FIELD-SYMBOLS
Short Reference
ABAP Syntax FIELD-SYMBOLS <(><<)>fs> {
typing |
obsolete_typing }.
ABAP_ADDITION:
... typing
What does it do? The FIELD-SYMBOLS statement declares a field
symbol fs . The naming
conventions apply to the name fs . The angle brackets of the
field symbols distinguish them from data objects and are obligatory.
Field symbols can be declared in any procedure
and in the global declaration section of an ABAP program, but not in
the declaration section of a class or an interface. A field symbol can
be used in any operand position in which it is visible and which matches
the typing defined using typing .
A field symbol is initial directly after its declaration (with the
exception of obsolete typings
without an explicit type ), which means that it does not reference a
memory area. A memory area must be assigned to it (normally using the
ASSIGN statement) before it can be used as an
operand. Otherwise an exception is raised.
Latest notes: An inline declaration
of field symbols can be made using the declaration operator
FIELD-SYMBOL .
ABAP_ADDITION ... typing
What does it do? The addition typing is used to type the field
symbol. The syntax of typing is described under
Typing . The typing specifies which memory
areas can be assigned to the field
symbol and in which operand positions it can be used.
Latest notes: Alongside the typings that use
typing , an obsolete typing
obsolete_typing is also possible (outside of methods).
Example ABAP Coding Types a field symbol itab as an internal
table and a field symbol wa with a fully generic type.
FIELD-SYMBOLS: <(><<)>itab> TYPE ANY TABLE,
<(><<)>wa> TYPE any.
...
ASSIGN <(><<)>itab>[ KEY primary_key ('...') = '...' ] TO <(><<)>wa>.
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