The ABAP wishlist from the community

system generated variables:

Here is a feature I would love to have. I’m not sure if this makes sense but I’m gonna put it on the wish list anyway.

When we use function modules/class methods. The pattern should automatically generate the importing variables instead of the developer typing them in.

I’ll quote an e.g. from the SAP CRM system. There is this function module called CRM_ORDER_READ which is used quite often in the CRM system. Here is how the function module looks like:

CALL FUNCTION 'CCRM_ORDER_READ'
*  EXPORTING
*    it_header_guid              =     " List of GUIDs
*    it_item_guid                =     " List of GUIDs
*    iv_mode                     =     " Processing Mode of Transaction
*    iv_only_spec_items          =     " Logical Variable
*    it_requested_objects        =     " Objects to be read
*    iv_no_auth_check            =     " Logical Variable
*    it_item_usage_range         =     " Table with Areas for Item Category Usage
*    iv_subitem_depth            = -1    " Lesen von Unterpositionen (-1 = nicht spezifiziert)
*    it_object_filter            =     " Filter Criteria When Reading
*    iv_only_changed_obj         = FALSE    " Logical Variable
*    iv_status_h_check_relevance = FALSE    " Skip irrelevant items when reading STATUS_H
*    iv_text_log_single          = FALSE    " Return single text IDs for text log
*  IMPORTING
*    et_orderadm_h               =     " Liste mit Admin Header Daten (Datenbank + dynami
*    et_opport_h                 =     " Opportunity: Communication Structure
*    et_lead_h                   =     " List with Lead Header Data
*    et_activity_h               =     " Activity Header: Communication Table
*    et_lawref_h                 =     " Law Reference Header Segment Object Workarea table type
*    et_orderadm_i               =     " Item: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_opport_i                 =     " Opportunity Item Data: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_activity_i               =     " Activity Journal: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_product_i                =     " Product Data: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_finprod_i                =     " Financing Product Data: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_batch                    =     " Batch Properties - Work Table
*    et_config                   = 
*    et_struct_i                 = 
*    et_sales                    =     " Sales Set: Kommunikationstabelle
*    et_pricing                  = 
*    et_pricing_i                = 
*    et_orgman                   =     " Orgdaten Set: Workarea Tabelle
*    et_shipping                 =     " Shipping Set: Table of Communication Structures
*    et_customer_h               =     " Header: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_customer_i               =     " Item: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_service_h                =     " Service Header: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_service_i                =     " CRM Service Item: Database + Dynamic Part
*    et_service_assign           =     " CRM Service Assignments for WFM Core Interface
*    et_qualif                   =     " Qualification Requirement Set
*    et_payplan                  =     " Communication Table
*    et_payplan_d                =     " Communication Table Payment Plan Dates
*    et_appointment              =     " External Transfer Table for Date Management
*    et_text                     =     " Text Extension: Work Table
*    et_schedlin                 =     " Einteilungen: Kommunikationstabelle
*    et_partner                  =     " Transfer Table for Partners to Partner Processing
*    et_service_os               = 
*    et_refobj                   =     " CRM Service: Reference Object - Work Area and Buffer
*    et_subject                  =     " CRM Service: Subject - Work Area and Buffer
*    et_cumulat_h                =     " Header Totals
*    et_status                   = 
*    et_status_h                 =     " Header Total Status
*    et_schedlin_i               =     " CRM Schedule Line: Item Work Structure
*    et_cancel                   =     " Cancellation set: Work table
*    et_cancel_ir                =     " Cancellation set: Work table
*    et_cancel_cr                =     " Table Type: Alternative Cancellation Dates
*    et_billplan                 =     " Work Table
*    et_billing                  =     " Billing Data: Work Table
*    et_ordprp_i                 =     " Daten zum PRP
*    et_ordprp_i_d               =     " Product Detail Data PRP - Table of Work Area
*    et_ordprp_objl_i_d          =     " Int. Table Object List
*    et_cumulated_i              =     " Cumulated_I: Internal Tables with Data
*    et_doc_flow                 =     " Table Type Object Reference
*    et_exception                =     " One Order: Return Values for Multiple Document Processing
*    et_pridoc                   =     " Table Category for Document Conditions
*    et_price_agreements_crm     =     " CRM Price Agreements
*    et_price_agreements_bbp     =     " BBP Price Agreements
*    et_config_filter            =     " Config. Filter Data Complete: Communication Table
*    et_serviceplan_i            =     " Table of Work Areas and Object Buffers in Service Plan
*    et_serviceplan_ie           =     " Table for Service Plan Extension 1:1
*    et_extension                =     " Additional Sets and Extensions: Work Structure
*    et_creditvalues             =     " CRM Credit Values: Table Type for Work Table
*    et_survey                   =     " CRM Survey: Work Table
*    et_ac_assign                =     " work table object buffer ac_assign
*    et_apo_i                    =     " Temporary APO Item Data (for APO 2.0)
*    et_ext_ref                  = 
*    et_ubb_ctr_i                =     " UBB Contract Extension Work Table
*    et_ubb_cr_i                 =     " Work Table: Credit Overview
*    et_ubb_vol_i                =     " Work Table UBB Volume Set
*    et_chngproc_h               =     " Change Process Control Data: Work Area
*    et_chngproc_i               =     " Change Process Control Data: Work Area
*    et_doc_flow_pnt             =     " Objektpuffer PNT Verknüpfungen Attribute
*    et_fund_h                   =     " Fund Header Segment Object Workarea table type
*    et_cla_h                    =     " Claim Header - Data List
*    et_srv_req_h                =     " Table Type for Service Request data corresponding to DB tabl
*    et_approval                 =     " Table Type for Approval Header # Work Area Buffer
*    et_extension2               =     " Additional Sets and Extensions: Work Structure
*    et_cla_i                    =     " Claim Item - Data List
*  CHANGING
*    cv_log_handle               = 
*  EXCEPTIONS
*    document_not_found          = 1
*    error_occurred              = 2
*    document_locked             = 3
*    no_change_authority         = 4
*    no_display_authority        = 5
*    no_change_allowed           = 6
*    others                      = 7
.
IF sy-subrc <> 0.
* MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno
*            WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4.
ENDIF.

In the real world you will not be needing all the IMPORTING parameters.  But even if I need half the importing parameters it is a strenuous process to type in the variable for these importing parameters. If we can have a mechanism to generate the variables along with the function module I believe that would be a neat trick.

Cheers,

Sai

PS: what would also be awesome is to make this comment box bigger to write such lengthy comments