topic Re: Binary Search in Application Development and Automation Discussions

Binary Search

Former Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:48:53 GMT

Can anybody tell me,

what is binary search and where can i use it. can i use it on database table or internal tables?

please suggest me

thanks

Re: Binary Search

alex_m — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:51:32 GMT

U have to use binary seach in internal table.

Re: Binary Search

RichHeilman — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:51:41 GMT

You can use it on internal tables with the READ statement and it can greatly increase the performance of the READ statement.

SORT TABLE ITAB ascending by FLD.
READ TABLE ITAB WITH KEY fld = 'SomeVaule' BINARY SEARCH.

REgards.

Rich Heilman

Re: Binary Search

Former Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:52:42 GMT

hi,

u can use binary search only on Internal table. sorting the table before the binary search opn. is important

Re: Binary Search

Former Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:56:00 GMT

BINARY SEARCH is used to improve the performance,

It is used on internal tables

SORT ITAB BY NUMBER

READ TABLE ITAB with key number eq '25' BINARY SEARCH.

suppose say ur itab has values from 1,2,3,4 ...................... 50

Now you are searching for 25, What binary search will do is first it will search if 25 is there at top half of 50 values or bottom half,

25 will be at the top half of 50

Re: Binary Search

gary_king2 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:03:13 GMT

Hmmm...

If you don't know what a binary search (sometimes called a Binary chop) is then you really should not be writing ABAP code. Enter this into Google, or see some of Robert Knuth's books on indexing/access methods etc...

Dr Sidewalk

Re: Binary Search

Former Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:08:10 GMT

Hi Gary,

do you think that's the right answer???

Regards, Dieter

Re: Binary Search

gary_king2 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:39:35 GMT

Dieter,

1). The question had already been answered within the thread.

2). I gave the response to use Google to find the answer, therefore pointing to an alternative answer and also educating the person at the same time for such future queries.

3). This is supposed to be a technical forum area !!!

4). My statement about knowing what a Binary search is was a bit flippent I agree, but still true.