Abap - Sintaxa.docx

ABAP 

ABAP Repository -> contine toate obiectele SAP din sistem independent de client  contine atat obiecte standard SAP cat si obiectele custom (create la cerinta clientului  obiectele sunt disponibile in toti clientii sistemului  contine: programe, functii, definitii ale tabelelor, tipuri de date, clase etc.  ABAP Repository este impartit in functie de componenta de aplicatie (de ex MM); aceste componente sun ierarhizate intr-o structura arborescenta (in principiu pe module si sub-module; sub ele se afla pachetele)  In cadrul unei componente obiectele sunt impartite logic in pachete; fiecare obiect trebuie sa fie atribuit unui pachet  Tool-uri de Workbench: o ABAP Editor(SE38) – pentru editarea codului o ABAP Dictionary(SE11) – pentru crearea si editarea obiectelor de baza de date(tabele, elemente de date, domenii, table views etc) o Screen painter(SE51) – utilizat pentru crearea layouturilor ecranelor folosite in progamele ABAP o Menu painter(SE41) – pentru configurarea meniurilor o Function Builder(SE37) – pentru crearea si modificarea functiilor SAP(Function modules) o Class Builder(SE24) – pentru lucrul cu clase si interfete globale (ABAP OO) o Object Navigator(SE80) – ofera acces la toate cele de mai sus + obiecte de transport and others  Crearea programelor ABAP o Dezvoltarea progamelor ABAP se realizeaza in sistemul de dezvoltare, apoi se transporta catre sistemele de Quality Assurance si Productiv cu ajutorul Transport Organizer(SE09/SE10/SE01)  SINTAXA

Introductory Statements for Programs (In blue the most common ones) CLASS-POOL

Introduces a class pool

FUNCTION-POOL Introduces a function group INTERFACE-POOL Introduces an interface pool PROGRAM

Introduces a module pool or subroutine pool

REPORT

Introduces an executable program

TYPE-POOL

Introduces a type pool

Modularization Statements Procedures

FUNCTION ... ENDFUNCTION Defines a function module METHOD ... ENDMETHOD

Defines a method

Dialog Modules MODULE ... ENDMODULE Defines a dialog module

Event Blocks AT LINE-SELECTION

List Event

AT SELECTION-SCREEN Selection Screen Event AT USER-COMMAND

List Event

END-OF-PAGE

List Event

END-OF-SELECTION

Reporting Event

GET

Reporting Event

INITIALIZATION

Reporting Event

LOAD-OF-PROGRAM

Program Constructor Event

START-OF-SELECTION Reporting Event TOP-OF-PAGE

List Event

Source Code Modules DEFINE ... END-OF-DEFINITION Defines a macro INCLUDE

Includes an include program

Declarative Statements Data Types and Data Objects CONSTANTS

Declares a constant

DATA

Declares a variable

FIELD-SYMBOLS Declares a field symbol INCLUDE

Includes a structure

NODES

Declares a table work area

STATICS

Declares a static variable

TABLES

Declares a table work area

TYPES

Defines a separate data type

Classes and Interfaces ALIASES

Declares an alias name

CLASS ... ENDCLASS

Defines a class

CLASS-DATA

Declares a static attribute

CLASS-EVENTS

Declares a static event

CLASS-METHODS

Declares a static method

EVENTS

Declares an instance event

INTERFACE ... ENDINTERFACE Defines an interface INTERFACES

Includes an interface

METHODS

Declares an instance method

PRIVATE SECTION

Introduces the package visibility section

PROTECTED SECTION

Introduces the protected visibility section

PUBLIC SECTION

Introduces the public visibility section

Object Creation CREATE DATA

Creates an anonymous data object

CREATE OBJECT Creates an object

Calling and Exiting Program Units Calling Programs CALL TRANSACTION

Calls a transaction

LEAVE TO TRANSACTION Calls a transaction SUBMIT

Calls an executable program

Calling Processing Blocks CALL FUNCTION

Calls a function module

CALL METHOD

Calls a method dynamically

PERFORM

Calls a subroutine

RAISE EVENT

Triggers an event

SET HANDLER

Registers an event

SET USER-COMMAND Triggers a list event

Exiting Program Units CHECK

Exits a loop pass or processing block

CONTINUE

Exits a loop pass

EXIT

Exits a loop or processing block

LEAVE PROGRAM Exits an ABAP program REJECT

Exits a processing block

RETURN

Exits a processing block

STOP

Exits a processing block

Program Flow Logic Control Structures DO ... ENDDO

Loop

CASE ... WHEN ... ENDCASE Branch IF ... ELSEIF ... ELSE ... ENDIF Branch WHILE ... ENDWHILE

Loop

Program Interruption WAIT UP TO Program interruption for a certain amount of time

Exception Handling RAISE

Triggers a non-class-based exception

RAISE EXCEPTION

Triggers a class-based exception

TRY ... CATCH ... CLEANUP ... ENDTRY Handles class-based exceptions RESUME

Assignments Special Assignments

Resumes after a resumable exception

MOVE-CORRESPONDING Assignment according to structure components UNPACK

Unpacks a packed number

Setting References ASSIGN

Sets a field symbol

UNASSIGN

Initializes a field symbol

GET REFERENCE Sets a data reference

Initializations CLEAR Initializes a data object FREE Initializes a data object

Processing Internal Data Calculation Statements ADD

Adds numeric data objects

DIVIDE

Divides numeric data objects

MULTIPLY Multiplies numeric data objects SUBTRACT Subtracts numeric data objects

Character String and Byte String Processing CONCATENATE Concatenates character strings or byte chains CONDENSE

Condenses a character string

CONVERT TEXT Converts a character string FIND

Searches in a character string or byte chain

GET BIT

Reads individual bits in a byte chain

OVERLAY

Replacement in a character string

REPLACE

Replacement in a character string or byte chain

SET BIT

Sets individual bits in a byte chain

SHIFT

Moves a character string or byte chain

SPLIT

Splits a character string or byte chain

TRANSLATE

Converts a character string

WRITE TO

Formats values as a character string

Date and Time Processing CONVERT INTO TIME STAMP Converts date and time into time stamp CONVERT TIME STAMP

Converts a time stamp into data and time

GET TIME

Fills the system fields for date and time

GET TIME STAMP

Creates a time stamp

Internal Tables APPEND

Attaches rows to an internal table

COLLECT

Condensed insertion of rows into an internal table

DELETE

Deletes rows from an internal table

FIND IN TABLE

Searches in an internal table

INSERT

Inserts rows into an internal table

LOOP AT itab ... ENDLOOP

Loop across an internal table

LOOP AT GROUP ... ENDLOOP Loop across a row group in an internal table AT

Control Level Processing

MODIFY

Changes rows in an internal table

READ TABLE

Reads a row of an internal table

REPLACE IN TABLE

Replacement in an internal table

SORT

Sorts an internal table

SUM

Summation of numeric fields in an internal table

Meshes SET ASSOCIATION Sets an association for a mesh path.

Attributes of Data Objects DESCRIBE Determines the attributes of a data object

Processing External Data

Open SQL CLOSE CURSOR

Closes a database cursor

DELETE

Deletes rows from a database table

FETCH NEXT CURSOR Reads rows using a database cursor INSERT

Inserts rows into a database table

MODIFY

Changes or inserts rows in a database table

OPEN CURSOR

Opens a database cursor

SELECT ... ENDSELECT Reads rows from a database table UPDATE

Changes rows in a database table

Native SQL EXEC SQL ... ENDEXEC Defines an area for embedded Native SQL.

ABAP and HANA CALL DATABASE PROCEDURE Calls a database procedure of SAP HANA database.

Secondary Database Connections COMMIT CONNECTION Completes an SAP LUW on a secondary database connection ROLLBACK CONNECTION Cancels an SAP LUW on a secondary database connection

Data Clusters DELETE

Deletes data clusters

EXPORT

Exports data objects into a data cluster

FREE MEMORY

Deletes data clusters from the ABAP memory

IMPORT

Imports data objects from a data cluster

IMPORT DIRECTORY Creates the interval directory of a data cluster

File Interface CLOSE DATASET

Closes a file

DELETE DATASET

Deletes a file

GET DATASET

Specifies the properties of a file

OPEN DATASET

Opens a file

READ DATASET

Reads a file

SET DATASET

Sets the properties of a file

TRANSFER

Fills a file

TRUNCATE DATASET Changes the size of a file

Data Consistency AUTHORITY-CHECK

Checks an authorization

COMMIT WORK

Completes a SAP-LUW

ROLLBACK WORK

Cancels a SAP-LUW

SET UPDATE TASK LOCAL Sets the local update

Program Parameters SAP Memory GET PARAMETER Reads an SPA/GPA parameter SET PARAMETER Sets an SPA/GPA parameter

Language Environment GET LOCALE

Specifies the text environment.

SET COUNTRY

Sets the formatting settings of the language environment

SET LANGUAGE Loads a text pool SET LOCALE

Sets the text environment

Program Editing Testing and Checking Programs ASSERT

Defines an assertion

BREAK-POINT

Defines a breakpoint

LOG-POINT

Defines a logpoint

GET RUN TIME

Specifies a measuring interval

SET RUN TIME ANALYZER Controls the runtime analysis SET RUN TIME CLOCK

Sets the measurement accuracy for measuring intervals

Dynamic Program Development GENERATE SUBROUTINE POOL Generates a subroutine pool INSERT REPORT

Stores an ABAP program

INSERT TEXTPOOL

Stores a text pool

READ REPORT

Imports an ABAP program

READ TEXTPOOL

Imports a text pool

SYNTAX-CHECK

Calls the syntax check

ABAP Data and Communication Interfaces Remote Function Call CALL FUNCTION DESTINATION

Remote Function Call

RECEIVE

Receives parameters for the remote function call

WAIT FOR ASYNCHRONOUS TASKS Waits for completion of the remote function call WAIT FOR MESSAGING CHANNELS Wait for messages communicated using AMC

ABAP and XML CALL TRANSFORMATION Calls an XSLT program or a simple transformation

OLE Interface CALL METHOD Calls a OLE automation method CREATE OBJECT Create an OLE automation object FREE OBJECT

Releases memory in the OLE automation

GET PROPERTY Reads an attribute in the OLE Automation SET PROPERTY Sets an attribute in the OLE Automation

User Dialogs Dynpros

CALL SCREEN

Calls a dynpro sequence

CONTROLS

Declares a control

EXIT FROM STEP-LOOP

Exits a table control or step loop

GET CURSOR

Reads the cursor position

GET PF-STATUS

Sets the GUI status

LEAVE [TO] SCREEN

Exits a dynpro

LOOP AT SCREEN ... ENDLOOP Loop across screen elements MODIFY SCREEN

Modifies a screen element

REFRESH CONTROL

Initializes a table control

SET CURSOR

Sets the cursor position

SET HOLD DATA

Activates/deactivates standard menu entries

SET PF-STATUS

Sets the GUI status

SET SCREEN

Sets the next dynpro

SET TITLEBAR

Sets the GUI title

SUPPRESS DIALOG

Suppresses the screen

Selection Screens PARAMETERS

Defines a parameter

SELECTION-SCREEN Defines a selection screen or a screen element SELECT-OPTIONS

Defines a selection criterion

Lists BACK

Relative positioning of list cursor

DESCRIBE LIST

Specifies the properties of a list in the list buffer

FORMAT

Formats a list

GET CURSOR

Reads the cursor position

HIDE

Saves a data object in a list level

LEAVE TO LIST-PROCESSING Calls the list processing LEAVE LIST-PROCESSING

Exits list processing

MODIFY LINE

Changes a list in the list buffer

NEW-LINE

Line break in a list

NEW-PAGE

Page break in a list

POSITION

Positions the list cursor

PRINT-CONTROL

Formats a spool list.

READ LINE

Reads a list in the list buffer

RESERVE

Relative page break in a list

SCROLL LIST

Scrolls in a list

SET BLANK LINES

Controls the blank characters in a list

SET CURSOR

Sets the cursor position

SET MARGIN

Sets the margin of a spool list

SET PF-STATUS

Sets the GUI status

SET LEFT SCROLL-BOUNDARY Sets the scroll boundaries of a list SET TITLEBAR

Sets the GUI title

SKIP

Positions the list cursor

ULINE

Displays a line in a list

WINDOW

Displays a list in a dialog box

WRITE

Displays data in a list

Messages MESSAGE Sends a message

Enhancements Source Code Enhancements ENHANCEMENT ... ENDENHANCEMENT

Implements a source code enhancement

ENHANCEMENT-POINT

Defines a source code enhancement

ENHANCEMENT-SECTION ... END-ENHANCEMENT-SECTION Defines a source code enhancement

Enhancements Using BAdIs GET BADI Creates a BAdl object CALL BADI Calls BAdI methods

Statements for Experts INFOTYPES

Declares an internal table for HR info types

PROVIDE ... ENDPROVIDE Loop across multiple internal tables

Native SQL EXIT FROM SQL Exits implicit cursor processing of Native SQL

Contexts CONTEXTS Data type for contexts DEMAND Requests a context SUPPLY

Fills the key fields of a context

Internal Statements Program Editing DELETE DYNPRO

Deletes a dynpro

DELETE REPORT

Deletes an ABAP program

DELETE TEXTPOOL

Deletes a text pool

EXPORT DYNPRO

Exports a dynpro

GENERATE DYNPRO

Generates a dynpro

GENERATE REPORT

Generates an ABAP program

LOAD REPORT

Loads an ABAP program

IMPORT DYNPRO

Imports a dynpro

SCAN

Splits an ABAP program into tokens

SYNTAX-CHECK FOR DYNPRO Syntax check for a dynpro SYNTAX-TRACE

Influences the syntax check

External Interface CALL Calls a c function of the ABAP runtime environment

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Operators o ABAP contains the following operators: 

Operators that perform special operations in operand positions:

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Declaration operators The declaration operators DATA and FIELD-SYMBOL declare variables or field symbols in operand positions.

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Constructor operators The constructor operators NEW, VALUE, CONV, CORRESPONDING, CAST, REF, EXACT, REDUCE, FILTER, COND, and SWITCH construct values for data objects of specific data types in constructor expressions.

Operators that join multiple operands in a single expression: 

Assignment operators The assignment operator = joins the source field and target field of an assignment. In the case of assignments, the special casting operator ?= performs a down cast. The operator = also joins actual parameters with formal parameters, for example in procedure calls or when working with data clusters.

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Arithmetic operators The arithmetic operators +, -, *, /, DIV, MOD, and ** join two or more numeric operands with an arithmetic expression. In addition, the characters + and - act as plus/minus signs in arithmetic expressions.

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Bit operators The bit operators BIT-AND, BIT-OR, and BIT-XOR join two or more byte-like operands with a bit expression. The bit operator BIT-NOT negates a byte-like operand.

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String operators The string operator && chains two character-like operands to a string expression.

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Relational operators Relational operators occur in relational expressions, which themselves are components of logical expressions. The relational operators =, <>, <, >, <=,>=, BETWEEN, and so on join two or more operands of any data type as a comparison expression. There are additional relational operators for specific data types. The predicate operator IS qualifies an operand.

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Boolean operators The Boolean operators AND, OR, and EQUIV join the results of individual logical expressions with a logical expression. The result of a logical expression is either true or false. The Boolean operator NOT negates the result of a logical expression.

Operator that joins two operands in compilations:

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Literal operator The literal operator & joins two literals or two string templates with a literal or a string template.

ABAP Program Types The type of an ABAP program determines (among other things) which declarations and processing blocks a program can contain and how the program can be executed in the ABAP runtime environment. The following table shows all program types for standalone programs (compilation units) and how the attributes of the programs are affected by the type. Program Type Execution

Global Declarations

Processing Blocks

Dynpros

Text Pools

Executable program

Statement SUBMIT or a Local interfaces and dynpro or selection classes, all other screen is called using a declarative statements transaction code

All (except function Yes modules)

Yes

Class pool

A global class from the Call of a visible method class library, local or a call using a interfaces and classes, transaction code statements TYPES and CONSTANTS

Methods only

No

Yes

A function module is Function called using CALL group or FUNCTION or a dynpro function pool is called using a transaction code

Local interfaces and classes, all other declarative statements

All (except event blocks for reporting Yes events)

Yes

Interface pool None

A global interface from the class library

None

No

No

All (except function modules and event Yes blocks for reporting events)

Yes

Local interfaces and classes, all other declarative statements

Event block LOADOF-PROGRAM, subroutines, methods

No

Yes

Statements TYPES and CONSTANTS

None

No

No

Local interfaces and A dynpro is called using Module pool classes, all declarative a transaction code statements Subroutine pool

External call of local procedures (subroutines or methods)

Type group or None type pool

The second column of the table shows which category of execution the program type is designed for. The third column shows which declarations can be made in the global declaration section of a program with the specified type. The fourth column shows which processing blocks the program can contain. The

fifth indicates whether the program can support its own dynpros. The final column indicates whether the program can create its own text pools. ABAP Program Types The type of an ABAP program determines (among other things) which declarations and processing blocks a program can contain and how the program can be executed in the ABAP runtime environment. The following table shows all program types for standalone programs (compilation units) and how the attributes of the programs are affected by the type. Program Type Execution

Global Declarations

Processing Blocks

Dynpros

Text Pools

Executable program

Statement SUBMIT or a Local interfaces and dynpro or selection classes, all other screen is called using a declarative statements transaction code

All (except function Yes modules)

Yes

Class pool

A global class from the Call of a visible method class library, local or a call using a interfaces and classes, transaction code statements TYPES and CONSTANTS

Methods only

No

Yes

A function module is Function called using CALL group or FUNCTION or a dynpro function pool is called using a transaction code

Local interfaces and classes, all other declarative statements

All (except event blocks for reporting Yes events)

Yes

Interface pool None

A global interface from the class library

None

No

No

All (except function modules and event Yes blocks for reporting events)

Yes

Local interfaces and classes, all other declarative statements

Event block LOADOF-PROGRAM, subroutines, methods

No

Yes

Statements TYPES and CONSTANTS

None

No

No

Local interfaces and A dynpro is called using Module pool classes, all declarative a transaction code statements Subroutine pool

External call of local procedures (subroutines or methods)

Type group or None type pool

The second column of the table shows which category of execution the program type is designed for. The third column shows which declarations can be made in the global declaration section of a program with the specified type. The fourth column shows which processing blocks the program can contain. The

fifth indicates whether the program can support its own dynpros. The final column indicates whether the program can create its own text pools. ABAP Program Types The type of an ABAP program determines (among other things) which declarations and processing blocks a program can contain and how the program can be executed in the ABAP runtime environment. The following table shows all program types for standalone programs (compilation units) and how the attributes of the programs are affected by the type. Program Type Execution

Global Declarations

Processing Blocks

Dynpros

Text Pools

Executable program

Statement SUBMIT or a Local interfaces and dynpro or selection classes, all other screen is called using a declarative statements transaction code

All (except function Yes modules)

Yes

Class pool

A global class from the Call of a visible method class library, local or a call using a interfaces and classes, transaction code statements TYPES and CONSTANTS

Methods only

No

Yes

A function module is Function called using CALL group or FUNCTION or a dynpro function pool is called using a transaction code

Local interfaces and classes, all other declarative statements

All (except event blocks for reporting Yes events)

Yes

Interface pool None

A global interface from the class library

None

No

No

All (except function modules and event Yes blocks for reporting events)

Yes

Local interfaces and classes, all other declarative statements

Event block LOADOF-PROGRAM, subroutines, methods

No

Yes

Statements TYPES and CONSTANTS

None

No

No

Local interfaces and A dynpro is called using Module pool classes, all declarative a transaction code statements Subroutine pool

External call of local procedures (subroutines or methods)

Type group or None type pool

The second column of the table shows which category of execution the program type is designed for. The third column shows which declarations can be made in the global declaration section of a program with the specified type. The fourth column shows which processing blocks the program can contain. The

fifth indicates whether the program can support its own dynpros. The final column indicates whether the program can create its own text pools. Predefined Numeric Types The data objects of the numeric data types are used to handle number values. Properties Type

Length

Standard Length Name

b

1 byte

1-byte integer (internal)

s

2 byte

2-byte integer (internal)

i

4 byte

4-byte integer

p

1 to 16 bytes 8 byte

Packed number

decfloat16 8 byte

Decimal floating point number with 16 places

decfloat34 16 byte

Decimal floating point number with 34 places

f

Binary floating point number with 17 places

8 byte

Value Ranges and Initial Values Type

Value Range

Initial Value

b

0 to 255

0

s

-32,768 to +32,767

0

i

-2,147,483,648 to +2,147,483,647

0

p

The valid length for packed numbers is between 1 and 16 bytes; two places are packed into one byte, where the last byte only contains one place and the sign (the number of places or digits is calculated from 2 * len-1); after the decimal separator, up to 14 decimal places are permitted. Depending on the field length len and the 0 number of decimal places dec, the following applies to the value range: (-10^(2len1) +1) / (10^(+dec)) to (+10^(2len-1) -1) /(10^(+dec)) in increments of 10^(-dec); any intermediate values are rounded (decimal); invalid content produces undefined behavior.

Decimal floating point numbers of this type are represented internally with 16 places in accordance with the IEEE-754-2008 standard; valid values are numbers between 1E385(1E-16 - 1) and -1E-383 for the negative range, 0 and +1E-383 to decfloat16 1E385(1 - 1E-16) for the positive range. Values lying between the ranges form the 0 subnormal range and are rounded; outside of the subnormal range, each 16-digit decimal number can be represented precisely with a decimal floating point number of this type

Decimal floating point numbers of this type are represented internally with 34 places in accordance with the IEEE-754-2008 standard; valid values are numbers between 1E6145(1E-34 - 1) and -1E-6143 for the negative range, 0 and +1E-6143 decfloat34 and 1E6145(1 - 1E-34) for the positive range. Values lying between the ranges form 0 the subnormal range and are rounded; outside of the subnormal range, each 34digit decimal number can be represented precisely with such a decimal floating point number

f

Binary floating point numbers are represented internally in accordance with the IEEE-754 standard (double precision); in ABAP, 17 places are represented (one integer digit and 16 decimal places). Valid values are numbers between 1.7976931348623157E+308 and -2.2250738585072014E-308 for the negative 0 range and between +2.2250738585072014E-308 and +1.7976931348623157E+308 for the positive range, plus 0. Both validity intervals are extended in the direction of zero using subnormal numbers in accordance with the IEEE-754 standard.

Predefined Numeric Types The data objects of the numeric data types are used to handle number values. Properties Type

Length

Standard Length Name

b

1 byte

1-byte integer (internal)

s

2 byte

2-byte integer (internal)

i

4 byte

4-byte integer

p

1 to 16 bytes 8 byte

Packed number

decfloat16 8 byte

Decimal floating point number with 16 places

decfloat34 16 byte

Decimal floating point number with 34 places

f

Binary floating point number with 17 places

8 byte

Value Ranges and Initial Values Type

Value Range

Initial Value

b

0 to 255

0

s

-32,768 to +32,767

0

i

-2,147,483,648 to +2,147,483,647

0

p

The valid length for packed numbers is between 1 and 16 bytes; two places are packed into one byte, where the last byte only contains one place and the sign (the 0 number of places or digits is calculated from 2 * len-1); after the decimal separator, up to 14 decimal places are permitted. Depending on the field length len and the

number of decimal places dec, the following applies to the value range: (-10^(2len1) +1) / (10^(+dec)) to (+10^(2len-1) -1) /(10^(+dec)) in increments of 10^(-dec); any intermediate values are rounded (decimal); invalid content produces undefined behavior. Decimal floating point numbers of this type are represented internally with 16 places in accordance with the IEEE-754-2008 standard; valid values are numbers between 1E385(1E-16 - 1) and -1E-383 for the negative range, 0 and +1E-383 to decfloat16 1E385(1 - 1E-16) for the positive range. Values lying between the ranges form the 0 subnormal range and are rounded; outside of the subnormal range, each 16-digit decimal number can be represented precisely with a decimal floating point number of this type Decimal floating point numbers of this type are represented internally with 34 places in accordance with the IEEE-754-2008 standard; valid values are numbers between 1E6145(1E-34 - 1) and -1E-6143 for the negative range, 0 and +1E-6143 decfloat34 and 1E6145(1 - 1E-34) for the positive range. Values lying between the ranges form 0 the subnormal range and are rounded; outside of the subnormal range, each 34digit decimal number can be represented precisely with such a decimal floating point number

f

Binary floating point numbers are represented internally in accordance with the IEEE-754 standard (double precision); in ABAP, 17 places are represented (one integer digit and 16 decimal places). Valid values are numbers between 1.7976931348623157E+308 and -2.2250738585072014E-308 for the negative 0 range and between +2.2250738585072014E-308 and +1.7976931348623157E+308 for the positive range, plus 0. Both validity intervals are extended in the direction of zero using subnormal numbers in accordance with the IEEE-754 standard.

Generic ABAP Types The following table shows the predefined generic ABAP types. A generic data type is an incomplete type specification that includes multiple complete type specifications. With the exception of object, all generic types can be used after TYPE for the typing of field symbols and formal parameters. When a data object is assigned to generically typed field symbols using the statement ASSIGN, or to a formal parameter in procedure calls, the system checks whether its concrete data type is compatible with it, that is whether it is a subset of the generic type. The only generic types that can be used after TYPE REF TO are data, for the generic typing of data references, and object for the generic typing of object references. Type

Description

any

Any data type

any table

Internal table with any table category

c

Text field with a generic length

clike

Character-like (c, d, n, t, string, and character-like flat structures)

csequence

Text-like (c, string)

data

Any data type

decfloat

Decimal floating point number (decfloat16, decfloat34)

hashed table Hashed table index table

Index table

n

Numeric text with generic length

numeric

Numeric (i (b, s), p, decfloat16, decfloat34, f)

object

Any object type (root class of the inheritance hierarchy)

p

Packed number with generic length and generic number of decimal places

simple

Elementary data type including structured types with exclusively character-like flat components

sorted table

Sorted table

standard table

Standard table

table

Standard table

x

Byte field with generic length

xsequence

Byte-like (x, xstring)

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