The objective of this lesson is to highlight the functionality of the ABAP Dictionary.
TCode for ABAP Dictionary is SE11. ABAP Dictionary is also known as Data Dictionary or DDIC.
- The ABAP Dictionary centrally describes and manages all the type definitions used in the SAP system.
- The ABAP Dictionary is completely integrated in the ABAP Workbench. All the components of the Workbench can actively access the definitions stored in the ABAP Dictionary.
- Any change in the ABAP Dictionary takes immediate effect throughout the SAP system; in the relevant ABAP programs and screens.
The object types in the ABAP Dictionary are
- Database table
- View
- Data Type
- Type Group
- Domain
- Search help
- Lock Object
The ABAP Dictionary permits a central description of all the data used in the system without redundancies.
Functions of ABAP Dictionary
Database Objects in the ABAP Dictionary – create database objects using ABAP Dictionary
Tables, Views, Indexes are database objects created using ABAP Dictionary. To define tables and views, ABAP does not use db-dependent SQL statements. Instead, ABAP Dictionary provides form based UI to define table or view. The objects are then created automatically in the database.
Indexes can also be defined in table to speed up data access. Indexes are created in the database when the table is activated.
Type Definitions in the ABAP Dictionary – create user-defined types
In ABAP Dictionary we can define global types. These global types( Data Elements, Structures, Table Types ) can be used in throughout the SAP system, such as ABAP programs, or to built interfaces of function-modules or methods and so on.
Data Element is an elementary type created by defining the data type, length, and decimal places.
A Structure consists of components that can have any type.
Table types describe the structure of an internal table.
ABAP supports complex user-defined type that can be built from these basic types.
Services of the ABAP Dictionary – Search Help and Lock Objects
In ABAP Dictionary you can define Search Help and Lock Objects that supports ABAP program development.
- F4 help or input helps for screen fields can be defined with search helps.
- F1 help or field help for screen fields is defined by creating documentation for the data element
- Create lock objects to set and release locks.