ABAP Select data from SAP table VLFB5 into internal table

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Below is a number of ABAP code snippets to demonstrate how to select data from SAP VLFB5 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 VLFB5. 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 VLFB5 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_VLFB5 TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF VLFB5,
      WA_VLFB5 TYPE VLFB5,
      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: <VLFB5> TYPE VLFB5.

*Process all fields in table header/work area as string values
  PERFORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING wa_VLFB5.

SELECT *
*restrict ABAP select to first 10 rows
 UP TO 10 ROWS      
  FROM VLFB5
  INTO TABLE IT_VLFB5.

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM VLFB5
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_VLFB52).
*--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_VLFB5 INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_VLFB52).


*Demonstrate how to loop at an internal table and update values using a FIELD-SYMBOL
LOOP AT IT_VLFB5 ASSIGNING <VLFB5>.

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<VLFB5>-MANDT = 1.
<VLFB5>-LIFNR = 1.
<VLFB5>-BUKRS = 1.
<VLFB5>-MABER = 1.
<VLFB5>-MAHNA = 1.

ENDLOOP.

LOOP AT IT_VLFB5 INTO WA_VLFB5.
*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_VLFB5-MANSP, sy-vline,
  WA_VLFB5-MADAT, sy-vline,
  WA_VLFB5-MAHNS, sy-vline,
  WA_VLFB5-LFRMA, sy-vline,
  WA_VLFB5-GMVDT, sy-vline,
  WA_VLFB5-BUSAB, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_VLFB5 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_VLFB5 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_VLFB5 INTO WA_VLFB5.


*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 LIFNR
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VLFB5-LIFNR
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VLFB5-LIFNR.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit ALPHA, internal->external for field LFRMA
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_VLFB5-LFRMA
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_VLFB5-LFRMA.
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_VLFB5_STR, 
MANDT TYPE STRING,
LIFNR TYPE STRING,
BUKRS TYPE STRING,
MABER TYPE STRING,
MAHNA TYPE STRING,
MANSP TYPE STRING,
MADAT TYPE STRING,
MAHNS TYPE STRING,
LFRMA TYPE STRING,
GMVDT TYPE STRING,
BUSAB TYPE STRING,
KZ TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_VLFB5_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_VLFB5_STR-MANDT sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-LIFNR sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-BUKRS sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-MABER sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-MAHNA sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-MANSP sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-MADAT sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-MAHNS sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-LFRMA sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-GMVDT sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-BUSAB sy-vline 
WA_VLFB5_STR-KZ sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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