SAP METHOD PARAMETERS documentation, setup help and example usage

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Interface Parameters in Methods

Interface parameters in methods are input parameters ( IMPORTING , CHANGING parameters) and output parameters ( EXPORTING , CHANGING , RETURNING parameters). In declarations with the statements

METHODS

CLASS-METHODS

EVENTS

CLASS-EVENTS

the following attributes are determined:


Passing parameters by reference or by value
With the exception of the return value ( RETURNING parameters), parameters can be passed both by value or reference. Passing by reference is standard with methods. If only a name p is specified in the parameter declaration, the parameter is passed implicitly as a reference. If a VALUE(p) is specified instead, then the parameter is passed as a value. The return value may only be passed as a value. Passing by reference can also be explicitly specified with other parameters using
REFERENCE(p) . An IMPORTING parameter transferred by reference, cannot be changed in the method.


Typing parameters

All parameters must be typed during declaration using the addition TYPE or the addition
LIKE . The following entries are allowed after TYPE
as parameter types:


Optional parameters

All input parameters ( IMPORTING , CHANGING parameters) can be defined in the declaration as optional parameters using the additions OPTIONAL or DEFAULT . These parameters must not necessarily be transfered when the method is called. With the addition OPTIONAL
your parameter remains initialized according to type, while the addition DEFAULT allows you to enter a start value.

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