differences between DATA TYPE and DATA OBJECTS

[Former Member]

I am new to ABAP,I want to know the differences between DATA TYPE and DATA OBJECTS with some examples.

please help me regarding this.

[Former Member]

Hi Ashish,

Data Types: Are pure descriptions.

No memory is associated with data types.

Describes the technical properties of data objects.

EX.

1. C-CHARACTER

2. D-DATE

3. F-FLOAT

4. I-INTEGER

5. N-NUMERIC TEXT

6. T-TIME

7. P-PACKED NUMBER

8. X-HEXADECIMAL

9. STRING-Variable length string.

10. XSTRING-Variable length byte string.

Data Objects: Are created during runtime.

They cannot exist without the data Types.

Occupies memory space.

EX:

1. INTERNAL DATA OBJECT- Internal Data objects

 LITEERAL- A literal has a fixed value.Ex: WRITE:u201DWORK HARDu201D.

 VARIABLES: Data statement is used to create variables.

EX.DATA: NUM TYPE I.

NUM: VARIABLE defined by data statement.

EX: DATA: PRICE LIKE NUM.

 CONSTANT-It is a data object, which contains a constant value throughout the program.

Can be declared in program by using CONSTANT statement.

EX:CONSTANT: INT TYPE I VALUE 15.

2. EXTERNAL DATA OBJECT: Are defined in tables i.e In ABAP/4 dictionary you can access this data from table.

EX: TABLES: SFLIGHT

DATA: SEATS LIKE SFLIGHT-SEATSMAX.

3. SYSTEM DEFINED DATA OBJECTS:Space & system variables like SY-UNAME,SY-DATUM, SY-REPID.

4. SPECIAL DATA OBJECTS:

 PARAMETERS: Are Variables ,which can accept value from user.

 SELECTION SCREEN : Are special internal tables to accept value ranges from user.

3 APPROACHES TO DEFINE DATA OBJECTS.

1. ELEMENTARY TYPES

DATA: Customer _Name (25) TYPE C,

Vendor_Name (25) TYPE C.

2. REFRENCE TO AN EXISTING FIELD:

DATA: Customer _Name2 (25) TYPE C,

Vendor_Name2 (25) LIKE Customer_Name2

3. REFRENCE TO NON-ELEMENTARY TYPE:

TYPES: T_NAME (25) TYPE C

DATA: CUSTOMER_NAME TYPE T_NAME

VENDOR_NAME TYPE T_NAME

4. RECORD-Information in rows & columns.

DATA: BEGIN OF BOOKING,

ID (4) TYPE C,

FLIGHT_DATE TYPE D,

NAME LIKE CUSTOMER_NAME,

END OF BOOKING.

You can also look into SAP help for more information.

Regards,

Indu.

[Former Member]

Your explanation is too good. Thanks everyone for guiding me.

[Former Member]

Why am I not surprised?

pk

[Former Member]

Hi

Are you looking for the key words TYPES and DATA.

TYPES ; a variable is created but no memory is allocated

DATA : a variable is created along with memory creation

For more information Please press F1 on these key words

Best Regards

Ramchander Rao.K

[Former Member]

Hi Ashish,

You can search in help.sap.com. You will find plenty of definitions regarding those two.

Even in SDN, search for Data Types and also search for Data Objects. You will find many replies.

Best Regards,

Ram.

[naveen_inuganti2]

Hi...

data: NUM type N.

Here...

N: Data Type

NUM: Data Object

Thanks,

Naveen.I