search help

[Former Member]

let me know about search help in detail

[Former Member]

Hi

1) Elementary search helps describe a search path. The elementary search help must define where the data of the hit list should be read from (selection method), how the exchange of values between the screen template and selection method is implemented (interface of the search help) and how the online input help should be defined (online behavior of the search help).

2) Collective search helps combine several elementary search helps. A collective search help thus can offer several alternative search paths.

3)An elementary search help defines the standard flow of an input help.

4) A collective search help combines several elementary search helps. The user can thus choose one of several alternative search paths with a collective search help.

5)A collective search help comprises several elementary search helps. It combines all the search paths that are meaningful for a field.

6)Both elementary search helps and other search helps can be included in a collective search help. If other collective search helps are contained in a collective search help, they are expanded to the level of the elementary search helps when the input help is called.

CREATION:

Go to SE11 Tcode

select search help

give the 'z' search help name and create

select the selection method ur table name eg : 'mara'

dialog module 'display value immediately'.

add the field whatever u want and lpos = 1 and spos = 1 and check import and export parameter.

where left position when displaying and spos = search position

and then save and activate ..

See the links:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/cf/21ee38446011d189700000e8322d00/content.htm

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/cf/21ee45446011d189700000e8322d00/content.htm

https://forums.sdn.sap.com/click.jspa?searchID=3173469&messageID=2176485

https://forums.sdn.sap.com/click.jspa?searchID=3173469&messageID=3601619

pls go through this for search help creation

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/41/f6b237fec48c67e10000009b38f8cf/content.htm

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/cf/21ee2b446011d189700000e8322d00/content.htm

Search Help Exits:

Creating Elementary Search Helps

Procedure

In the initial screen of the ABAP Dictionary, select object class Search help, enter the name of the search help and choose Create.

A dialog box appears in which you must select the type of search help.

Select Elementary search help and choose .

The maintenance screen for elementary search helps appears.

Enter an explanatory text in the field Short text.

You can for example find the search help at a later time using this short text.

In the Definition tab page enter the selection method of the search help.

You can enter the name of a table or a view (database view, projection view or help view) here. If you enter a table that has a text table, the name of the text table is automatically entered in the corresponding field.

Using the input help (F4 help), select fields of the selection method as parameter in the Search help parameter area. Select the fields that should be used in the dialog box for value selection or in the hit list.

If the selection method is a table that has a text table, both the fields of the table and the fields of the text table are offered in the input help.

The data element of the parameter is automatically copied from the selection method. The data element defines the output attributes and the F1 help of the parameter in the hit list and in the dialog box for value selection.

You can assign the parameter another data element. To do so, select the Mod flag. The Data element field is now ready for input. Then select a data element with the input help (F4 help). Only data elements whose data type, length and number of decimal places is the same as those of the previous data element can be assigned.

This removes the link between the data element of the search help parameter and the data element of the selection method field having the same name. If you cancel the Mod flag, the data element of the assigned table field is used again.

Define the attributes of the search help parameters.

Select the IMP flag if it is an import parameter. Select the EXP flag if it is an export parameter.

You can define the dialog for the input help with the fields LPos, SPos and SDis. Enter the parameter position in the hit list in LPos. If you enter nothing or the value 0 here, the parameter is not displayed in the hit list.

Enter the parameter position in the dialog box for value selection in SPos. If you enter nothing or the value 0 here, the parameter is not displayed in the dialog box for value selection.

Set the SDis flag if the parameter should be a pure display field in the dialog box for value selection. The user is thus informed that the contents of the parameter restrict the value, but he cannot change this restriction. This makes sense for example when the parameter is an import parameter or if it has a default value.

You can assign the parameter a default value in the Default value field.

Select the dialog type of the search help.

The dialog type defines how the hit list is displayed in the input help.

Save your entries.

A dialog box appears in which you have to assign the search help a development class.

Choose .

Do not forget to link the search help to a screen field. The search help attachment is not part of the search help definition; it is part of the object definition to which the search help is attached.

Result

The search help is activated. You can find information about the activation flow in the activation log, which you can display with Utilities ® Activation log. If errors occurred during activation, the activation log is automatically displayed.

Other Options

Assign a hot key: If the search help is to be accessed with a hot key, you must enter a one-place ID in the Hot key field. All the elementary search helps contained in a collective search help should have different short cuts.

Assign a search help exit: In exceptions, you might have to change the standard flow defined by the search help with a search help exit. In this case enter the name of the search help exit in the corresponding field.

Test the search help: You can test the flow of an input help defined by the elementary search help with . A dialog box appears in which you can simulate the behavior of the search help under different conditions. You can obtain information about the options provided in this window with .

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/cf/21ee5f446011d189700000e8322d00/content.htm

[Former Member]

ya good to see your explanation but its similar to match code object . what is the difference between search help and match code object.

[Former Member]

Hi Raja,

Go through the following links...

http://www.sapdevelopment.co.uk/dictionary/shelp/shelp_elementary.htm

http://www.sap-img.com/abap/attach-a-search-help-to-the-screen-field.htm

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/cf/21ee2b446011d189700000e8322d00/content.htm

<REMOVED BY MODERATOR - REQUEST OR OFFER POINTS ARE FORBIDDEN>

Satish

Edited by: Alvaro Tejada Galindo on Dec 26, 2008 10:11 AM

[Former Member]

HI

Check this.

http://ncsusrasapp06:8700/helpdata//EN/4f/991f82446d11d189700000e8322d00/frameset.htm

Thanks

Lincon

[Former Member]

Hi

Search helps

Standard search help
Types of search helps
Concept of search help
Search Help Interface
Dialog behavior of search helps
Selection method for search helps
Performance of search helps
Attaching search helps
Hierarchy of search helps

Standard Search Help

The input help (F4 help) is a standard function of the R/3 System. It permits the user to display a list of possible values for a screen field. A value can be directly copied to an input field by list selection.

The fields having an input help are shown in the R/3 System by the input help key to the right of the field. This key appears as soon as the cursor is positioned on the corresponding screen field. The help can be started either by clicking on this screen element or with function key F4.

If the number of possible entries for a field is very large, you can limit the set of displayed values by entering further restrictions.

Further meaningful information about the displayed values is included in the display of possible entries, especially if the field requires that a formal key be entered.

TYPES OF SEARCH HELPS

Elementary search helps
Describe a search path. The elementary search help must define where the data of the hit list should be read from (selection method), how the exchange of values between the screen template and selection method is implemented (interface of the search help) and how the online input help should be defined (online behavior of the search help).

Collective search help
Combine several elementary search helps. A collective search help thus can offer several alternative search paths.

Context data: You first have to define the context data to be used in the input help process. The context contains the information obtained in previous dialog steps and the entries already made by the user in the current input mask. This information is normally used to restrict the possible values for the current input field.


Dialog behavior: It describes the order of the dialog windows to be displayed during the input help and what they should look like.

Data collection method: It defines where the values offered to the user for selection come from.

Return values: When a value is selected from the list of possible entries, it is stored in the search field. This often results in the contents of further screen fields, such as explanatory text, being updated. You therefore should define which values can be returned to the screen.

In addition to describing an input help, you must define the fields for which it should be used. This is part of the field definition (of the search fields).

In Release 4.0, the search help was introduced in the ABAP Dictionary as a new object type. A search help is an object that describes the input help process. The individual components of such a description can be defined with attributes of the search help.

Search helps are subject to the same rules concerning their maintenance, activation and transport as all other objects of the ABAP Dictionary.

Search helps provide greater flexibility and functionality for defining input helps than the matchcode and help view object types offered up to Release 3.x.

Search Help Interface

Search help interface determines how the exchange of values between the screen template and the selection method is implemented.

The search help interface defines the context data that can be used in the input help and the data that can be returned to the input mask. Analogously to the interface of a function module, the search help interface comprises interface parameters.

When you define an interface parameter of a search help, you must also define whether it should be used to copy data to the input help (IMPORT parameter) or whether it should be used to return data from the input help (EXPORT parameter). A parameter of a search help can also have both attributes at the same time.

The location from which the IMPORT parameters of a search help get their values and the screen fields in which the contents of the EXPORT parameters of the search help are returned are defined in the search help attachment. The search help itself should always be attached to an EXPORT parameter of the search help. If this parameter is also the IMPORT parameter, its contents are only used in the input help if it is a search string (that is, if it contains a ´*´ or a ´+´).
You must define the parameter types of a search help. You can do this by assigning them data elements.

Value Transport for Input Helps

NOTE:In the above example, screen fields A, B and C are linked with parameters of the search help. As a result, values can only be transported between the screen and the search help for these three fields. Existing contents of screen fields A and B can be used for selecting the hit list since they are linked with an import parameter of the search help. The values of parameters A and C can be returned to the screen from the hit list since these parameters are declared as export parameters of the search help.

creation of Elementary Search Help

Enter the search help name and click on create.

Choose elementary search help radio button option as the search help type.

Enter the search help parameters, the selection method and activate the search help.

Collective Search Help steps

Enter the search help name and click on create.


Choose Collective search help radio button option as the search help type.


Enter the search help parameters.

Note that there is no selection method to be entered for a collective search help.

Instead of the selection method, we enter the included
search helps for the collective search help.

We need to assign parameters for each of the included
search helps.

Complete the parameter assignment by clicking on the push button

Collective search help offers the user to obtain F4 help
using any of the included search helps.

Attaching a search help to a field

A search help can influence the behavior of a field when the input help is called. The search help must be assigned to the field in order to do this. You have the following options for this assignment:

Attach search help to a data element / table or structure field / screen field / check table.

Conventionally search helps are attached to table fields or data elements. We shall see the same.

Attaching a search help to a screen element

A search help can be directly assigned to a screen field in two ways.

The name of the search help must be entered in the Screen Painter in the Attributes for the field in the field Search help.

The name of the search help can be defined for selection screens in ABAP reports in the PARAMETERS or SELECT-OPTIONS statement directly following the supplement MATCHCODE OBJECT.

However, input help is only available for this particular screen.

In this case, the search help is only available for this screen.

OR by useing FM

refer this code

TYPES : BEGIN OF ST_OBJID_SH,
OTYPE TYPE HRP1000-OTYPE,
OBJID TYPE HRP1000-OBJID,
END OF ST_OBJID_SH.

DATA : IT_OBJID_SH TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF ST_OBJID_SH.
DATA : WA_OBJID_SH TYPE ST_OBJID_SH.

************SELECTION SCREEN DESIGN************************

SELECTION-SCREEN BEGIN OF BLOCK B1 WITH FRAME TITLE TEXT-001.

*SELECT-OPTIONS : S_OTYPE FOR HRP1001-OTYPE NO INTERVALS .
SELECT-OPTIONS : S_OBJID FOR HRP1001-OBJID NO INTERVALS .
SELECT-OPTIONS : DATE FOR SY-DATUM NO-EXTENSION OBLIGATORY.

SELECTION-SCREEN END OF BLOCK B1.

***********END OF SELECTION SCREEN DESIGN******************

**********VALIDATION FOR SCREEN FIELDS*********************

AT SELECTION-SCREEN ON VALUE-REQUEST FOR S_OBJID-LOW.

* IF S_OBJID IS NOT INITIAL.

SELECT OTYPE OBJID FROM HRP1000
INTO TABLE IT_OBJID_SH
WHERE OTYPE = 'D'.

IF SY-SUBRC EQ 0.

* SEARCH HELP FOR QUALIFICATION.

CALL FUNCTION 'F4IF_INT_TABLE_VALUE_REQUEST'
EXPORTING
* DDIC_STRUCTURE = ' '
RETFIELD = 'OBJID'
* PVALKEY = ' '
DYNPPROG = SY-REPID
DYNPNR = SY-DYNNR
DYNPROFIELD = 'S_OBJID'
* STEPL = 0
* WINDOW_TITLE =
* VALUE = ' '
VALUE_ORG = 'S'
* MULTIPLE_CHOICE = ' '
* DISPLAY = ' '
* CALLBACK_PROGRAM = ' '
* CALLBACK_FORM = ' '
* MARK_TAB =
* IMPORTING
* USER_RESET =
TABLES
VALUE_TAB = IT_OBJID_SH
* FIELD_TAB =
* RETURN_TAB = RETURN_TAB
* DYNPFLD_MAPPING =
* EXCEPTIONS
* PARAMETER_ERROR = 1
* NO_VALUES_FOUND = 2
* OTHERS = 3
.
IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
* MESSAGE ID SY-MSGID TYPE SY-MSGTY NUMBER SY-MSGNO
* WITH SY-MSGV1 SY-MSGV2 SY-MSGV3 SY-MSGV4.
ENDIF.
ENDIF.

<REMOVED BY MODERATOR - REQUEST OR OFFER POINTS ARE FORBIDDEN>

Edited and Code Formatted by: Alvaro Tejada Galindo on Dec 26, 2008 10:11 AM

[Former Member]

ya good but what is the difference between search help and match code object.

[Former Member]

Hi Giridhar,

There is not much difference between the Search help and match code. Both are meant to be same.

Search help is the Parent name and you create a search help using SE11.

IF you want to call a search help in Report programs, or assign a search help to a particular field on the screen, you use MATCHCODE OBJECT to specify the search help name.

I hope i am clear in the discussion..