What is ABAP Programming

ABAP is a programming language created and used by SAP for the development of application programs. All R/3 applications and modules were developed by ABAP only. ABAP used to be called ABAP/4.  The "4" stood for "fourth generation language".

 

ABAP workbench is a single point to access all the sap abap development tools. We can access ABAP editor, Dictionary, Repository etc. Transaction to access this is SE80.

 

 

Types of ABAP Programs :

ABAP Programs can be of different type :

1) reports

2) Online Programming or Module pool programming

3) BDC Programming  

4) Interface programming

 

ABAP Reports can be classified mainly as conventional reports and interactive reports.

·         Conventional reports do not allow interaction by the user; therefore, the basic list contains extensive information that the user must often sort through to find the relevant data.

·         Interactive reports allow interaction by the user; therefore, the user can produce secondary, detailed lists off of the basic list by choosing the relevant data and requesting more information.

 

Module pool programming or online programming involves the creation of screens which might call from a program. We can create a module pool program from SE80 only.

 

BDC (Batch Data Communication) programs are developed to transfer data from one system to another system. These programs are developed at the very beginning of a project as all the data form legacy system has to transfer to SAP system. Various methods are there in BDC to transfer data.

 

Interface programs are also generally developed to transfer data from one system to another system. Mostly used to create a IDOC data transfer scenario.