ABAP Select data from SAP table VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE into internal table

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

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE2).
*--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_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE>-STLTY = 1.
<VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE>-STLNR = 1.
<VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE>-STVKN = 1.
<VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE>-UUID = 1.
<VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE>-POSITION_ID = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-PARENT_POSITION_ID, sy-vline,
  WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-MATERIAL_KEY, sy-vline,
  WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-MATNR, sy-vline,
  WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-PLANT, sy-vline,
  WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-LANGUAGE, sy-vline,
  WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-CUOBJ, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE 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_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE 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_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE INTO WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE.


*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 NUMCV, internal->external for field STLNR
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_NUMCV_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-STLNR
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-STLNR.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit MATN1, internal->external for field MATNR
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_MATN1_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-MATNR
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-MATNR.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

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

*Conversion exit CUNIT, internal->external for field UNIT
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_CUNIT_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-UNIT
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-UNIT.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit CUNIT, internal->external for field UNIT
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_CUNIT_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-UNIT
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-UNIT.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit CUNIT, internal->external for field UNIT
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_CUNIT_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-UNIT
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-UNIT.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit NUMCV, internal->external for field SPOSN
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_NUMCV_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-SPOSN
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE-SPOSN.
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_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR, 
STLTY TYPE STRING,
STLNR TYPE STRING,
STVKN TYPE STRING,
UUID TYPE STRING,
POSITION_ID TYPE STRING,
PARENT_POSITION_ID TYPE STRING,
MATERIAL_KEY TYPE STRING,
MATNR TYPE STRING,
PLANT TYPE STRING,
LANGUAGE TYPE STRING,
CUOBJ TYPE STRING,
ORDER_QUANTITY TYPE STRING,
AMOUNT TYPE STRING,
UNIT TYPE STRING,
CONFIRMED_QUANTITY TYPE STRING,
AMOUNT TYPE STRING,
UNIT TYPE STRING,
COMPONENT_QUANTITY TYPE STRING,
AMOUNT TYPE STRING,
UNIT TYPE STRING,
NET_VALUE TYPE STRING,
PRICE_VALUE TYPE STRING,
PRICE_CURRENCY TYPE STRING,
SPOSN TYPE STRING,
ARKTX TYPE STRING,
FMENG TYPE STRING,
IS_FIXED TYPE STRING,
IS_USER_DEFINED TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_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_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-STLTY sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-STLNR sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-STVKN sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-UUID sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-POSITION_ID sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-PARENT_POSITION_ID sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-MATERIAL_KEY sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-MATNR sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-PLANT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-LANGUAGE sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-CUOBJ sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-ORDER_QUANTITY sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-AMOUNT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-UNIT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-CONFIRMED_QUANTITY sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-AMOUNT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-UNIT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-COMPONENT_QUANTITY sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-AMOUNT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-UNIT sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-NET_VALUE sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-PRICE_VALUE sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-PRICE_CURRENCY sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-SPOSN sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-ARKTX sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-FMENG sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-IS_FIXED sy-vline 
WA_VCH_HL_S_EXTERNAL_STRUCTURE_STR-IS_USER_DEFINED sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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