SAP ABAB Interview Questions 3

116) Is it compulsory to use all the events in Reports?

Ans









117) What is the difference between sum and collect?

Ans Sum: You can only use this statement within a LOOP. If you use SUM in an AT - ENDAT block, the system calculates totals for the numeric fields of all lines in the current line group and writes them to the corresponding fields in the work area. If you use the SUM statement outside an AT - ENDAT block (single entry processing), the system calculates totals for the numeric fields of all lines of the internal table in each loop pass and writes them to the corresponding fields of the work area. It therefore only makes sense to use the SUM statement in AT...ENDAT blocks.

If the table contains a nested table, you cannot use the SUM statement. Neither can you use it if you are using a field symbol instead of a work area in the LOOP statement.

Collect:



118) What are session method and call transaction method and explain about them?

Ans Session method – Use the BDC_OPEN_GROUP to create a session. Once we have created a session, then we can insert the batch input data into it with BDC_INSERT. Use the BDC_INSERT to add a transaction to a batch input session. We specify the transaction that is to be started in the call to BDC_INSERT. We must provide a BDCDATA structure that contains all the data required to process the transaction completely. Use the BDC_CLOSE_GROUP to close a session after we have inserted all of our batch input data into it. Once a session is closed, it can be processed.



Call Transaction -

In this method, we use CALL TRANSACTION USING to run an SAP transaction. External data does not have to be deposited in a session for later processing. Instead, the entire batch input process takes place inline in our program.



119) If you have 10000 records in your file, which method you use in BDC?

Ans Call transaction is faster then session method. But usually we use session method in real time...because we can transfer large amount of data from internal table to database and if any errors in a session, then process will not complete until session get correct.



120) What are different modes of Call Transaction method and explain them?

Ans There are three modes of Call Transaction method:



1) A – Display All Screens

2) E – Display Errors

3) N – Background Processing

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121) What is the typical structure of an ABAP program?

Ans HEADER, BODY, FOOTER.



122) What are field symbols and field groups? Have you used "component idx of structure" clause with field groups?

Ans Field Symbols – They are placeholder or symbolic names for the other fields. They do not physically reserve space for a field, but point to its contents. It can point to any data objects.



Field-symbols



Field Groups – Field groups does not reserve storage space but contains pointers to existing fields.



An extract dataset consists of a sequence of records. These records may have different structures. All records with the same structure form a record type. You must define each record type of an extract dataset as a field group, using the FIELD-GROUPS statement.



Field-groups



123) What should be the approach for writing a BDC program?

Ans STEP 1: CONVERTING THE LEGACY SYSTEM DATA TO A FLAT FILE

to internal table CALLED "CONVERSION".



STEP 2: TRANSFERING THE FLAT FILE INTO SAP SYSTEM CALLED

"SAP DATA TRANSFER".



STEP 3: DEPENDING UPON THE BDC TYPE



i) Call transaction (Write the program explicitly)

ii) Create sessions (sessions are created and processed. If success, data will transfer).



124) What is a batch input session?

Ans BATCH INPUT SESSION is an intermediate step between internal table and database table. Data along with the action is stored in session i.e. data for screen fields, to which screen it is passed, program name behind it, and how next screen is processed.



Create session – BDC_OPEN_GROUP

Insert batch input – BDC_INSERT

Close session – BDC_CLOSE_GROUP



125) What is the alternative to batch input session?

Ans Call Transaction Method & Call Dialog



126) A situation: An ABAP program creates a batch input session. We need to submit the

program and the batch session in background. How to do it?

Ans Go to SM36 and create background job by giving job name, job class and job steps

(JOB SCHEDULING)







127) What is the difference between a pool table and a transparent table and how they are

stored at the database level?

Ans Pool Table -



1) Many to One Relationship.

2) Table in the Dictionary has the different name, different number of fields, and the fields have the different name as in the R3 Table definition.

3) It can hold only pooled tables.



Transparent Table –

1) One to One relationship.

2) Table in the Dictionary has the same name, same number of fields, and the fields have the same name as in the R3 Table definition.

3) It can hold Application data.

128) What are the problems in processing batch input sessions? How is batch input process

different from processing on line?

Ans Two Problems: -



1) If the user forgets to opt for keep session then the session will be automatically removed from the session queue (log remains). However, if session is processed we may delete it manually.

2) If session processing fails, data will not be transferred to SAP database table.



129) Is Session Method, Asynchronous or Synchronous?

Ans Synchronous



130) What are the different types of data dictionary objects?

Ans Different types of data dictionary objects:



1) Tables

2) Views

3) Data elements

4) Structure

5) Domains

6) Search Helps

7) Local Objects

8) Matchcode



131) How many types of tables exist and what are they in data dictionary?

Ans 4 Types of Tables:



Transparent tables - Exists with the same structure both in dictionary as well as in database exactly with the same data and fields. Both Open SQL and Native SQL can be used.
Pool tables
Cluster tables - These are logical tables that are arranged as records of transparent tables. One cannot use Native SQL on these tables (only Open SQL). They are not manageable directly using database system tools.
Internal tables




132) What is the step-by-step process to create a table in data dictionary?

Ans Steps to create a table:



Step 1: creating domains (data type, field length, Range).

Step 2: creating data elements (properties and type for a table field).

Step 3: creating tables (SE11).



133) Can a transparent table exist in data dictionary but not in the database physically?

Ans No, Transparent table do exist with the same structure both in the dictionary as well as in the database, exactly with the same data and fields.



134) In SAP Scripts, how will u link FORM with the Event Driven?

Ans In PAI, define function code and write code for the same.



135) Can you create a table with fields not referring to data elements?

Ans YES. e.g.:- ITAB LIKE SPFLI.

Here we are refering to a data object (SPFLI) not data element.



136) What is the advantage of structures? How do you use them in the ABAP programs?

Ans GLOBAL EXISTANCE (these could be used by any other program without creating it again).



137) What does an extract statement do in the ABAP program?

Ans Once you have declared the possible record types as field groups and defined their structure, you can fill the extract dataset using the following statements:



EXTRACT .



When the first EXTRACT statement occurs in a program, the system creates the extract dataset and adds the first extract record to it. In each subsequent EXTRACT statement, the new extract record is added to the dataset



EXTRACT HEADER.



When you extract the data, the record is filled with the current values of the corresponding fields.



As soon as the system has processed the first EXTRACT statement for a field group , the structure of the corresponding extract record in the extract dataset is fixed. You can no longer insert new fields into the field groups and HEADER. If you try to modify one of the field groups afterwards and use it in another EXTRACT statement, a runtime error occurs.



By processing EXTRACT statements several times using different field groups, you fill the extract dataset with records of different length and structure. Since you can modify field groups dynamically up to their first usage in an EXTRACT statement, extract datasets provide the advantage that you need not determine the structure at the beginning of the program.

138) What is a collect statement? How is it different from append?

Ans Collect : If an entry with the same key already exists, the COLLECT statement does not append a new line, but adds the contents of the numeric fields in the work area to the contents of the numeric fields in the existing entry.



Append – Duplicate entries occurs.



139) What is OPEN SQL vs NATIVE SQL?

Ans Open SQL – These statements are a subset of standard SQL. It consists of DML command (Select, Insert, Update, Delete). It can simplify and speed up database access. Buffering is partly stored in the working memory and shared memory. Data in buffer is not always up-to-date.



Native SQL – They are loosely integrated into ABAP. It allows access to all functions containing programming interface. They are not checked and converted. They are sent directly to the database system. Programs that use Native SQL are specific to the database system for which they were written. For e.g. to create or change table definition in the ABAP.



140) What does an EXEC SQL stmt do in ABAP? What is the disadvantage of using it?

Ans To use a Native SQL statement, you must precede it with the EXEC SQL statement, and follow it with the ENDEXEC statement as follows:

EXEC SQL [PERFORMING

].

ENDEXEC.

There is no period after Native SQL statements. Furthermore, using inverted commas (") or an asterisk (*) at the beginning of a line in a native SQL statement does not introduce a comment as it would in normal ABAP syntax. You need to know whether table and field names are case-sensitive in your chosen database.

141) What is the meaning of ABAP editor integrated with ABAP data dictionary?

Ans ABAP Editor: Tool in the ABAP Workbench in which you enter the source code of ABAP programs and check their syntax. You can also navigate from the ABAP Editor to the other tools in the ABAP Workbench.

142) What are the events in ABAP language?

Ans The events are as follows:



1. Initialization

2. At selection-screen

3. Start-of-selection

4. End-of-selection

5. Top-of-page

6. End-of-page

7. At line-selection

8. At user-command

9. At PF

10. Get

11. At New

12. At LAST

13. AT END

14. AT FIRST



143) What is an interactive report? What is the obvious difference of such report compared

with classical type reports?

Ans An Interactive report is a dynamic drill down report that produces the list on users choice.



Difference: -

a) The list produced by classical report doesn't allow user to interact with the system where as the list produced by interactive report allows the user to interact with the system.

B) Once a classical report, executed user looses control where as Interactive, user has control.

C) In classical report, drilling is not possible where as in interactive, drilling is possible.



144) What is a drill down report?

Ans Its an Interactive report where in the user can get more relevant data by selecting explicitly.



145) How do you write a function module in SAP? Describe.

Ans

1. Called program - SE37 - Creating function group, function module by assigning attributes, importing, exporting, tables, and exceptions.

2. Calling program - SE38 - In program, click pattern and write function name- provide export, import, tables, exception values.



146) What are the exceptions in function module?

Ans Exceptions: Our function module needs an exception that it can trigger if there are no entries in table SPFLI that meet the selection criterion. The exception NOT_FOUND serves this function.



COMMUNICATION_FAILURE & SYSTEM_FAILURE



147)

Ans



148) How are the date and time field values stored in SAP?

Ans DD.MM.YYYY. HH:MM:SS



149) What are the fields in a BDC_Tab and BDCDATA Table?

Ans Fields of BDC_Tab & BDCDATA Table:



Sr.No Fields - Description

1) Program - BDC Module pool

2) Dynpro - BDC Screen Number

3) Dynbegin - BDC Screen Start

4) Fname - Field Name

5) Fval - BDC field value

150) Name a few data dictionary objects?

Ans Different types of data dictionary objects:



1) Tables

2) Views

3) Data elements

4) Structure

5) Matchcode

6) Domains

7) Search Helps

8) Local Objects



151) What happens when a table is activated in DD?

Ans When the table is activated, a physical table definition is created in the database for the table definition stored in the ABAP dictionary. The table definition is translated from the ABAP dictionary of the particular database.



It is available for any insertion, modification and updation of records by any user.



152)

Ans



153) What are matchcodes? Describe?

Ans It is similar to table index that gives list of possible values for either primary keys or non-primary keys.



154) What transactions do you use for data analysis?

Ans









155) What are the elements of selection screen?

Ans There are 5 elements of selection screen:



Selection-screen include blocks

Selection-screen include parameters

Selection-screen include select-options

Selection-screen include comment

Selection-screen include push-button



156) What are ranges? What are number ranges?

Ans Main function of ranges to pass data to the actual selection tables without displaying the selection screen.



Min, Max values provided in selection screens.



It is often necessary to directly access individual records in a data structure. This is done using unique keys. Number ranges are used to assign numbers to individual database records for a commercial object, to complete the key. Such numbers are e.g. order numbers or material master numbers.



157) What are select options and what is the diff from parameters?

Ans Parameters : We can enter a single value.

PARAMETERS: PARAM(10).

Select-options: We can enter low and high value i.e. range has to be specify. By using NO-INTERVAL user can process only single fields.

SELECT-OPTIONS: DNO FOR DEPT-DNO.

SELECT-OPTIONS: DNO FOR DEPT-DNO NO-INTERVAL.

SELECT-OPTIONS declares an internal table, which is automatically filled with values or ranges of values entered by the end user. For each SELECT-OPTIONS, the system creates a selection table.

SELECT-OPTIONS FOR .

A selection table is an internal table with fields SIGN, OPTION, LOW and HIGH.

The type of LOW and HIGH is the same as that of .

The SIGN field can take the following values: I Inclusive (should apply) E Exclusive (should not apply)

The OPTION field can take the following values: EQ Equal GT Greater than NE Not equal BT Between LE Less than or equal NB Not between LT Less than CP Contains pattern GE Greater than or equal NP No pattern.

Differences-

PARAMETERS allow users to enter a single value into an internal field within a report.

SELECT-OPTIONS allows users to fill an internal table with a range of values.

Select-options provide ranges where as parameters do not.

For each PARAMETERS or SELECT-OPTIONS statement you should define text elements by choosing

Goto - Text elements - Selection texts - Change.

Eg:- Parameters name(30).

When the user executes the ABAP/4 program, an input field for 'name' will appear on the selection screen. You can change the comments on the left side of the input fields by using text elements as described in Selection Texts.



158) How do you validate the selection criteria of a report? And how do you display initial

values in a selection screen?

Ans The selection criteria is validated in the processing block of the AT SELECTION SCREEN event for the input values on the screen and respective messages can be sent.





To display initial values in the selection screen:



1) Use INITIALIZATION EVENT

2) Use DEFAULT VALUE option of PARAMETERS Statement

3) Use SPA/GPA Parameters (PIDs).





Validate: - by using match code objects.



Display :- Parameters default 'xxx'.

Select-options for spfli-carrid.



Initial values in a selection screen:

INITIALIZATION.

DNO-LOW = 10.

DNO-HIGH = 30

SIGN I.

OPTION NB.

APPEND DNO.



159) What are selection texts?

Ans









160) What is CTS and what do you know about it?

Ans CTS stands for Correction and Transport System. The CTS provides a range of functions that help you to choose a transport strategy optimally suited to your requirements. We recommend that you follow the transport strategy while you plan and set up your system landscape.



Correction and Transport System (CTS) is a tool that helps you to organize development projects in the ABAP Workbench and in Customizing, and then transport the changes between the SAP Systems and clients in your system landscape. This documentation provides you with an overview of how to manage changes with the CTS and essential information on setting up your system and client landscape and deciding on a transport strategy. Read and follow this documentation when planning your development project. For practical information on working with the Correction and Transport System, see Correction and Transport Organizer and Transport Management System.