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Simple Transformations
Simple Transformations (ST) is an SAP programming language for describing transformations between ABAP data and XML formats. ST is restricted to the two modes of serialization (ABAP to XML) and deserialization (XML to ABAP) of ABAP data, which are most important for data integration. Transformations from ABAP to ABAP and XML to XML (like in the more general XSLT) are not possible in ST.
Simple transformations are created as ST programs. ST programs can be edited using the
Transformation Editor.
This is called up either with transaction STRANS or by choosing Edit Object → More → Transformation followed by Simple Transformation in the
ABAP Workbench object
navigator Existing ST programs can be called using the statement
CALL TRANSFORMATION. The associated ST processor is integrated into the ABAP runtime environment.
In comparison with XSLT, the main advantages of ST programs are as follows:
- ST programs are declarative and thus easier to read.
- ST programs only have serial access to the XML data and are therefore very efficient even with large data volumes. The nodes in an XML document, however, cannot be accessed in an arbitrary order.
- ST programs describe serialization and deserialization simultaneously, that is ABAP data serialized in XML with ST can also be deserialized with the same ST program.
- Objects can be created from ABAP Objects and their methods called in ST programs.
- ST programs are restricted to the transformation of elementary and structured ABAP data, along with internal tables. The transformation of reference variables and referenced objects is not currently supported.
Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
Continue
ST - Serialization and Deserialization
ST - Modularization with Subtemplates