ABAP Select data from SAP table /UI2/GENC_META into internal table

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Below is a number of ABAP code snippets to demonstrate how to select data from SAP /UI2/GENC_META 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 /UI2/GENC_META. 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 /UI2/GENC_META 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_/UI2/GENC_META TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF /UI2/GENC_META,
      WA_/UI2/GENC_META TYPE /UI2/GENC_META,
      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: </UI2/GENC_META> TYPE /UI2/GENC_META.

*Process all fields in table header/work area as string values
  PERFORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING wa_/UI2/GENC_META.

SELECT *
*restrict ABAP select to first 10 rows
 UP TO 10 ROWS      
  FROM /UI2/GENC_META
  INTO TABLE IT_/UI2/GENC_META.

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM /UI2/GENC_META
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_/UI2/GENC_META2).
*--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_/UI2/GENC_META INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_/UI2/GENC_META2).


*Demonstrate how to loop at an internal table and update values using a FIELD-SYMBOL
LOOP AT IT_/UI2/GENC_META ASSIGNING </UI2/GENC_META>.

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
</UI2/GENC_META>-MANDT = 1.
</UI2/GENC_META>-USR = 1.
</UI2/GENC_META>-LANGU = 1.
</UI2/GENC_META>-REQUEST = 1.
</UI2/GENC_META>-ADD_KEY = 1.

ENDLOOP.

LOOP AT IT_/UI2/GENC_META INTO WA_/UI2/GENC_META.
*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_/UI2/GENC_META-OWNER, sy-vline,
  WA_/UI2/GENC_META-ENTITY, sy-vline,
  WA_/UI2/GENC_META-CODING, sy-vline,
  WA_/UI2/GENC_META-SOURCE_CONTENT, sy-vline,
  WA_/UI2/GENC_META-SOURCE_TYPE, sy-vline,
  WA_/UI2/GENC_META-SOURCE_URL, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_/UI2/GENC_META 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_/UI2/GENC_META 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_/UI2/GENC_META INTO WA_/UI2/GENC_META.


*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.

*Conversion exit ISOLA, internal->external for field LANGU
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ISOLA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_/UI2/GENC_META-LANGU
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_/UI2/GENC_META-LANGU.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.
ENDFORM. 

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

TYPES: BEGIN OF T_/UI2/GENC_META_STR, 
MANDT TYPE STRING,
USR TYPE STRING,
LANGU TYPE STRING,
REQUEST TYPE STRING,
ADD_KEY TYPE STRING,
OWNER TYPE STRING,
ENTITY TYPE STRING,
CODING TYPE STRING,
SOURCE_CONTENT TYPE STRING,
SOURCE_TYPE TYPE STRING,
SOURCE_URL TYPE STRING,
CONTENT TYPE STRING,
CONTENT_TYPE TYPE STRING,
CR_TIME TYPE STRING,
VALID_TILL TYPE STRING,
TYPE_FORMAT TYPE STRING,
INVAL_PLAN TYPE STRING,
EXTERNAL_TOKEN TYPE STRING,
VERSION TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_/UI2/GENC_META_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_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-MANDT sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-USR sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-LANGU sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-REQUEST sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-ADD_KEY sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-OWNER sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-ENTITY sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-CODING sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-SOURCE_CONTENT sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-SOURCE_TYPE sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-SOURCE_URL sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-CONTENT sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-CONTENT_TYPE sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-CR_TIME sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-VALID_TILL sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-TYPE_FORMAT sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-INVAL_PLAN sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-EXTERNAL_TOKEN sy-vline 
WA_/UI2/GENC_META_STR-VERSION sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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