ABAP Select data from SAP table VIMDESC into internal table

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

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM VIMDESC
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_VIMDESC2).
*--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_VIMDESC INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_VIMDESC2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<VIMDESC>-VIEWNAME = 1.
<VIMDESC>-MAINTVIEW = 1.
<VIMDESC>-AREA = 1.
<VIMDESC>-DEVCLASS = 1.
<VIMDESC>-TYPE = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_VIMDESC-LISTE, sy-vline,
  WA_VIMDESC-DETAIL, sy-vline,
  WA_VIMDESC-OCCURS, sy-vline,
  WA_VIMDESC-CLTCODE, sy-vline,
  WA_VIMDESC-BASTAB, sy-vline,
  WA_VIMDESC-NEWGENER, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_VIMDESC 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_VIMDESC 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_VIMDESC INTO WA_VIMDESC.


*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 ISOLA, internal->external for field ORIG_LANG
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ISOLA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VIMDESC-ORIG_LANG
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VIMDESC-ORIG_LANG.
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_VIMDESC_STR, 
VIEWNAME TYPE STRING,
MAINTVIEW TYPE STRING,
AREA TYPE STRING,
DEVCLASS TYPE STRING,
TYPE TYPE STRING,
LISTE TYPE STRING,
DETAIL TYPE STRING,
OCCURS TYPE STRING,
CLTCODE TYPE STRING,
BASTAB TYPE STRING,
NEWGENER TYPE STRING,
GENDATE TYPE STRING,
GENTIME TYPE STRING,
FLAG TYPE STRING,
EXISTENCY TYPE STRING,
SELECTION TYPE STRING,
DDTEXT TYPE STRING,
CLIDEP TYPE STRING,
TEXTCLIDEP TYPE STRING,
KEYLEN TYPE STRING,
AFTER_KEYC TYPE STRING,
TEXTKEYLEN TYPE STRING,
AFT_TXTKC TYPE STRING,
TABLEN TYPE STRING,
AFTER_TABC TYPE STRING,
TEXTTABLEN TYPE STRING,
AFT_TXTTBC TYPE STRING,
MAXTRKEYLN TYPE STRING,
TRGKEYPOS TYPE STRING,
MAXTRTXKLN TYPE STRING,
TRTXGKPOS TYPE STRING,
CUSTOMAUTH TYPE STRING,
AUTHCLASS TYPE STRING,
SUBSETFLAG TYPE STRING,
RDONLYFLAG TYPE STRING,
ADRNBRFLAG TYPE STRING,
GUIDFLAG TYPE STRING,
USREXIFLAG TYPE STRING,
HIDDENFLAG TYPE STRING,
DELMDTFLAG TYPE STRING,
TEXTTBEXST TYPE STRING,
PTFRKYEXST TYPE STRING,
GENERICTRP TYPE STRING,
GENERTXTRP TYPE STRING,
FIELDORDER TYPE STRING,
TEXTTAB TYPE STRING,
ORIG_LANG TYPE STRING,
SPRASFIELD TYPE STRING,
SPRASFDPOS TYPE STRING,
ROOTTAB TYPE STRING,
GUI_PROG TYPE STRING,
CURSETTING TYPE STRING,
IMPORTABLE TYPE STRING,
SCRFRMFLAG TYPE STRING,
FPOOLNAME TYPE STRING,
MAINFLAG TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_SAV TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_SAV TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_DEL TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_DEL TYPE STRING,
FRM_ON_NEW TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_ORG TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_RPL TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_RPL TYPE STRING,
FRM_RP_ORG TYPE STRING,
FRM_RP_GET TYPE STRING,
FRM_RP_UPD TYPE STRING,
FRM_RP_CPL TYPE STRING,
FRM_ON_ORG TYPE STRING,
FRM_E071 TYPE STRING,
FRM_E071KS TYPE STRING,
FRM_E071KA TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_END TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_ENQ TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_UDL TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_UDL TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_PRN TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_CHK TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_INI TYPE STRING,
FRM_IN_DSS TYPE STRING,
FRM_H_FLDS TYPE STRING,
FRM_RP_POS TYPE STRING,
FRM_TL_GET TYPE STRING,
FRM_TL_ORG TYPE STRING,
FRM_TL_UPD TYPE STRING,
FRM_TLTEXT TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_ADR TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_DLM TYPE STRING,
FRM_ON_AUT TYPE STRING,
FRM_BF_ALV TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_UID TYPE STRING,
FRM_AF_EDD TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_VIMDESC_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_VIMDESC_STR-VIEWNAME sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-MAINTVIEW sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-AREA sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-DEVCLASS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TYPE sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-LISTE sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-DETAIL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-OCCURS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-CLTCODE sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-BASTAB sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-NEWGENER sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-GENDATE sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-GENTIME sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-EXISTENCY sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-SELECTION sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-DDTEXT sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-CLIDEP sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TEXTCLIDEP sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-KEYLEN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-AFTER_KEYC sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TEXTKEYLEN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-AFT_TXTKC sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TABLEN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-AFTER_TABC sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TEXTTABLEN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-AFT_TXTTBC sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-MAXTRKEYLN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TRGKEYPOS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-MAXTRTXKLN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TRTXGKPOS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-CUSTOMAUTH sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-AUTHCLASS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-SUBSETFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-RDONLYFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-ADRNBRFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-GUIDFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-USREXIFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-HIDDENFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-DELMDTFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TEXTTBEXST sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-PTFRKYEXST sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-GENERICTRP sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-GENERTXTRP sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FIELDORDER sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-TEXTTAB sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-ORIG_LANG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-SPRASFIELD sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-SPRASFDPOS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-ROOTTAB sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-GUI_PROG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-CURSETTING sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-IMPORTABLE sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-SCRFRMFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FPOOLNAME sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-MAINFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_SAV sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_SAV sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_DEL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_DEL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_ON_NEW sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_ORG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_RPL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_RPL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_RP_ORG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_RP_GET sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_RP_UPD sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_RP_CPL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_ON_ORG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_E071 sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_E071KS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_E071KA sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_END sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_ENQ sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_UDL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_UDL sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_PRN sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_CHK sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_INI sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_IN_DSS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_H_FLDS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_RP_POS sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_TL_GET sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_TL_ORG sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_TL_UPD sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_TLTEXT sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_ADR sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_DLM sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_ON_AUT sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_BF_ALV sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_UID sy-vline 
WA_VIMDESC_STR-FRM_AF_EDD sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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