ABAP Select data from SAP table VXMETAREL into internal table

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

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM VXMETAREL
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_VXMETAREL2).
*--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_VXMETAREL INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_VXMETAREL2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<VXMETAREL>-VRSFLAG = 1.
<VXMETAREL>-CLSNAME = 1.
<VXMETAREL>-REFCLSNAME = 1.
<VXMETAREL>-VERSION = 1.
<VXMETAREL>-STATE = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_VXMETAREL-AUTHOR, sy-vline,
  WA_VXMETAREL-CREATEDON, sy-vline,
  WA_VXMETAREL-CHANGEDBY, sy-vline,
  WA_VXMETAREL-CHANGEDON, sy-vline,
  WA_VXMETAREL-RELTYPE, sy-vline,
  WA_VXMETAREL-RELNAME, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_VXMETAREL 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_VXMETAREL 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_VXMETAREL INTO WA_VXMETAREL.


*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_VXMETAREL_STR, 
VRSFLAG TYPE STRING,
CLSNAME TYPE STRING,
REFCLSNAME TYPE STRING,
VERSION TYPE STRING,
STATE TYPE STRING,
AUTHOR TYPE STRING,
CREATEDON TYPE STRING,
CHANGEDBY TYPE STRING,
CHANGEDON TYPE STRING,
RELTYPE TYPE STRING,
RELNAME TYPE STRING,
EXPOSURE TYPE STRING,
IMPFINAL TYPE STRING,
IMPABSTRCT TYPE STRING,
EDITORDER TYPE STRING,
PARTIALLYIMP TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_VXMETAREL_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_VXMETAREL_STR-VRSFLAG sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-CLSNAME sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-REFCLSNAME sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-VERSION sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-STATE sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-AUTHOR sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-CREATEDON sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-CHANGEDBY sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-CHANGEDON sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-RELTYPE sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-RELNAME sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-EXPOSURE sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-IMPFINAL sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-IMPABSTRCT sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-EDITORDER sy-vline 
WA_VXMETAREL_STR-PARTIALLYIMP sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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