Day 2
Data Dictionary
We will learn about
What is Data Dictionary Data Dictionary Objects System Fields Creating custom table Internal Tables Foreign Keys & Cardinality Structures Views
What is Data Dictionary
is a system independent interface to the database is a virtual database ( data about data) provides data for data manipulation and data processing Also called as DDIC and ABAP Dictionary
Data Dictionary Objects
SE16
Data Element Domain Tables Structures Views
Elementary Data Types
Type C N D T X I P F Explanation Text (Character) Numeric text Date (DDMMYYYY) Time (HHMMSS) Hexadecimal Integer Packed Number Floating point number
Domain
A Domain describes the technical structure of a field that is its size and its data types. Domains are attached to Data Elements Fields which refer to the same domain (with the assigned data elements), are also changed when the domain is changed. This ensures that the fields are consistent Defines a value range which describes the valid data values for all the fields which refer to this domain
Table MARA
CLNT MATNR
Data Element Domain
Creating a Domain
Enter a description (short text) Enter data type and length
Creating a domain (contd.)
Enter fixed value and description.
Value table may be entered
Data Element
A data element gives the description of the field of the Table Examples of predefined data elements in SAP LIFNR KUNNR MATNR CLNT
Creating a Data Element
Enter a description (short text)
Enter domain name
Creating a Data Element
Maintain field labels and column headers.
Difference between Domain & Data Element
Domain
Defines Technical Attributes such as data type, length, allowed values, etc. A domain can be part of several data elements
Data Element
Defines semantic attributes such as display length, short text, long text, etc A Data Element can point to only one domain
Used to define data elements, restrict Used to define fields of tables and values (using value range, value table, screens etc)
A Holistic view
Table A
Table B
Table C
Data element
Data element
Domain
Tables
Tables are containers which stores data in the form of record They are a central component of the SAP R/3 Application One or more fields form a data record (also known as tupel) A number of data records of the same type form a table Examples of few SAP defined tables
MARA : Material Master
Tables Contd
The table definition contains the following components Table fields: defines the field names and data types of the fields contained in the table. Foreign Keys: defines the relationships between the table and other tables. Technical Settings: control how the table should be created on the database. Indexes: speed up the selection of data from the table.
Tables Contd
Types of Tables
Transparent ABAP Dictionary Cluster Pool
ABAP Program
Internal
Tables Contd
Creating a Transparent Table Step 1 of 6
Enter Enterthe theName Nameof ofthe the table (should begin table (should begin with withZ Zor orY) Y)
Press Pressthe theCreate CreateButton Button
Creating a Transparent Table Step 2 of 6
Enter a description (short text) After Aftermaking makingall allentries, entries, Press the Fields Press the FieldsTab Tab
Maintain delivery class Table maintenance attribute
Creating a Transparent Table Step 3 of 6
After Aftermaking makingall allentries, entries, Press the Technical Press the Technical Settings SettingsButton Button
Maintain field attributes
Maintain data elements
Creating a Transparent Table Step 4 of 6
After Aftermaking makingall allentries, entries, Press the Save Button. Press the Save Button. Once OnceTechnical TechnicalSettings Settings are save, Press the are save, Press the Back BackButton Button(F3) (F3)
Creating a Transparent Table Step 5 of 6
Save, Save,Check Checkand and Activate the Table. Activate the [Link] After that Press the Indexes that Press the Indexes Button Buttonon onthe the Application ApplicationToolbar Toolbar
Creating a Transparent Table Step 6 of 6
Steps to create an index
After Afterentering enteringthe theIndex Index Fields Fieldsand andother other parameters, parameters,save saveand and activate the index, activate the index,Z01 Z01
SAP Transparent Tables
Example of few SAP Transparent Tables
MARA : General Material Data VBAK : Sales Document: Header Data KNA1 : General Data in Customer Master
Example of SAP Cluster Table
BSEG : Accounting Document Segment
Tables Contd
Foreign Keys
Uses
Maintain data integrity Provide help texts Create aggregate dictionary objects
Prerequisites
The foreign key text field and primary key of the check table must share the same domain A value table must exist for that domain
Tables Contd
Cardinality
Cardinality defines the type of relationship between two tables The cardinality of a foreign key indicates how many dependent records a record in a check table may have
Cardinality Types 1:1 1:C 1:N 1 : CN
System fields
SAP has a system table named syst. It stores all the system related data Examples of few fields in this table are
Sy-datum : System Date Sy-langu : System Language Sy-subrc : System check Sy-uzeit : System time
SAP Data
Master Data
G/L Accounts Vendors Materials Stock Locations
System Data Transaction Data
Sales Orders Purchase Orders Journal Entries Goods Receipts
Metadata Programs Documentation System Settings
Configuration Data
Currency Codes Order Types Payment Terms Field Status Codes
Structures
A structure is defined like a table in the ABAP Dictionary and can then be accessed from within ABAP programs Contain data temporarily during program runtime The same data elements and domains can be used in structures as in tables
Views
A view combines the data distributed in several tables Views allow to gather information from fields of different tables and present it to the users in form they require when working in the R/3 system
