ABAP Select data from SAP table /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N into internal table

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Below is a number of ABAP code snippets to demonstrate how to select data from SAP /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N table and store it within an internal table, including using the newer @DATA inline declaration methods. It also shows you various ways to process this data using ABAP work area, inline declaration or field symbols including executing all the relevant CONVERSION_EXIT routines specific to /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N. See here for more generic Select statement tips.

Sometimes data within SAP is stored within the database table in a different format to what it is displayed to the user. These input/output conversation FM routines are what translates the data between the two formats.

There is also a full declaration of the /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N table where each field has a char/string type for you to simply copy and paste. This allows you to use processing that is only available to these field types such as the CONCATENATE statement.

DATA: IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N,
      WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N TYPE /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N,
      GD_STR TYPE STRING.

DATA: lo_typedescr type REF TO cl_abap_typedescr.
DATA: lv_fieldname type fieldname.

FIELD-SYMBOLS: <FIELD> TYPE any.
FIELD-SYMBOLS: </SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N> TYPE /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N.

*Process all fields in table header/work area as string values
  PERFORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING wa_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N.

SELECT *
*restrict ABAP select to first 10 rows
 UP TO 10 ROWS      
  FROM /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N
  INTO TABLE IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N.

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM /SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N2).
*--Further methods of using ABAP code to  select data from SAP database tables

*You can also declare the header/work area using the in-line DATA declaration method
READ TABLE IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N2).


*Demonstrate how to loop at an internal table and update values using a FIELD-SYMBOL
LOOP AT IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N ASSIGNING </SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N>.

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
</SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N>-TABSCHEMA = 1.
</SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N>-TABNAME = 1.
</SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N>-COLNAME = 1.
</SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N>-COLNO = 1.
</SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N>-TYPENAME = 1.

ENDLOOP.

LOOP AT IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N INTO WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N.
*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N-LENGTH, sy-vline,
  WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N-COLCARD, sy-vline,
  WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N-HIGH2KEY, sy-vline,
  WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N-LOW2KEY, sy-vline,
  WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N-AVGCOLLEN, sy-vline,
  WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N-KEYSEQ, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N you want to display...

  WRITE:/ sy-uline.
* Aternatively use generic code to Write field values (and NAME) to screen report
  DO.
    ASSIGN COMPONENT sy-index OF STRUCTURE wa_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N TO <field>.
    IF sy-subrc <> 0. EXIT. ENDIF.
    WRITE:/ 'Field Value', <field>, sy-vline.
    gd_str = <field> .
    lo_typedescr ?= CL_ABAP_DATADESCR=>DESCRIBE_BY_DATA( <field> ).
    lv_fieldname = lo_typedescr->GET_RELATIVE_NAME( ).
    WRITE:/ 'Field Name', lv_fieldname.
  ENDDO.

  
*Redo loop but convert all fields from internal to out value  
LOOP AT IT_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N INTO WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N.


*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Convert all fields to display/output versions using conversion routines
  PERFORM convert_all_field_values CHANGING wa_EKKO.
	 
ENDLOOP.

  
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
*& Form convert_all_field_values
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
FORM convert_all_field_values CHANGING p_EKKO LIKE wa_EKKO.
DATA: ld_input(1000) TYPE c, ld_output(1000) TYPE C.
ENDFORM. 

*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
*& Form process_as_string_field_values
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
FORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING p_EKKO LIKE wa_EKKO.

TYPES: BEGIN OF T_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR, 
TABSCHEMA TYPE STRING,
TABNAME TYPE STRING,
COLNAME TYPE STRING,
COLNO TYPE STRING,
TYPENAME TYPE STRING,
LENGTH TYPE STRING,
COLCARD TYPE STRING,
HIGH2KEY TYPE STRING,
LOW2KEY TYPE STRING,
AVGCOLLEN TYPE STRING,
KEYSEQ TYPE STRING,
STMT_ID TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR type T_EKKO_STR.

DATA: ld_text TYPE string.

LOOP AT IT_EKKO INTO WA_EKKO.
  MOVE-CORRESPONDING wa_EKKO TO WA_EKKO_STR.
  CONCATENATE: sy-vline
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-TABSCHEMA sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-TABNAME sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-COLNAME sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-COLNO sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-TYPENAME sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-LENGTH sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-COLCARD sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-HIGH2KEY sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-LOW2KEY sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-AVGCOLLEN sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-KEYSEQ sy-vline 
WA_/SDF/DB6_XPLCOLS_N_STR-STMT_ID sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

*Add any further fields from structure WA_EKKO_STR you want to CONCATENATE...
ENDLOOP.
ENDFORM.