ABAP Select data from SAP table A251 into internal table

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Below is a number of ABAP code snippets to demonstrate how to select data from SAP A251 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 A251. 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 A251 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_A251 TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF A251,
      WA_A251 TYPE A251,
      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: <A251> TYPE A251.

*Process all fields in table header/work area as string values
  PERFORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING wa_A251.

SELECT *
*restrict ABAP select to first 10 rows
 UP TO 10 ROWS      
  FROM A251
  INTO TABLE IT_A251.

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM A251
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_A2512).
*--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_A251 INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_A2512).


*Demonstrate how to loop at an internal table and update values using a FIELD-SYMBOL
LOOP AT IT_A251 ASSIGNING <A251>.

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<A251>-MANDT = 1.
<A251>-KAPPL = 1.
<A251>-KSCHL = 1.
<A251>-VKORG = 1.
<A251>-VTWEG = 1.

ENDLOOP.

LOOP AT IT_A251 INTO WA_A251.
*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_A251-SPART, sy-vline,
  WA_A251-INSERENT, sy-vline,
  WA_A251-DATBI, sy-vline,
  WA_A251-DATAB, sy-vline,
  WA_A251-KNUMH, sy-vline,
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_A251 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_A251 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_A251 INTO WA_A251.


*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 ALPHA, internal->external for field INSERENT
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_A251-INSERENT
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_A251-INSERENT.
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_A251_STR, 
MANDT TYPE STRING,
KAPPL TYPE STRING,
KSCHL TYPE STRING,
VKORG TYPE STRING,
VTWEG TYPE STRING,
SPART TYPE STRING,
INSERENT TYPE STRING,
DATBI TYPE STRING,
DATAB TYPE STRING,
KNUMH TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_A251_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_A251_STR-MANDT sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-KAPPL sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-KSCHL sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-VKORG sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-VTWEG sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-SPART sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-INSERENT sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-DATBI sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-DATAB sy-vline 
WA_A251_STR-KNUMH sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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