SAP BOOLE FUNCTIONS documentation, setup help and example usage

ARTICLE

boolc , boolx - Boolean Functions
The arguments of Boolean functions are logical expressions . The return value of a Boolean function expresses the truth value of the logical expression.

Syntax Forms
1. ... boolc( log_exp ) ...
2. ... boolx( bool = log_exp bit = bit ) ...

Effect
The functions determine the truth value
of the logical expression log_exp . For
log_exp , any logical expression can be specified in accordance with the applicable rules.
The return value is as follows:

The function boolc returns a single-character character string of the type string . If the logical expression is true, "X" is returned. If the logical expression is false, a blank character is returned. boolc basically belongs to the processing functions with character-type results and can be specified in general and character-type expression positions .

The function boolx returns a byte chain of the type xstring

. If the logical expression is true, the byte chain is filled as if the function bit-set( bit ) were being executed. If the logical expression is false, the byte chain is filled as if the function bit-set( 0 ) were being executed. For bit , a data object of the type i must be specified. boolx belongs, in principle, to the
Bit functions and can be used at all position where a Bit expression, too, is possible

Notes

These functions can be viewed as a partial replacement for the boolean data type for truth values not available in ABAP. In particular,

boolc can be used in many operand positions where input parameters of the type abap_bool of the type group
ABAP are expected.

The result of boolc must not, however, be compared in relational expressions with the constants abap_true and abap_false , since the comparison converts the latter from c to string and ignores any blanks. Comparisons of this type are not usually necessary.

If boolc requires return values other than "X" or " " (for example, "Y" and "N" or "1" and "0"), the result of boolc can be edited using the function translate

or another suitable processing function
.

The function boolx can be used for efficient saving of sequences of truth values.

Example
The value 0, 1, or 2 is assigned to the variable bool_value , depending on the result of the logical expressions log_exp1 and log_exp2 .
DATA bool_value TYPE i.

bool_value = strlen( condense( val = boolc( log_exp1 ) ) ) +
strlen( condense( val = boolc( log_exp2 ) ) ).

Example
Calls a method, where the input parameter no_dialog is supplied with the character-like representation of the results of a predicate expression.
PARAMETERS word TYPE c length 30.
DATA result_tab TYPE cl_abap_docu=>search_results.

cl_abap_docu=>start(
EXPORTING word = word
no_dialog = boolc( sy-batch IS NOT INITIAL )
IMPORTING search_results = result_tab ).

Documentation extract taken from SAP system, � Copyright SAP AG. All rights reserved