Technical Articles
Search one or more dictionary types in the method signature of global classes (transaction se24)
Introduction
In transaction SE11, you are using the standard Where-Used List tool. You note that it does not propose to search a DDIC type in the method signature of global classes (SE24). Despite you can search in the signature of function modules (SE37).
You can restrict the standard Where-Used List to the Function Module Interfaces (<=> signature) but not to the method signature of global classes
The standard Where-used list doesn’t propose such functionality.
Alternatives / Work around
A solution is to create a specific report. The ABAP source code can be found here
The report reads the tables where SAP is storing information on global classes:
- method information (tables SEOSUBCO, SEOCOMPODF)
- method signature information (table SEOSUBCODF)
Method information |
||
Name | Declaration level | Exposure/Visibility |
SEOSUBCO-CMPNAME | SEOCOMPODF-MTDDECLTYP 0: Instance method 1: Static method |
SEOCOMPODF-EXPOSURE 0 Private 1 Protected 2 Public |
Method signature information |
|
Declaration level | Type type |
SEOSUBCODF-PARDECLTYP 0 Importing 1 Exporting 2 Changing 3 Returning |
SEOSUBCODF-TYPTYPE 0 Attribute reference (LIKE) 1 Type reference (TYPE) 3 Object reference (TYPE REF TO) |
Example
For illustration, we will search for example, methods that:
- are having an importing parameter typed as MARA-MATNR
and
- are having an importing parameter typed as SY-LANGU
and
- are returning a type MAKTX (data element of MAKT-MAKTX)
The selection screen of the report looks like :
for type MARA-MATNR, the checkbox “Extend search to equivalent types (data Element only)” means the report will extend the search to MARC-MATNR, MATNR, LIPS-MATNR, etc…
It will display a result list :
3 methods are matching the Selection screen criteria s
You can click the expand icon to display the method signature
In the list, depending where you double click, you can navigate
- to the source code of the method (column method name)
or
- to the method signature (column parameter name)
For example, the method source is displayed after double-clicking on the method name:
the method signature corresponds to the selection criteria s
Conclusion
This tool can help to find existing methods of global classes (transaction SE24). It can give some ideas by reading existing ABAP code.
Nice code, but a question.
Can you explain more the difference between your search and standard search by class ?
(I guess your report search only in signature of classe / interface, in order to found all mehods available to perform some action, like in our example found method to read material descrption from material code and language)
Can be very useful. Standard not enough to find information with class signature.