Old and new ABAP syntax – overview sheet
Motivation:
With release 7.40 and 7.50 several new ABAP language elements have been introduced. Learning them in theory is one thing, using them in daily life quite another. While working on that, the idea of an overview sheet came up, comparing “old” and “new” syntax, in the form of: “When i notice things are done in this “old” way, can we use some new elements here?”
This overview is meant to be printable, to have it right on the desk or wall beside you for a quick reference.
Because of that, the overview is quite brief, and does not explain how any of the new (or old) syntax elements work. In this online version, i linked explanatory blog entries, mostly from Horst Keller, obviously this won’t help if you print the list. This and the ABAP keyword documentation will help you out if you don’t know about specific elements, or need more details.
Also, i wrote below “Consider using this”. The list does not say when or if it is a good idea to use the new syntax elements, it’s just a reminder that there maybe is another option for the coding.
And one more thing, i do not mention or care about releases and service packs here. Depending on your system, some or all of the new features will not be available.
Here we go:
| If you see this | Consider using this |
|---|---|
| DATA and FIELD-SYMBOLS declarations | Inline declarations |
| MOVE CORRESPONDING | Constructor expression CORRESPONDING, or CL_ABAP_CORRESPONDING |
|
struc1-field1 = struc2-fielda |
Constructor expression CORRESPONDING, or CL_ABAP_CORRESPONDING; |
| CREATE DATA / CREATE OBJECT | Constructor expression NEW |
| GET REFERENCE OF | Constructor expression REF |
| variable only used once, e.g. parameter for a method call | Constructor expression VALUE; Inline declarations |
| helper variable for type conversion | Constructor expression CONV |
| ?= | Constructor expression CAST |
|
assigning a value to a single variable within several case or if blocks, e.g. IF cond. var = 1. ELSE. var = 2. ENDIF. |
Constructor expressions SWITCH or COND |
| READ TABLE | Table expressions; Note: throws exception, while READ TABLE sets sy-subrc. Catch exception and handle error case, or use a standard value |
| READ TABLE … TRANSPORTING NO FIELDS | line_exists( … ) or line_index( … ) |
| internal table WITH DEFAULT KEY | suitable key, or WITH EMPTY KEY |
| LOOP AT… | FOR … IN in constructor expressions |
| [result of method call] IS (NOT) INITIAL, or [result of method call] = abap_true/abap_false | predicative method call ( omit the ” = abap_true” part ) |
| DO / WHILE | FOR … UNTIL / WHILE in constructor expressions |
| calculating or otherwise assembling one result from input data, e.g. from table rows | Constructor expression REDUCE; Note: “one result” can be a value, but also a table or complex object |
| LOOP AT … AT NEW, or other means of going through grouped data | LOOP AT … GROUP BY … / LOOP AT GROUP |
| LOOP + DELETE | Constructor expression FILTER |
| type checking (?= with TRY/CATCH block, or usage of CL_ABAP_TYPEDESCR) | IS INSTANCE OF, CASE TYPE OF |
| CONCATENATE; string literals | String templates |
| SELECT | new SQL expressions; use @ to escape host variables |
There are several links to new options in Open SQL statements. To keep the list clean, i decided to put them down here:
ABAP News for 7.40, SP08 – Open SQL
ABAP News for Release 7.50 – Host and Other Expressions in Open SQL
ABAP News for Release 7.50 – SELECT UNION
ABAP News for Release 7.50 – INSERT FROM Subquery and GTTs
And one more link i think is really helpful, a list of built-in functions:
Reminder: ABAP Built-in Functions
Edit: I just came across another quick reference / overview for the new syntax elements, it gives more details about the elements: ABAP 7.40 Quick Reference
PS: Please let me know if you know a way to start the table on a new page in the pdf version of this document. I recommend copying and formatting the list yourself as you like it, if you want to print it for now.
Hello,
It's very useful , Thank you for sharing,
Best Regards,
rookie from china, thanks for sharing
Really useful!
Thanks a lot!|
Bookmarked! really useful!
Hi Thomas,
Thanks a lot!
It's very useful!
Best regards.
Thank you very much. this is very helpful.
Can you make such list official? to tracking ABAP change since 740 at least. some features I see were added but not on your list I suppose.
Thanks.
You can find the official changes in the ABAP keyword documentation, portal version here:
https://help.sap.com/http.svc/rc/abapdocu_752_index_htm/7.52/en-US/index.htm
(section ABAP - Release-Specific Changes)
Unfortunately i am no longer actively developing ABAP at the moment, i won't look into additional changes or adapt this overview, and i don't know if there is any other list or overview of changes.
regards,
Thomas
Helpful collection of links
Thank You Thomas, this is very helpful. Congrats!
Thanks for sharing! This post is as helpful in 2023 as it was in 2016. 🙂