Convert data field to string

[Missschaaa]

Hello guys,

is it possible to convert any type of data field to a string? My problem is the following: I use dynamic sub routine where I for example do some data select but also need the name of the database table as a string. So in first case I would use ZTABLE as data field which I can use as SELECT table and in the second case I need 'ZTABLE' as string field (only the name, not the content) which I need to move to some other variable. Is there any function or hint how I can achieve this? Thought about field symbols but I'm not sure if its possible.

Regards Michael

[Missschaaa]

maybe is to catch the result of the SELECT, but it is more simple to create dynamic internal table

[FredericGirod]

You mean :

data(table_name) = conv tablename( 'T001W' ).

select * from (table_name) ....

assign (table_name) to field-symbol(<my_table>).

and why you need to do this ?

[Sandra_Rossi]

It's probably possible, but I don't get what is your exact question, so difficult to answer.

[FredericGirod]

maybe is to catch the result of the SELECT, but it is more simple to create dynamic internal table

[Missschaaa]

No vice versa. I use the variable itself in this case T001W as data object and need in some variable myvariable which should have 'T001W' as value. I do not want to just say myvariable = 'T001W' because it should be dynamic for more than one variable. I coded a macro which should dynamic read data from different custom tables and I just want to get coding as low as possible. In the macro I need both, the table as table name and the table as string in some data field.

[Sandra_Rossi]

Why don't you show your code?

If it's a macro, there's no issue to pass only T001W, which your macro can use as both &1 and '&1'.

But you may also use the macro with 'T001W' and do SELECT ... FROM (&1).

I wouldn't use a macro anyway, only experts can debug, nowadays you can avoid the macros completely.

[Missschaaa]

  DEFINE mac_get_conttxt.
    CLEAR: ls_condtab,
           lt_condtab.

    ls_condtab-field = 'SPRAS'.
    ls_condtab-opera = 'EQ'.
    ls_condtab-low   = sy-langu.
    APPEND ls_condtab TO lt_condtab.
    ls_condtab-field = &4.
    ls_condtab-opera = 'EQ'.
    ls_condtab-low   = is_not_detail-&5.
    APPEND ls_condtab TO lt_condtab.
    CALL FUNCTION 'RH_DYNAMIC_WHERE_BUILD'
      EXPORTING
        dbtable         = space
      TABLES
        condtab         = lt_condtab
        where_clause    = lt_where_clause
      EXCEPTIONS
        empty_condtab   = 01
        no_db_field     = 02
        unknown_db      = 03
        wrong_condition = 04.

    CLEAR ls_desc.
    SELECT SINGLE rollname FROM dd03l INTO ls_desc-rollname
      WHERE tabname   EQ &3
        AND fieldname EQ &4.

    SELECT SINGLE &1 &2 FROM (&3) INTO (ls_desc-id, ls_desc-text)
      WHERE (lt_where_clause).

    IF   ls_desc-id   IS NOT INITIAL
     AND ls_desc-text IS NOT INITIAL.
      APPEND ls_desc TO lt_desc.
    ENDIF.
  END-OF-DEFINITION.

macro looks like this. &1 and &2 is for example fieldname as fieldname itself, &4 is fieldname as string. I do not want to put it both in the macro (fieldname and 'FIELDNAME'), just one time and convert it for the the other statement.

[FredericGirod]

I read several time your question, and I still doesn't understand, you already did it:

 SELECT SINGLE &1 &2 FROM (&3) INTO (ls_desc-id, ls_desc-text)<br>      WHERE (lt_where_clause).

    SELECT SINGLE rollname FROM dd03l INTO ls_desc-rollname<br>      WHERE tabname   EQ &3<br>        AND fieldname EQ &4.

and, you should really forget MACRO, this is old old school

[Missschaaa]

Yes, your hint for database table was good, I already fixed it, but I still have the problem for fieldnames of database tables (&4 vs &2).

I know macro is not very popular here, but I like it. Yes, debugging is crap, but its an easy way to put some repeating routines more cleaned up in coding. Of course I could also use some form routines or methods, but in my mind its not that flexible as macro, I canot put simple fieldnames withoud structure name in it like in macro for example.

[FredericGirod]

maybe have a look to the demo program available through ABAPDOCU trans : demo_dynamic_sql

(and also through SE38)

You could do whatever you made in macro, in method. the demo program show using method

[Sandra_Rossi]

We could add a second reason why macros should be avoided because it may be very difficult to troubleshoot syntax errors... 😄

Conclusion: don't use macros because it's very difficult to debug and to troubleshoot syntax errors.