ABAP Select data from SAP table VARIDESC into internal table

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

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM VARIDESC
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_VARIDESC2).
*--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_VARIDESC INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_VARIDESC2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<VARIDESC>-MANDT = 1.
<VARIDESC>-REPORT = 1.
<VARIDESC>-SVARIANT = 1.
<VARIDESC>-FIELDNAME = 1.
<VARIDESC>-FTABNAME = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_VARIDESC-FIELDKIND, sy-vline,
  WA_VARIDESC-OLEN, sy-vline,
  WA_VARIDESC-DBFIELD, sy-vline,
  WA_VARIDESC-DYNSEL, sy-vline,
  WA_VARIDESC-SPATTERN, sy-vline,
  WA_VARIDESC-OBLIGAT, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_VARIDESC 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_VARIDESC 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_VARIDESC INTO WA_VARIDESC.


*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_VARIDESC_STR, 
MANDT TYPE STRING,
REPORT TYPE STRING,
SVARIANT TYPE STRING,
FIELDNAME TYPE STRING,
FTABNAME TYPE STRING,
FIELDKIND TYPE STRING,
OLEN TYPE STRING,
DBFIELD TYPE STRING,
DYNSEL TYPE STRING,
SPATTERN TYPE STRING,
OBLIGAT TYPE STRING,
SPAGPA TYPE STRING,
PROTECT TYPE STRING,
INVISIBLE TYPE STRING,
NO_INTERV TYPE STRING,
NO_VALUES TYPE STRING,
VVAR_KIND TYPE STRING,
VVAR_NAME TYPE STRING,
VVAR_SIGN TYPE STRING,
VVAR_OPTI TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_VARIDESC_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_VARIDESC_STR-MANDT sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-REPORT sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-SVARIANT sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-FIELDNAME sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-FTABNAME sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-FIELDKIND sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-OLEN sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-DBFIELD sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-DYNSEL sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-SPATTERN sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-OBLIGAT sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-SPAGPA sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-PROTECT sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-INVISIBLE sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-NO_INTERV sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-NO_VALUES sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-VVAR_KIND sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-VVAR_NAME sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-VVAR_SIGN sy-vline 
WA_VARIDESC_STR-VVAR_OPTI sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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