File Interface in Release 6.10
The file interface in Release 6.10 has been completely overhauled. The
changes and developments affect the following topics:
1 Adapting to Unicode
2 Reading and changing file properties at runtime
3 New classes for converting files
4 Support for files larger than 2 gigabytes
5 Limiting data range when reading files
ABAP_MODIFICATION_1 Adapting to Unicode
Extensive changes to the file interface have been made as a result of
conversion to Unicode . For more information, see the
file interface in Unicode programs.
ABAP_MODIFICATION_2 Reading and changing file properties at runtime
The GET DATASET ... statement returns both the
current read or write positions and the file properties. In turn, you
can set a desired file position at runtime using the
SET DATASET ... statement. You can also change
the properties of the file, but the system only copies values compatible
with the opening mode (such as FOR INPUT or FOR OUTPUT ).
ABAP_MODIFICATION_3 New classes for converting files
The following three classes were introduced for converting files:
CL_ABAP_CONV_IN_CE : Instances of
this class enable the conversion of external binary data to valid ABAP
data objects
CL_ABAP_CONV_OUT_CE : Instances of
this class convert ABAP data objects to binary data.
CL_ABAP_CONV_X2X_CE : Instances of
this class allow you to convert the text data of various character sets
and the numeric data of various number formats.
ABAP_MODIFICATION_4 Support for files larger than 2 gigabytes
Files larger than 2 gigabytes can now be read and written on all
platforms that support large files. Only the platforms OS/390 and
IBM System i (previously AS/400 ) are currently not
included in this change. Additionally, the
OPEN DATASET statement has been enhanced in such a way that, when
opening a file, the file pointer also addresses positions larger than 2
gigabytes.
ABAP_MODIFICATION_5 Limiting data range when reading files
The amount of files to be read can be limited using the addition
MAXIMUM LENGTH maxlen . Depending on the mode in
which the file was opened, maxlen defines the maximum number of
characters or bytes, which are to be read from the file.
Documentation extract taken from SAP system, � Copyright SAP AG. All rights reserved