Questions of data dictionary

1. What are the objects of data dictionary?

List of objects in data dictionary.

Database table
View
Datatype
Data element
Structure
Table type
Type group
Domain
Search help
Lock object

2. What is domain and data element?

Domain- it is an object which specifies the technical attribute of

a field like data type,length etc.
Data element- it specifies the semantic attribute like
description, field lebel and documentation.

3. What is tr? Copy of tr? And use.

Transport request- A SAP transport is a package which is used

to transfer data from one SAP server to another. Change
requests are named in a standard format as: <SID>K<Number>
SID – System ID

Number – can be anything from a range starting with 90001

Once the Transport request is released, it creates a Data file and
Co-file.

Cofile : having the attributes of data file. Co-file is created

“K”, Co Files contains the controlling data

Data file : having the data file is created “R”, Data files contain
the database details.

Copy of tr-

4. What is further characteristics?

In further characteristics you can assign search help, parameter id,

default component name, change document etc.

5.what is parameter id?

6.What is documentation for data element? Have you ever

done any documentation..

The documentation of a data element is the description of the data

element, which serves as an online help to the user. The
documentation entered for a data element is displayed when the user
selects the f1 help on the fields referring to that data element. If there
is no documentation for the data element , only the short text for the
data element appears on pressing the f1 key.
The documentation status is used to determine whether or not the
documentation for the data element has been written. In addition to
this, the documentation ststus also explains whether the
documentation is required or not.

Lists the description of the different kinds of possible ststus entries.

Object requires documentation – shows whether or not documentation

already exists,it should be written.

Object is not used in any screens – shows that the documentation does
not exists and is not required, since this data element is not used with
any of the existing fields.

Object explained sufficiently by short text – displays that the short

text provided for the data element is sufficient to explain the purpose
for its creation. In this case, the documentation does not exist and is
not required.

Documentation is postponed temporarily – displays that the data

element requires documentation. In this case, the documentation has
not yet been written.

Have you ever done any documentation?

7. check table? Value table? Foreign key relationship?

Check table : a table which stores master data is called check table. In
Check table is used for Field level validation.

A table which link between two or more tables for validating its own
data is called foreign key relation.

The content of the check table can be used as input help for a field on
which a check table is assigned. You can access it using F4 key.

Content of check table can be used as input help.

As per DBMS what we call foreign key table, is called as check table
in SAP.

Value table - This is maintained at Domain Level.

all the table fields will be referring to the domain will be checked or
validate with a single table called as value table.

The system will automatically display check table name to generate

foreign key proposal.

Foreign key relationship – a relationship between two or more tables

for validating its own data is called foreign key relation.

8. types of views? On which view we mantain database table?

Projection view

Database view

Maintenance view

Help view.

In maintenance view and database view we mantain data.

9. what is type group? What are the standard type group have
you ever used?

Type groups are used for creating customer-defined data types.

These type groups are created in the ABAP Dictionary and are
available for use in all ABAP programs.

The main purpose is efficiency of coding time. If there is a

certain non-standard SAP type that the programmers find
themselves using often in code, it would save coding and
maintenance time to have them centrally defined.
 Type groups are ABAP Dictionary Objects

They are defined with the keyword TYPE-POOL followed by

the name of the type group (this statement is created
automatically in the first line of the dictionary editor). Type
group names are limited to five characters. (To display a type
pool, go to R3 Repository Information System (Tcode: SE84) -
>ABAP Dictionary-> Other Objects-> Type groups.

To create a type pool, go to Object Navigator (Tcode: SE80) ->Click

the ‘Edit Object’ button in the Application toolbar and Select the tab
‘Dictionary’-> Check the radio button for Type group-> Type a name
in the corresponding field-> Finally hit the create button)

Types of a type group must begin with the type group name and
an underscore

Variables can be declared in ABAP programs using the

customer defined types. Type groups are referenced in
programs by using the TYPE-POOLS statement. In the
example above, the data type (character, integer, packed
number, etc.) and length for each data variable is defined by
using a type from the type group.

Standard type group – slis.

10. lock object? Types? Functionalities?

11. what is the naming convention for lock object?

12. conversion routine?

SAP stores certain fields in internal formats whereas they are

displayed/ outputted in a different external format. the use of a
conversion routine would be to convert between these internal and
external formats. these routines are defined at domain level.
For example the domain for MATNR field has conversion routines to
convertbetween the internal and external formats . The internal SAP
format would have leading zeroes to make the material number an 18
character field.

Example – mara-matnr

Click on matnr . in conversion routine matn1 is there. Click on that.

By clicking matn1 we will view 4 function module.

Now, what is conversion routine ; its only the transformation of what

you see and what is really in the database.

Matnr is a good example. Because you show a material number for

example 12345 but infact in the database it stores as
000000000012345.

The fm conversion_exit_matn1_input converts 12345 to

000000000012345.

-Conversion of what a user ask to sap to what sap need to use in the
database.

The fm conversion_exit_matn1_output convert 00000000012345 to

12345.

-conversion of what sap used to what the user must see.

Another example –

Conversion routine are assigned at domain leve and each will have 2
function modules.

Conversion_exit_xxxx_inut- converts display format to sap internal

format.

Conversion_exit_xxxx_output- converts sap internal format to display

format.

Where xxxx is the conversion routine maintained in the domain level.

Example – ALPHA is a conversion routine assigned for material
number i.e domain kunnr.

So the fm associated with this conversion routine are

Conversion_exit_alpha_input – customer number length is 10. If the

material number is 180123 i.e. 6 digits, then this function module
converts it to 0000180123 i.e it will add proceeding zeros to make it
10 digits.

Conversion_exit_alpha_output - if the customer number is

0000180123, then this function module will remove the procedding
zeros and converts it to 180123.

13. what is structure ? difference between structure internal table

and table.

Structure –

It is an object.

Hold data only at runtime.

Structure only contain a single row value data.

Itt doesnot contain primary field.

It doesnot contain delivery class and technical settings.

At the time of execution we are fetching the data from table but we
are not able to access the data directly. We are using structure to
access the table data.

Table –

table is a collection of rows and columns.

Each row is called a record in a table.

Each column is called a field in a table.

A table is a collection of fields and records.

The name of the table should begin with y or z.

The maximum length of the table length can be upto 16 characters

including y or z.

It must contains at least 1 field as primary fields.

It contain delivery class and technical settings.

14. difference between pooled and cluster table?

Pooled table- they are used to hold a lagre number of very small table.
Table pool can contain 10 to 1000 small pool table which has 10 to
100 records.

Holds customizing data.

It has many to one relationship with the table in database.

It is stored with other pooled tables in a single table called table pool
in the database.

Secondary indexes can not be created.

They reduces the amount of database resources needed when many

small tables have to be opened at the same time.

Cluster table- they are used to hold data from a few number of large
table.

Cluster table can contain very big but few (1 to 10) cluster table.
Stores system data.

It has many to one relationship with the table in database.

Secondary indexes cannot created.

The would be used when the tables have primary key in common and
data data of the table are accessed simulteniously.

15. difference between sorted hashed and standard internal table?

Standard Internal Tables: These tables have a linear index and can be
accessed using the index or the key. The responses time is in linear
relationship with number of table entriees. These tables are useful
when user wants to address individual table entries using the index.

Sorted Internal Tables: These tables also have an index and the key.
But, the response time is in logarithmic relationship with number of
table entries, since it uses binary search algorithm instead of linear
search. These tables are useful when user wants the table to be sorted
while additional entries have to be added.

Hashed Internal Tables: These tables have no index, but have the key.
The response time is constant irrespective of number of table entries,
since it uses a Hash algorithm. These tables are useful when user
wants to access the entries with key only.

16. what is enqueue and dequeue functionalities?

Enqueue is used to insert the object in a queue.

Dequeue is used to remove the object is being queued through above
ftt VFM .

17. what is buffering and types?

Accessing records directly from database table may be time

consuming process. To overcome this the frequently accessed records
of a table can be placed in a buffer from where they can be easily
accessed by a sap system, so improving the performance of a sap
system.

Buffering types –

Single record buffering –

Only the record of a table that are really accessed are loaded in this
buffer.

Fully buffered –

All the records of the table are stored in buffer.

Generic area buffer –

Key fields are stored in generic area buffer.

18. what is search help exit?

Search help exit is used to modify f4 values at run time before its
being displayed as a list to the user for selection.

19. what is indexing? Types of indexing? And primary indexing

and secondary indexing ? creation and use of secondary index?
Indexing – index is a copy of data base table that is reduced to few
fields. This is always in sorted form. Sorting helps to access the data
record faster. Index is used for faster access of database table.

Types of indexing –

Primary index –

It contains all the key fields of the table.

It is automatically created at the time of creation of table.

Secondary index –

We can add our own index to the table known as secondary index.

We create secondary index for non key fields.

Secondary indexes are only to be created when these fields are used
extensively in search.

We can create maximum of 9 secondary indexes.

Creation and use of secondary indexes –

To create the secondary index on sap table display the table in data
dictionary.

Then click on create index.

Enter the name of the index.

Give short description and the fields in the index.

Now save and activate it.

Use of secondary index-

Secondary indexex means additional indexes with respect to primary

indexes.
Secondary indexes are used to enhancement performance when
retrieving data.

20. what is enhancement category?

Standard database tables and structures defined by sap within the abap
data dictionary can be enhanced by customers using custom includes
or append structures. The table enhancement category provides a way
of limiting this customization so that dependant objects are not
negatively affected. You therefore need to understand how this works
before you are able to enhance a table correctly.

21. what is standard recording routine ?

If we click on standard recording routine it will ask for tr. So that all
the object of this tr is moved to another system like development to
quality or production.

22. why we use tmg ?

It is used to mantain the bulk amount of data.

Mantainance means creation deletion modififation of the records.

It is also used for validating the table records by using events.

23. what is overview screen?

Maintenance can be done in two ways.

Mantainance and overview both on one screen.

Mantainance in one screen and overview on other screen.

24. how we can restrict a user to input data while maintaining?

In tmg 39 events are there . by the help of this events we can restrict
user to input data while maintaining.

25. what are event in tmg you come across ?

Before saving the data in the database.

After saving the data in the database.

Before deleting the data in the database.

After deleting the data displayed.

Creating a new entry.

After getting the original of an entry.

27. how to use events in tmg?

28. can you create a table without using dataelement and domain?

Without data element we can create a table by using predefined type

and reference type.

We can create table without data element.

In that case in place of Data element u need to specify the Predefined

type.
Enter the name of field and the press on Built-In type button. This
will disable the data element entry fields and enable the Built-in type
field where in u can put the predefined type like CHAR, INT1 etc.

29. why we use reference key?

We use foreigh keys to define relationship between in the abap

dictionary. If we want to link two table then primary key of one table
will be added to another table where primary key of the first table will
be become the foreign key of second table.

30. can you create a element without domain?

Yes, we can create a element without domain by using predefined

type.

31. suppose while user is maintaining data and he want f4 help on

that field. What are the steps and how to do that.

While we are creating data element , go to further characteristics. In

search help section give search help name and parameter.

In the domain we can provide a value range. In the value range we

can provide values. In the domain you can provide the value table
also. So these values will appear by pressing f4 on the field.

32. what is delivery class and data class?

Delivery class – delivery class is used to control the transport oftable
data for an installation upgradation or client copy and transports
between customer systems. The delivery class is also used in the
extended table maintenance.

Features –

There are the following development classes :

A – application table ( master and transaction data)

C – customer table (data is only maintained by customer)

l- table for storing temporary data

G- customer table, sap can insert new records but cannot delete and
over write the exsisting one. The customer namespace must be
defined in table TRESC. To define the customer namespace use report
RDDKOR54 . you can start it directly from the table maintenance by
choosing maintain custom namespace on the delivery and
maietenance tab.

E- system table with its own namespace for customer entries.

S- system table ,data changes have the status of program changes.

W- system table( for example table of the development environment)

Whose data is transported with its own transport object.

Behaviour during client copy

Only the data of client dependent table is copied.

Class C,G,E,S – the data records of the table are copied to the target
client.

Class W,L- the data records of the table are not copied to the target
client.
Class A- the data records are only copied to the target client if
explicitly requested(parameter option).

Behaviour during installation upgrade and language import

Class A and C- Data is only imported into client 000. The system
overwrites the existing data records.

Class E, S and W- Data is imported into all clients. The system

overwrites the existing data records.

Class G- The system overwrites the existing data records in client

000. In all other clients, the system inserts new data records, but
existing data records are not overwritten.

Class L- No data is imported.

Cross-Client Tables

Classes A, L and C- No data is imported.

Classes E, S, and W- Data is imported. The system overwrites the

existing data records with the same key.

Class G- The system inserts non-existent data records, but does

not overwrite existing data records.

Behavior During Transport Between Customer Systems

Data records of tables having delivery class L are not imported into
the target system. Data records of tables having delivery classes A, C,
E, G, S and W are imported into the target system (for client-
dependent tables this is done for the target clients specified in the
transport).

Use of the Delivery Class in the Extended Table Maintenance

The delivery class is also used in the Extended Table Maintenance

(transaction code SM30). The maintenance interface generated for a
table performs the following checks:
● It is not possible to transport the entered data using the transport
connection of the generated maintenance interface for tables having
delivery classes W and L.

● Data that is entered is checked to see if it violates the

namespace defined in table TRESC. If the data violates the
namespace, the system rejects the input.

33. what is master and transaction data?

Master data - cannot change frequently. Rarely updated.

Transactional data - frequently updated.

34. what is include and append structure ?

Include structure – used to add field in any customizing table..

We can add fields whenever we want.

Reusability is available.

Append structure –

Used for standard table.

If we want to add more fields to the standard table then we need to go

for append structure.

Should be added at the end of a standard table. Because we should not

change a standard table at the middle.

35. how many append structure can be done in table?

36. can we add new fields to a standard table. If yes then how.
By the use of se14 and tmg we can add new fields to a standard table.

37. how many maximum number of primary key we can create in

a table?

16 primary key we can create for a table.

38.what is the use of initial value?

If we set the value as initial or click the initial check box key field key
field can be assigned to initial value defaultly that is 0 for numeric
and space for character.

39. in search help what is the use of import export l pos and s pos.

Import – if this checkbox is selected the vaiue is imported by list

screen from the selection screen.

Export – if this checkbox is selected then the selected value by the

user will be exported from list screen to the selection screen.

L pos – it specifies the list position of the screen.

S pos – it specifies the selection screen position of the field.

40. what is dialogue type and hot key ?

Dialogue type –

Dialogue means a screen in sap.

Here we have 3 options.

1.display value immediately-

The values are immediately displayed as soon as we click on the

search help button.
2.dialogue with value restriction –

The value are not displayed immediately but instead a screen is

displayed where you can put a filter value.

3.dialogue depends on set of values –

It is a combination of above two options. That is if the set of values

are less than 500 the values are immediately displayed.

If the set of values are more than 500 a dialogue screen is displayed.

Hot key –

Hot key permits the user to select an elementary search help from
collective search help directly in the input field with the short
notation.

Letters and digits are allowded as hot key.