ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP − Release-Specific Changes → Changes in Release 4.6A
ABAP Objects - Further Developments for Release 4.6A
In Release 4.6A the following components are added to the core functionality of ABAP Objects:
1. Object generation with explicit class specification
3. Internal tables as collections
4. Functional methods in expressions
6. Change process for global interfaces
Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
Modification 1
Object generation with explicit class specification
The statement
CREATE OBJECT has two new variants that make it possible to specify the
name of the class, which is to generate an instance, both statically and dynamically. Previously a reference
variable with reference to the class had to be created before an object could be generated. In the new
variants of the statement CREATE OBJECT, any reference variables can be used that are compatible with the specified class.
Modification 2
Non-public instantiation
The new additions CREATE PROTECTED
and CREATE PRIVATE of the statement
CLASS class DEFINITION can be used to ensure that only the class itself or its subclasses
can generate instances of the class class. This enables unique instance management.
Modification 3
Internal tables as collections
If the line type of internal tables contains
reference variables as components comp, the attributes attr
of the object to which the reference of a line points can be used as key values for reading, sorting and changing table lines. This is possible in the following statements:
-
LOOP AT itab ... WHERE comp->attr ... -
READ TABLE itab ... WITH [TABLE] KEY comp->attr = ... -
SORT itab BY comp->attr ... -
DELETE itab WHERE comp->attr ... -
MODIFY itab ... TRANSPORTING ... WHERE comp->attr ...
If a table contains non-structured lines of the type of a reference variable, the attributes of the
object to which a line points can be addressed using table_line->attr.
Modification 4
Functional methods in expressions
Functional method calls are supported for the following statements and expressions:
-
for arithmetical expressions (
COMPUTE) -
for bit expressions (
COMPUTE) -
for logical expressions (
IF,ELSEIF,WHILE,CHECK) -
for multiple queriesn (
CASE,WHEN) -
for loops (
LOOP) -
for assignments (
MOVE)
Modification 5
Instance destructor
The instance destructor can be used for releasing internal and external resources. External resources,
for example, the printer of a called class, must be released by the application involved, whereas internal
resources are released automatically when the mode is closed. Currently a C function must be called for this purpose using SYSTEM-CALL.
Modification 6
Change process for global interfaces
If a method is missing in the implementation, the syntax check results in a warning message instead of an error message. When the method is called at runtime, execution is terminated.
If an implemented method is not used, a warning message is issued instead of an error message. The coding of the method is ignored.
Modification 7
Compiler enhancements
The statement CLASS class DEFINITION LOAD is no longer required with the following statements:
-
CALL METHOD global_class=>method -
SET HANDLER global_class=>method -
METHODS m FOR EVENT e OF CLASS global_class
From within a global superclass, a subclass can be referenced provided that the superclass does not address components of the subclass.
Modification 8
Internal optimizations