Stumbled Upon Checkpoint Groups

[Former Member]

I stumbled upon the concept of Checkpoint groups by accident.

One day I was debugging a wave release process in EWM box by activating /h debugging and jumping around using F5, F6, F7 keys. It was getting hard to track the flow of logic because of ALV control framework and nervousness around object oriented code. To save time, I placed breakpoint on statement CALL FUNCTION and continued, hoping that I'll reach a main function module soon.

I came across BREAK-POINT ID statements while still in classes. They seemed to decipher my action and pass control to another class or function module. My first thought about this statement was that SAP has created special breakpoint statements with specific user IDs, and these are used when they respond to OSS messages.

It was a mistake not to see keyword documentation of BREAK-POINT ID. This resulted in significant waste of time.

Another day I was asked to apply a note, which had manual pre-implement steps. According to those steps, I had to go to SAAB transaction and create or activate a checkpoint group. System allowed me to create Checkpoint group without asking for access key. It then struck me that the concept is not for SAP internal use only.

If checkpoint group can be activated without access key or transport request, it is as easy as activating the debugger.

I read the documentation, and activated breakpoint in /SCWM/WAVE checkpoint group.

On releasing new wave, debugger popped up at BREAK-POINT ID statement.

I found it useful but limited in scope as the person doing debugging needs to know beforehand what checkpoint groups are applicable. Again, it was a mistake to assume.

In New ABAP Debugger, I was checking the number of watchpoints set up under Break./Watchpoints > Watchpoints tab. Right next to this tab was Checkpoint Activations. This tab showed list of checkpoints applicable in current process, also the ones used in current stack level.

After seeing the option activating Checkpoints in New ABAP Debugger, I now try to use it during analysis.

I think having custom checkpoint in every enhancement implementation will make life easy for person doing debugging in support environment.

Summary points

• Checkpoint groups can be activated using Transaction SAAB.
• Checkpoint groups can be activated in runtime using New ABAP Debugger.
• Activation can be user specific, server specific or global.
• Apart from Breakpoints (BREAK-POINT), option of Assertion (ASSERT) and Log point (LOG-POINT) is also there.
• Logs can be checked in SAAB transaction.
• SAP Help link