ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP Overview → ABAP and Unicode
Differences between Unicode and Non-Unicode Programs
The ABAP key word documentation describes the ABAP statements for both Unicode and non-Unicode systems. Only Unicode programs can be compiled and executed in Unicode systems. In non-Unicode systems, this is also possible for non-Unicode programs. However, Unicode programs should also be used in non-Unicode systems, for the following reasons:
- Static type checks are executed in Unicode programs.
- Byte processing and string processing is separated in Unicode programs.
- Structures are always handled as structures in Unicode programs.
- Uncontrolled access to segments of the working memory is not possible in Unicode programs.
This makes Unicode programs easier to understand, more robust, and easier to maintain than non-Unicode programs.
The following section lists the language constructs and statements for which there are differences between Unicode and non-Unicode programs:
Other versions:
7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
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Comments and Literals in Non-Unicode Programs
Program Structure of Unicode Programs
Operand Types in Unicode Programs
Offset and Length Specifications in Unicode Programs
Access to Memory Sequences in Unicode Programs
Conversion of Structures in Unicode Programs
Structure Typing in Unicode Programs
Structure Enhancements and Unicode Programs
Character String and Byte String Processing in Unicode Programs
Function Module Calls in Unicode Programs