SAP DATA INLINE documentation, setup help and example usage

ARTICLE

DATA - Inline Declaration

Syntax
... DATA(var) ...

Effect
A declaration expression with the declaration operator DATA declares a variable var used as an operand in the current writer position
. The declared variable is visible statically in the program from DATA(var) and is valid in the current
context . The declaration is made when the program is compiled, regardless of whether the statement is actually executed.
The declaration operator DATA can be specified in every compatible declaration position . The date type of the variable is determined by the operand type . It must be possible to derive this type statically in full.
Wenn die Variable var mehrmals innerhalb der Anweisung mit dem
Deklarationsausdruck DATA(var) vorkommt, muss dieser vor den
anderen Nennungen aufgef�hrt sein mit einer Ausnahme: Bei Zuweisungen
mit dem Gleichheitszeichen = wird erst die rechte und dann die
linke Seite ausgewertet.
A variable var declared inline cannot be used in a reader position of the same statement.
ABAP_PGL Only use inline declarations locally .

Notes

A valid statement with an inline declaration of a variable can generally be interpreted as a short form for a declaration statement used as a direct prefix.

DATA var TYPE ...
... var ...
Exceptions to this rule occur only if an identically named data object from a more global context is used in the same statement. This field symbol is still valid and is only hidden after the statement.

Just like the statement DATA , an inline declaration does not open a local context for the current statement block. An inline declaration for a variable can only be made once within a context and the variable cannot yet be declared there using DATA .

The operand position and the types of other operands can be included in the static derivation of the operand type. If the type of a different operand cannot be identified statically (perhaps because it is specified as a generically typed field symbol), either a suitable standard type is used or no inline declaration is possible.

If more than one equally valid operand type is possible in the same declaration position , the recommended preferred data type is generally used.

Example
Inline declaration of an internal table as a target field of an assignment and inline declaration of an appropriate work area in a
LOOP .
TYPES t_itab TYPE TABLE OF i
WITH NON-UNIQUE KEY table_line.

DATA(itab) = VALUE t_itab( ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ).
LOOP AT itab INTO DATA(wa).
...
ENDLOOP.

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