ABAP Select data from SAP table PLFOAF into internal table

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

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM PLFOAF
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_PLFOAF2).
*--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_PLFOAF INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_PLFOAF2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<PLFOAF>-MANDT = 1.
<PLFOAF>-COMPANYCODE = 1.
<PLFOAF>-CALENDARDATE = 1.
<PLFOAF>-TRANSACTIONCURRENCY = 1.
<PLFOAF>-ORIGINALTRANSACTIONCURRENCY = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_PLFOAF-LIQUIDITYITEM, sy-vline,
  WA_PLFOAF-PLANNINGLEVEL, sy-vline,
  WA_PLFOAF-PLANNINGGROUP, sy-vline,
  WA_PLFOAF-FLOWTYPE, sy-vline,
  WA_PLFOAF-AMOUNTINTRANSACTIONCURRENCY, sy-vline,
  WA_PLFOAF-CASHFLOW, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_PLFOAF 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_PLFOAF 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_PLFOAF INTO WA_PLFOAF.


*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 LIQUIDITYITEM
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_PLFOAF-LIQUIDITYITEM
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_PLFOAF-LIQUIDITYITEM.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit ALPHA, internal->external for field PLANNINGGROUP
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_PLFOAF-PLANNINGGROUP
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_PLFOAF-PLANNINGGROUP.
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_PLFOAF_STR, 
MANDT TYPE STRING,
COMPANYCODE TYPE STRING,
CALENDARDATE TYPE STRING,
TRANSACTIONCURRENCY TYPE STRING,
ORIGINALTRANSACTIONCURRENCY TYPE STRING,
LIQUIDITYITEM TYPE STRING,
PLANNINGLEVEL TYPE STRING,
PLANNINGGROUP TYPE STRING,
FLOWTYPE TYPE STRING,
AMOUNTINTRANSACTIONCURRENCY TYPE STRING,
CASHFLOW TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_PLFOAF_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_PLFOAF_STR-MANDT sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-COMPANYCODE sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-CALENDARDATE sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-TRANSACTIONCURRENCY sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-ORIGINALTRANSACTIONCURRENCY sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-LIQUIDITYITEM sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-PLANNINGLEVEL sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-PLANNINGGROUP sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-FLOWTYPE sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-AMOUNTINTRANSACTIONCURRENCY sy-vline 
WA_PLFOAF_STR-CASHFLOW sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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