Old and new ABAP syntax - overview sheet

[ThomasKruegl]

Motivation:

With release 7.40 and 7.50 several new ABAP language elements have been introduced. Learning them in theory is one thing, using them in daily life quite another. While working on that, the idea of an overview sheet came up, comparing "old" and "new" syntax, in the form of: "When i notice things are done in this "old" way, can we use some new elements here?"

This overview is meant to be printable, to have it right on the desk or wall beside you for a quick reference.

Because of that, the overview is quite brief, and does  not explain how any of the new (or old) syntax elements work. In this online version, i linked explanatory blog entries, mostly from horst.keller, obviously this won't help if you print the list. This and the ABAP keyword documentation will help you out if you don't know about specific elements, or need more details.

Also, i wrote below "Consider using this". The list does not say when or if it is a good idea to use the new syntax elements, it's just a reminder that there maybe is another option for the coding.

And one more thing, i do not mention or care about releases and service packs here. Depending on your system, some or all of the new features will not be available.

Here we go:

If you see this	Consider using this
DATA and FIELD-SYMBOLS declarations	Inline declarations
MOVE CORRESPONDING	Constructor expression CORRESPONDING, or CL_ABAP_CORRESPONDING
struc1-field1 = struc2-fielda struc1-field2 = struc2-fieldb ...	Constructor expression CORRESPONDING, or CL_ABAP_CORRESPONDING; Constructor expression VALUE
CREATE DATA / CREATE OBJECT	Constructor expression NEW
GET REFERENCE OF	Constructor expression REF
variable only used once, e.g. parameter for a method call	Constructor expression VALUE; Inline declarations
helper variable for type conversion	Constructor expression CONV
?=	Constructor expression CAST
assigning a value to a single variable within several case or if blocks, e.g. IF cond. var = 1. ELSE. var = 2. ENDIF.	Constructor expressions SWITCH or COND
READ TABLE	Table expressions; Note: throws exception, while READ TABLE sets sy-subrc. Catch exception and handle error case, or use a standard value
READ TABLE ... TRANSPORTING NO FIELDS	line_exists( … ) or line_index( … )
internal table WITH DEFAULT KEY	suitable key, or WITH EMPTY KEY
LOOP AT...	FOR ... IN in constructor expressions
[result of method call] IS (NOT) INITIAL, or [result of method call] = abap_true/abap_false	predicative method call ( omit the " = abap_true" part )
DO / WHILE	FOR ... UNTIL / WHILE in constructor expressions
calculating or otherwise assembling one result from input data, e.g. from table rows	Constructor expression REDUCE; Note: "one result" can be a value, but also a table or complex object
LOOP AT ... AT NEW, or other means of going through grouped data	LOOP AT … GROUP BY … / LOOP AT GROUP
LOOP + DELETE	Constructor expression FILTER
type checking (?= with TRY/CATCH block, or usage of CL_ABAP_TYPEDESCR)	IS INSTANCE OF, CASE TYPE OF
CONCATENATE; string literals	String templates
SELECT	new SQL expressions; use @ to escape host variables

There are several links to new options in Open SQL statements. To keep the list clean, i decided to put them down here:

ABAP News for 7.40, SP08 - Open SQL

ABAP News for Release 7.50 - Host and Other Expressions in Open SQL

ABAP News for Release 7.50 - SELECT UNION

ABAP News for Release 7.50 - INSERT FROM Subquery and GTTs

And one more link i think is really helpful, a list of built-in functions:

Reminder: ABAP Built-in Functions

Edit: I just came across another quick reference / overview for the new syntax elements, it gives more details about the elements: ABAP 7.40 Quick Reference

PS: Please let me know if you know a way to start the table on a new page in the pdf version of this document. I recommend copying and formatting the list yourself as you like it, if you want to print it for now.