topic Re: Use global variables from different Function Group in Application Development and Automation Discussions

Use global variables from different Function Group

philippdoelker — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 13:46:41 GMT

Hello Community,

I am faced the following Issue:

Some FMs I use in an user exit provide data to the global variables of their Function Group A.

In the same user exit are also FMs from a different Function Group B called. The FMs semantically belong together, but they can not be included in Function Group A because there is no space left (restricted to 100 FMs).

Is there any possibility to use global data from Function Group A in a FM of Function Group B?

Thank you in advance,

Regards,

Philipp

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

Former Member — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 13:57:32 GMT

Philipp,

I guess one of the option would be to enhance one of the FM in FG'A' to call a FM in FG'B'. This way you can pass the required data from FG'A' to FG'B' and store it as global variables.

Thanks,

Vikram.M

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

RaymondGiuseppi — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:01:53 GMT

Can you create a Function Module or a Form in the Function Group with the informaiton, the Function Modules of the other Funciton Group just call this Funciton Module or Form to get the informaton abck.

Regards,

Raymond

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

arseni_gallardo — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:02:12 GMT

Philipp,

Declare all you shared global variables in one include and make use of the (obsolete) statements BEGIN OF COMMON PART and END OF COMMON PART.

DATA BEGIN OF COMMON PART [name].
...
DATA ...
...
DATA END OF COMMON PART [name].

https://help.sap.com/abapdocu_70/en/ABAPDATA_COMMON.htm

Then use the same include in both function groups.

Kind regards

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

matt — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:08:02 GMT

COMMON PART shouldn't be used in new developments. You know how global variables are frowned upon and considered to be bad programming? COMMON PART variables are like uber-global-variables (universal? galactic?).

This is what the ABAP documentation says:

The use of common data areas in otherwise independent programs can be very problematic, with regard to both the maintainability and the functions. Therefore, common data areas should no longer be used. The parameter interfaces of procedures are available for exchanging data between programs.

Frankly. if you'vet got ~100 variables in a function group and you're using many global fields within the group, you've got an issue with program design that's crying out for refactoring.

If you want a bad workaround while you're planning your refactoring project create function group C with your global variables, and a host of getter/setter function modules in it.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

retired_member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:35:53 GMT

Yes, there's an interesting variant of ASSIGN (...). Check the documentation (under hints ...).

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

matt — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:40:51 GMT

But is it a good idea to use it? If you're in control of the development, you should create proper interfaces.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

retired_member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:43:51 GMT

No it isn't, but it's documented ...

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

sapitr_entwicklung — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:46:40 GMT

The dynamic assign 'ASSIGN ('(SAPL...)GV_...') TO <LV_...>' is surely not a good idea. It's grabbing items from somebody else's living room. It would be much nicer to ring the bell and ask politely for the item.

For this, however, the function group in question has to provide a GET_... function module, providing what others usually request for.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

Former Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:49:39 GMT

And it's for internal use only. Or at least my documentation says so.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

retired_member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:55:17 GMT

For this, however, the function group in question has to provide a GET_... function module, providing what others usually request for.

And this can be a problem. From time to time one is forced to do unwanted things.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

retired_member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:56:12 GMT

Yep. The user has to take full responsibility for her actions.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

SuhaSaha — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 15:49:09 GMT


Horst Keller wrote:

Yes, there's an interesting variant of ASSIGN (...). Check the documentation (under hints ...).

Oops! the variant-that-should-not-be-named

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

Former Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 17:12:33 GMT

Good morning friends.

Based on the ABAP documentation, you should use the functionalities of EXPORT / IMPORT in shared memory.

SAP provides this type of functionality to share information between different memory sectors that run in the same session.

Regards!!

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

retired_member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 20:13:57 GMT

In fact, you better use shared objects then, because with those you don't need EXPORT/IMPORT.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

Former Member — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 21:40:16 GMT

That's correct @Horst Keller.. and it is a better option too.

Here's some links about it:

Shared Objects - Implementation - ABAP - Shared Objects - SAP Library

How to Work with ABAP Shared Memory Objects | SCN


What are Shared Memory Objects? The Shared Memory Objects concept is available from release 6.40 onwards. It consists of storing data in SAP memory (much like the EXPORT/IMPORT statements before ECC6), for rapid data retrieval without the need for physically reading persistent DB tables. Unlike the “old” EXPORT/IMPORT technique, however, the Shared Memory Object concept also allows for business logic to be stored (for instance, sorting or calculations based on the stored data).

I hope this information can help with the original issue..

Best regards!!

Gio.

Re: Use global variables from different Function Group

Former Member — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 06:22:41 GMT

I don't see any need to use shared objects, because i assume both FGs are part of the same internal session (when called within the same user exit). You could just use static attributes of a global class. That's less overhead than shared objects and data won't be visible to the whole AS.