topic Re: macro in Application Development and Automation Discussions

macro

Former Member — Tue, 30 May 2006 04:50:40 GMT

can we debug a macro? if how and why?

Re: macro

Former Member — Tue, 30 May 2006 04:57:13 GMT

I don't think macros can be debugged.

Regards,

Ravi

Note : Please mark the helpful answers

Re: macro

Former Member — Tue, 30 May 2006 04:58:37 GMT

GOOD

Since debugging a MACRO is not really possible, prevent the use of them (I've never used them, but seen them in action). If the subroutine is used only local (called internal) use a FORM. If the subroutine is called external (used by more than one program) use a FUNCTION.

A MACRO is more or less an abbreviation for some lines of code that are used more than once or twice.

2-Macros can only be used in the program the are defined in and only after the definition.

3-Macros can take max 9 parameters.

4-Macros are expanded at compilation / generation.

THANKS

MRUTYUN

Re: macro

Former Member — Tue, 30 May 2006 05:01:25 GMT

u can see the macro defn but debugging not achievable!!

Re: macro

former_member186741 — Tue, 30 May 2006 05:03:27 GMT

Never say never. Macros can be very useful, especially if they represent say only a few lines of code which don't warrant a subroutine.

You can't debug but if you are writing your own you can of course debug the code which you are going to turn into a macro. You can't use the &1s etc but it might help.

Re: macro

Former Member — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:00:57 GMT

No. We cannot debugg a MACRO.

If u feel the need for it, then change from macro to a subroutine. this can be acheived quite easily by sending the parameters to the subroutine in the same way as u r sending to the macro.

But remember one thing: Macro's are comparitively faster

Reward points if helpful

Regards

Re: macro

RaymondGiuseppi — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:19:59 GMT

You cannot debug a macro, because there are not actual lines in the source which execute the macro. Macro definition is copied with &parameter converted when pre-compilation of Abap is carried out.

<i>DEFINE

DEFINE Syntax Diagram

Effect

Defines a section of source code (macro) that you can address using the name macro. Source code saved as a DEFINE macro may only consist of complete ABAP statements

All macro use is expanded fully in translation. Macros are a text substitute for the translation phase - not a modularization technique for runtime use.

You conclude a macro with the END-OF-DEFINITION statement.

When you define a macro, you can use placeholders (&n, where n = 1, 2, ..., 9). When the macro is expanded, &n is replaced with the n-th current parameter.

Example

Suppose you define a macro "INCREMENT", which you then use in your program.

DEFINE INCREMENT. 

ADD 1 TO &1.
END-OF-DEFINITION.

DATA: NUMBER TYPE I VALUE 1.
...
INCREMENT NUMBER.

<b>Notes : As a rule, you should use subroutines (FORM, FUNCTION) instead of macros. This is because subroutines - unlike macros - are supported by all of the ABAP Workbench tools (debugging, runtime analysis, runtime error handling, ...).</b>

You cannot define a macro within a macro using the

DEFINE statement.

You cannot use an ABAP keyword as a macro name.

The validity of a macro definition is determined by its position in the source code. You can use a given macro in any line of code following its definition. There is no distinction between global and local macros. For example, the fact that a macro is defined within a subroutine has no effect on its validity.

If you redefine a macro, that is, assign a new meaning to an existing name, the new meaning takes effect from the position in the program where the macro was redefined.</i>

Notice on debug in bold upper lines.

Regards.

Re: macro

Former Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:30:10 GMT

thanks.