
Truck1 TYPE REF TO CTruck,
Truck2 TYPE REF TO CTruck.

… “-- get input data for parcel from somewhere …

CREATE OBJECT Parcel.
CALL METHOD Parcel->SetPars EXPORTING Weight = In_weight.
“--- deal with multiple instances
CALL METHOD Truck1->UnloadParcel IMPORTING Parcel = Parcel.
CALL METHOD Truck2->LoadParcel( Parcel ).
 Objects are created dynamically
◦ Storage management, garbage collection

 Access to objects via object reference only!!!

◦ Distinguish instances by object reference

◦ Only and explicit means of dependency

◦ Sharing always and only via (object) references

(similar to field-symbols; all other ABAP types are value-based!)

 Internal data hidden from users

◦ Private data accessible only by the object’s methods
 Attributes…
◦ ...store the internal state of an object (data)

◦ ...can be references to other objects

◦ …can be: read-only, virtual, class attributes

◦ …can be constants

◦ Virtual attributes: ‘Attribute’ from the outside, inside the

object Set- and Get-methods. Dynamic control of Set-/Get-
methods.
 Methods…
◦ …are operations on objects (the ‘functionality’)

◦ …are the only way to change the state of an object

(other than public attributes)

◦ ...have parameters and can raise exceptions

(similar to function modules)

◦ ...can pass back a return value

◦ No method-name overloading!
CLASS c1 DEFINITION.
PUBLIC SECTION.
DATA: v1 TYPE I,
o1 TYPE REF TO c1.
METHODS: m1 IMPORTING a1 TYPE REF TO c1,
m2 IMPORTING a1 TYPE REF TO c1
RETURNING result TYPE I.
PRIVATE SECTION.
DATA: v2 TYPE I.
ENDCLASS.

PROGRAM xy.
DATA o1 TYPE REF TO c1.
…
“--- attribute can occur anywhere a ‘normal variable’ can occur
CREATE OBJECT o1.
x = o1->v1 + sin( o1-> v1 ).
CALL FUNCTION 'abc' EXPORTING p1 = o1->v1 … .

“--- some method calls …

CALL METHOD o1->m1 EXPORTING a1 = o1.
CALL METHOD o1->m1( o1 ). “-- short form for 1 exporting arg
…
y = obj1->m2( x ). “-- result can be used in expressions
…
 Events...
◦ ...occur at a particular point in time, e.g. ‘change in state of an
object’

◦ ...can be raised to inform other interested objects

◦ ...can pass parameters

 Events are handled by classes
◦ General publish-subscribe model
◦ Syntax similar to ‘Visual Basic’ event handling
 Event handlers...
◦ ...are methods for handling events from other objects
◦ ...are declared with reference to the event to be handled
(signature from there)
◦ …must be ‘registered’ explicitly
Event Handling Example
CLASS CWindow1 DEFINITION.
PUBLIC SECTION.
"--- handle events by implementing
*---- proxy class for GUI control
"--- event handler methods
CLASS CButton DEFINITION.
METHODS:
PUBLIC SECTION. OKClicked FOR EVENT Clicked OF CButton
METHODS: SetLabel IMPORTING DoubleClick,
IMPORTING Txt TYPE … . CanClicked FOR EVENT Clicked OF CButton.
EVENTS: Clicked DATA: OKBtn TYPE REF TO CButton.
EXPORTING DoubleClick TYPE I. …
ENDCLASS. ENDCLASS.

CLASS CWindow1 IMPLEMENTATION.

CLASS CButton IMPLEMENTATION. METHOD Init.
… CREATE OBJECT: OKBtn, CanBtn.
METHOD AnyMethod. SET HANDLER: OKClicked FOR OKBtn,
… CanClicked FOR CanBtn.
RAISE EVENT Clicked ENDMETHOD.
EXPORTING DoubleClick = 0.
… METHOD OKClicked.
ENDMETHOD. IF DoubleClick = 1. … ENDIF.
ENDCLASS. ENDMETHOD.

METHOD CancelClicked.
… "--- DoubleClick not visible
ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.
 Class attributes...
◦ ...are data on class level, independent of object / instance

◦ ...are ‘always there’ like global variables / functions

◦ ...have global lifetime, with scope tied to class

 Class methods...
◦ ...can only access class attributes

◦ ...can be called like ‘global functions’, but are tied to class

*--- class attribute definition
CLASS-DATA: var TYPE t … .

*--- class method definition

CLASS-METHODS: cm … <parameter syntax like methods>.
*---- Transaction controller for nested transactions ----
CLASS TACtrl DEFINITION.
PUBLIC SECTION.
“--- class method to create new controller instance
CLASS-METHODS: CreateNew RETURNING TaObj TYPE REF TO TACtrl.
CLASS-DATA: Current TYPE REF TO TACtrl READ-ONLY.
METHODS: Commit, Abort. “-- instance methods
PRIVATE SECTION.
CLASS-DATA: TAStack TYPE REF TO TACtrl OCCURS 0.
ENDCLASS.

CLASS TACtrl IMPLEMENTATION.

METHOD CreateNew.
DATA NewTA TYPE REF TO TACtrl.
CREATE OBJECT NewTA.
APPEND NewTA TO TAStack.
Current = NewTA.
ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

PROGRAM xy.
“--- start nested transaction
CALL METHOD TACtrl=>CreateNew.
…
CALL METHOD TACtrl=>Current->Commit.
 A class can be derived from another
◦ Only specify what is different / added

◦ Add attributes and methods

◦ Redefine / override existing methods (in any section) =

change implementation, ‘slight change’ of interface possible

◦ ‘Single inheritance’ on class

CLASS class DEFINITION
INHERITING FROM superclass.
… SECTION.
“--- added attributes and methods
DATA: …
METHODS: …
“--- override / redefine existing method
METHODS m REDEFINITION …

ENDCLASS.
  Polymorphism on object references
CLASS DrawableObject DEFINITION
PUBLIC SECTION.
DrawableObject
METHODS: Draw.
ENDCLASS.

CLASS Polygon DEFINITION Point Polygon Bitmap

INHERITING FROM DrawableObject.
PUBLIC SECTION.
METHODS: AddPoint IMPORTING P TYPE T_Point, PROGRAM xy.
Draw REDEFINITION.
PRIVATE SECTION. DATA: DObj TYPE REF TO DrawableObject.
DATA: PointTab TYPE T_Point OCCURS 0. DATA: DObjTab
ENDCLASS. TYPE REF TO DrawableObject OCCURS 0.
CLASS Polygon IMPLEMENTATION. “--- create drawable objects
METHOD Draw. …
DATA: Point TYPE T_Point. “--- draw all of them
LOOP AT PointTab INTO Point. LOOP AT DObjTab INTO DObj.
CALL METHOD DrawableObject=>Draw( Point ). CALL METHOD DObj->Draw.
ENDLOOP. ENDLOOP.
ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.
Interfaces
 Interfaces define the interaction between
different objects
 Polymorphism independent of class /

inheritance
 Classes can implement multiple interfaces
 Uniform access through interface reference

ArchiveMgr

IArchive

Plan
Customer Material
Interface Definition
 Interfaces...
◦ …can define same components as class - without
implementation

◦ ...may ‘enclose’ multiple other interfaces (hierarchy)

◦ …have separate name spaces for their components

◦ Components of enclosed interfaces are not visible in the top-

level interface (‘black boxes’); there is a mapping/aliasing
feature
INTERFACE interface.

[ INTERFACES ...<list of comprised interfaces> .]

[ ...<definition of interface components> ]

ENDINTERFACE.
Interfaces
 Implementation of interfaces
◦ A class can implement many interfaces
◦ Interfaces are implemented ‘side-by-side’ in a class (like COM)
◦ No name conflicts on the class level
◦ No semantic conflicts at class level and interface composition
 Using interfaces
◦ Access by interface reference like object reference
◦ An interface reference only exposes the components of that
interface
◦ Assignment / ‘cast’ to another interface possible
 CLASS CArchiveMgr.

DATA: IAObj TYPE REF TO IArchive.

INTERFACE IArchive DEFINITION. DATA: IATab TYPE REF TO IArchive
DATA: ObjID TYPE T_OID VIRTUAL. “-- fast OCCURS 0.
EVENTS: Saved, … .
METHODS: SaveYourself IMPORTING … . …
ENDINTERFACE. METHOD AddToArchive IMPORTING IAObj …
APPEND IAObj TO IATab.
ENDMETHOD.
CLASS Customer DEFINITION.
INTERFACES: IArchive, IWorkflow, … . METHOD DoArchive.
ENDCLASS. “--- archive all objects in table
LOOP AT IATab INTO IAObj.
CLASS Customer IMPLEMENTATION. WRITE: / “Wrote:”, IAObj->ObjID.
… CALL METHOD IAObj->SaveYourself … .
METHOD IArchive~GET_ObjID. ENDLOOP.
CALL FUNCTION ‘Archive_Get_OID’ … ENDMETHOD.
IMPORTING IArchive~objid.
“-- no more recompute CArchiveMgr
SET DIRECT READ ACCESS FOR IArchive~ObjID. Plan1
iaTab

ENDMETHOD.
… IArchive

METHOD IArchive~SaveYourself. Plan2

“--- save all own data into …

…
RAISE EVENT IArchive~Saved … . Material

ENDMETHOD.
… Customer

ENDCLASS.
 class 1
Object reference specific
Class 1
Part
Interface 1 Interface 2
if 3
Interface reference specific
Comprising
Interface 3
Interface 3 Interface 4 Interface 5
Interface reference interface
1
Implementing
Class 1 Interface reference interface
2
Inheriting Interface 4
if 4
from Interface reference specific
Class 2

class 2
Object reference specific
Class 2
Part

Interface reference interface

5
 Class components...
◦ …share a common name space within the class
◦ ...may be
 public = visible to all
 protected = visible to subclasses and implementation
 private = visible to the class implementation only
◦ ...depend on instance data or not
 Interface components
◦ Separate name space for interface components
◦ Interfaces are visible as a whole (like ‘view’)
◦ Avoid naming conflicts, selectively make components visible
{CLASS … DEFINITION | INTERFACE … }.
INTERFACES i.
...
ALIASES a FOR i~a.
{ENDCLASS|ENDINTERFACE}.

◦ Constructor (Destructor)
CLASS class DEFINITION.
...
METHODS CONSTRUCTOR "--- name / syntax TBD
IMPORTING p TYPE t … .
…
ENDCLASS.

◦ Friends
CLASS c1 DEFINITION CLASS c2 DEFINITION
EXPOSING PRIVATE COMPONENTS ACCESSING PRIVATE COMPONENTS
TO c2. OF c1.
... ...
PRIVATE SECTION. PRIVATE SECTION.
ENDCLASS. ENDCLASS.
 Summary
◦ Classes and interfaces
◦ Attributes, methods, and events
◦ Classes can implement interfaces
◦ Interface composition
◦ Single inheritance for classes, multiple composition + aliasing
for interfaces
◦ Event handling
 ABAP Objects as a strategic SAP technology
 Programming with objects, classes, and

interfaces in ABAP
Interoperability with other object systems
Interoperability: DCOM and CORBA

Client / Server Client / Server

Visual
Basic Component
Connector

DCOM
*Script,
... ABAP
Objects

CORBA
Java

CORBA
Bridge
 Transparent two-way mapping between ABAP
Objects and external object models

 Automatic generation of proxies and stubs

 Location transparency:
◦ CREATE OBJECT obj DESTINATION dest

 Delta management for mass data

 For details see presentation on Distributed

Objects