topic Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary... in Application Development and Automation Discussions

Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:19:33 GMT

Hi ABAP GURUS,

I have a doubt associated with Data Dictionary. I am looking at a structure BUS_DI. I see many INCLUDES in that table. Below those includes I see the fields of that include in the table.

But at some point I see some APPEND structure and below it the INCLUDE and then all the fields of the include table below it.

My question is what is the use of APPEND used in database tables. I eman sometimes the inlcudes are used on solo basis but sometimes append is used before the include ?

Please help.

Regards,

Rajesh.

Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:26:26 GMT

Hi,

APPEND STRUCTURE : Structure appened is specific to a table. But Include is not specific to a table. Any table can include a strucure.

Append Structures

Append structures are used for enhancements that are not included in the standard. This includes special developments, country versions and adding customer fields to any tables or structures.

An append structure is a structure that is assigned to exactly one table or structure. There can be more than one append structure for a table or structure.
The following enhancements can be made to a table or structure TAB with an append structure:
· Insert new fields in TAB,

· Define foreign keys for fields of TAB that already exist,

· Attach search helps to fields of TAB that already exist,

These enhancements are part of the append structure, i.e. they must always be changed and transported with the append structure.
When a table or structure is activated, all the append structures of the table are searched and the fields of these append structures are added to the table or structure. Foreign keys and search help attachments added using the append structure are also added to the table. If an append structure is created or changed, the table or structure assigned to it is also adjusted to these changes when the append structure is activated.
Since the order of the fields in the ABAP Dictionary can differ from the order of the fields on the database, adding append structures or inserting fields in such append structures does not result in a table conversion.
The customer creates append structures in the customer namespace. The append structure is thus protected against overwriting during an upgrade. The fields in the append structure should also reside in the customer namespace, that is the field names should begin with ZZ or YY. This prevents name conflicts with fields inserted in the table by SAP.
If you create an append structure for a table or structure, only those enhancements are allowed that are consistent with the enhancement category of the enhanced table or structure. For more information, see Structure Enhancements.
The new versions of the standard tables are imported after an upgrade, and the fields, foreign key definitions and search help attachments contained in the append structures are added to the new standard tables at activation.

Customizing Includes

A Customizing include is a structure that satisfies a special naming convention. The name of a Customizing include begins with ‘CI_’ and the include is in the customer namespace.

If enhancements are already planned in the R/3 standard using customer-specific fields, such Customizing includes are included. in the corresponding standard table or standard structure. The Customizing include (that is the definition of the structure itself) is usually first created in the customer system and filled with fields by special Customizing transactions.

Customers can thus enhance tables and structures of the R/3 standard system without themselves having to modify the table and structure definitions. This means that these enhancements will not be lost when upgrading. If a table or structure of the R/3 standard system is enhanced with customer fields using a Customizing include, these customer fields are automatically inserted in the new delivered table or structure definition during an upgrade.

If you create a Customizing include for a table or structure, only those enhancements are allowed that are consistent with the enhancement category of the enhanced table or structure. For more information, see Structure Enhancements.

Customers can but need not create a Customizing include and fill it with fields. If there is no Customizing include, there is no error message when the table or structure including it is activated.

A Customizing include can be contained in several tables or structures, so that they remain consistent when the include is modified.The order of the fields in the ABAP Dictionary can differ from the order of the fields in the database. Inserting fields in a Customizing include does not result in a data conversion for transparent tables containing this include (see Adjusting Database Structures). The new fields of the ABAP Dictionary table are simply appended to the database table.

Regards,

Vara

Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:20:15 GMT

Hi,

I appreciate your explainations.

But can someone tell me in more simpler terms ?

Thanks.

Regards,

Rajesh.

Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

RichHeilman — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:26:33 GMT

This has been covered many times before.

/message/2871543#2871543 [original link is broken]

REgards,

RIch Heilman

Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:26:35 GMT

Hi,

Using APPEND structure you can add new fields to the STANDARD SAP structure or table...

INCLUDE structure is used for having set of common fields..Where you can include it any table or in structure..To add the include to a STANDARD SAP structure or table..You need an APPEND structure..

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Naren

Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:28:03 GMT

Hi Rajesh,

In simple term.

APPEND structure ise used to add additional fields to exactly one table, while CI (Custom Include) may be used to include fields to several tables.

Regards,

Ferry Lianto

Re: Doubt associated with Data Dictionary...

Former Member — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:30:27 GMT

Hi,

in Simple words...

APPEND is confined to one table. Append structure is very specific to that table.

Include can be reused in another table. This is globally declared strucure can be included in any SAP table.

I hope this answers your question.

Regards,

Vara