ABAP Select data from SAP table CLS_CHARACT into internal table

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

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM CLS_CHARACT
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_CLS_CHARACT2).
*--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_CLS_CHARACT INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_CLS_CHARACT2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<CLS_CHARACT>-POSNR = 1.
<CLS_CHARACT>-CHARACT = 1.
<CLS_CHARACT>-ORG_AREA = 1.
<CLS_CHARACT>-CODE_LETTR = 1.
<CLS_CHARACT>-ORIGIN = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_CLS_CHARACT-DRURE, sy-vline,
  WA_CLS_CHARACT-SELRE, sy-vline,
  WA_CLS_CHARACT-ANZRE, sy-vline,
  WA_CLS_CHARACT-RELEV, sy-vline,
  WA_CLS_CHARACT-INDRE, sy-vline,
  WA_CLS_CHARACT-FLDELETE, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_CLS_CHARACT 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_CLS_CHARACT 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_CLS_CHARACT INTO WA_CLS_CHARACT.


*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_CLS_CHARACT_STR, 
POSNR TYPE STRING,
CHARACT TYPE STRING,
ORG_AREA TYPE STRING,
CODE_LETTR TYPE STRING,
ORIGIN TYPE STRING,
DRURE TYPE STRING,
SELRE TYPE STRING,
ANZRE TYPE STRING,
RELEV TYPE STRING,
INDRE TYPE STRING,
FLDELETE TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_CLS_CHARACT_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_CLS_CHARACT_STR-POSNR sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-CHARACT sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-ORG_AREA sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-CODE_LETTR sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-ORIGIN sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-DRURE sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-SELRE sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-ANZRE sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-RELEV sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-INDRE sy-vline 
WA_CLS_CHARACT_STR-FLDELETE sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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