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ABAP PROGRAMMING FOR BEGINNERS & FUNCTIONAL CONSULTANTS

Day 1

Introduction to SAP
• Presentation, Application & DB (3 Tier) Architecture
• SAP ERP Terminologies
• Application Server Fundamentals - Work Processes & Dispatchers
• SAP Programming Language - ABAP

Data Dictionary
• Domains, Data Elements, Tables
• Transparent, Pooled & Cluster Tables
• Structure, Table Type & Type Pools
• Views, Search Helps & Lock Objects
• Buffer & Index Concepts

Introduction to SAP

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) ->

Let us take the typical business process for any manufacturing company. Some key inferences one
could derive from the scenario would be.

• It has many departments or business units

• These departments or business units continuously communicate and exchange data with each
other
• The success of any organization lies in effective communication, and data exchange, within
these departments, as well as associated third party such as vendors, outsourcers, and
customers.

Based on the manner in which communication and data exchanged is managed. Enterprise systems can
be broadly classified as

1) Decentralized System->

• Data is maintained locally at the individual departments

• Departments do not have access to information or data from other departments

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2) Centralized System which is also called as ERP.

• Data is maintained at a central location and is shared with various Departments

• Departments have access to information or data from other Departments

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Key benefits of the centralized system are:

• It eliminates the duplication, discontinuity, and redundancy in data

• Provides information across departments in real time.
• SAP System provides control over various business processes
• Increases productivity, better inventory management, promotes quality, reduced material cost,
effective human resources management, reduced overheads boosts profits
• Better customer interaction and increased throughput. It also improves customer service

Hence, a centralized enterprise management system is required.

Different types of ERP systems are: -

SAP, Baan, Microsoft Dynamics, JD Edwards, Oracle and so on.

SAP Software is a centralized enterprise management system, also known as Enterprise Resource
Planning.

SAP ERP => Packaged Business Software; so now let’s see how a SAP ERP looks like?

(Open SAP GUI and Show -> How SAP Logon looks like.. -> The same will be used by Developers,
Consultants and end-users. Just double click on the SAP Logon PAD and it will open. Now we need to select
from Multiple Application Servers. Now we will enter the user id and Password -> Then Show Menu Bar,
Standard Tool Bar, Application Tool Bar and the Status Bar (Client and User and other Information).

Presentation, Application & DB (3 Tier) Architecture

SAP is client-server-based software which is also called R/3. (Where "R" stands for real time data process
& 3 stand for 3-tier.

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Presentation servers contain systems capable of providing a graphical interface and this is also known as
the Client Layer. E.g.:- Desktop, Mobile Devices, laptops

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ABAP PROGRAMMING FOR BEGINNERS & FUNCTIONAL CONSULTANTS

Application servers include specialized systems with multiple CPUs and a vast amount of RAM.
• Application Layer is also known as Kernel Layer and Basic Layer.
• SAP application programs are executed in Application Layer.
• Application Layer serves as a purpose of a communicator between Presentation and Database
Layer.
Database servers contain specialized systems with fast and large hard-drives.
• Database layer stores the data
• Data store can be Business data, SAP system data, SAP tables, Programs.
• Examples − Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB/2, Siebel, Sybase, etc.

SAP ERP Terminologies

Common ones: - T-code (Transaction Code is a 4-digit shortcut Key that enables to access the requested
transaction. Transaction codes are a kind of shortcuts for different applications).

DB table TSTC where all T-codes are maintained.

Application Server Fundamentals - Work Processes & Dispatchers

To process SAP requests from multiple front ends SAP application server is used. The application server
has the use of a dispatcher, which collects the requests and passes them for processing to the work
processes. Then the work processes execute the desired requests (for example, an ABAP program). A
work process holds the ABAP interpreter, the database interface, the task handler and a screen processor
that calls programs.

SM50 overview of all work processes in Application Server.

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ABAP PROGRAMMING FOR BEGINNERS & FUNCTIONAL CONSULTANTS

SAP Programming Language – ABAP

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is a programming language that runs in the SAP
ABAP runtime environment, created and used by SAP for the development of application programs and
is also called ABAP/4. The “4” in ABAP/4 stands for “Fourth Generation Language” or 4GL.

ABAP Workbench
The ABAP Workbench is used by SAP for the development of standard and custom application software.
It consists of the following components: -

Data Dictionary (Show on System via SE11)

Domains, Data Elements, Structure, Table Types, Type Groups
Domains manage the technical properties of Data Elements centrally and they cannot be used directly in
programs, tables and so on.

Data Element contain both semantic and technical information about Data Type.

Simple and Nested Structure (The simplest form of a Structure is a list of fields typed with Data Elements
=> Simple/Flat Structure) (Refer to the below diagram to explain to Participants).

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Table Type: - Line Type that defines the structure and the data type attributes of a line in the internal
Table.

Deep Structure: - A deep structure contains at least one field with a table type.

Type Groups: - This can be used to define our own global complex data types; global constants and the
name can be up to max. 5 characters and the first statement in a type group is TYPE-POOL <name>
whereas while using in ABAP it is TYPE-POOLS <name>.

Transparent, Pooled & Cluster Tables & Buffer and Index Concepts
Table has columns(fields) and row(entries) and will have one or more key fields. A field has a unique name
and attributes, and these are the only ABAP dictionary objects which will store data permanently in the
DB.

Pooled and Cluster Tables: - Several tables logically defined in the ABAP dictionary are combined in a
Physical Database Table (Table Pool or Cluster) and they are used mostly for System Internal Data. The
primary advantage of these tables is that data can be stored in Compressed Form in the DB and it reduces
the memory and network load.

Business Data is stored in Transparent Tables.

Table Buffer -> If Buffering is required or not / Data Class (Master Data, Transaction Data, Org. Data,
System Data) and Size Category (0…9 => Also keep in mind Data Fragmentation and Extents) / Logging
of changes.

Views, Search Helps & Lock Objects

DB View: - Data can be distributed across several DB tables. (Eg:- SCUS_BOOK)DB view is automatically
created on the DB when it is activated.

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(Cross- Product; JOIN Condition, Projection => Restriction of existing Table Fields, Selection => Condition
restricting data)

Search Help: - Field help provided to the user to display data related to the search in the System and it
shows all the possible value list for that field => Elementary and Collective Search Help.

Lock Objects: - Lock objects are function modules to avoid accessing data by two or more users.
There are two types of lock objects are available, DEQUEE, ENQUEE. Lock objects always start with E and
these are the only Custom Objects that doesn’t start with Z in SAP.

Quizzes & Assignments: -

Which of the following ABAP Workbench Tool is used to create the Data Dictionary Objects?
• ABAP Editor
• ABAP Dictionary
• Repository Information System
• Menu Painter

Which of the following type categories exist in the ABAP Dictionary?

• Domains
• Structures
• Table Indexes
• Table Types

Will you be able to set and release locks using Data Dictionary? If Yes How??
• Yes
• No

(To set and release locks we need to create Lock Objects in the ABAP Dictionary and their respective Fn.
Modules will be automatically generated from these lock objects and these can then be linked to
Application Programming).

Which of the following Technical Information can be found in a Domain?

• Data Type
• Output Characteristics
• Field Length
• Field Labels

Data Elements are based on Domain or built-in types.

• True
• False

Can Database Table include Nested Structures or Table Types? (It can only include Flat Structures)
• Yes
• No

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A deep structure contains at least one Table.

• True
• False

The name of a type-group can contain max of how many characters?

• 6
• 4
• 5
• None of these

Can a Table fields have same Domain and same semantic meaning? If yes, explore SFLIGHT table to
figure out which field have same domain and also figure out the semantic description. (HINT: -
AIRPFROM and AIRPTO)

The ____________ key is a combination of columns that uniquely identifies a data record.
• Domain
• Data
• Composite
• Primary

________________ determine the storage requirements and the access behavior of Database Tables?
• Internal Table Types
• Technical Settings
• Foreign Key

Name the only Custom objects that does not start with Z in SAP??

Exercise - Create Domain, Data Element, Table; Also create a deep type structure.

Exercise – Create a DB view by joining two or more tables.

Exercise - Create, Delete & Display Table Entry using TMG in SM30

Exercise – Explore on Search Help Exit and create one.

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