ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP - Reference → User Dialogs → Classic Lists → Processing Lists in the List Buffer
DESCRIBE LIST
Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
Syntax
DESCRIBE LIST { {NUMBER OF {LINES|PAGES} n} 
 
            | {LINE linno PAGE page} 
              | {PAGE pagno
page_properties} } 
             [INDEX idx]. 
Alternatives
 1. ... NUMBER OF {LINES|PAGES} n  
 2. ... LINE linno PAGE page  
 3. ... PAGE pagno page_properties   
Addition
Effect
This statement assigns the properties of a list stored in a list buffer to the variables n,
page, or the variables specified in page_properties.  
System Fields
| sy-subrc | Meaning | 
|---|---|
| 0 | The list property was successfully specified. | 
| 4 | The line specified in linnoor page specified inpagnocannot be found. | 
| 8 | The list level specified in idxcannot be found. | 
Note
The statement DESCRIBE LIST should only be used for completed lists, because not all properties can be read in a list during its creation process.  
Addition
... INDEX idx   
Effect
The list level can be specified with the addition INDEX, where a data object
(which contains the list index) of type i is expected for idx.
The value of idx must be greater than or equal to 0. If the addition 
INDEX is not specified, then the list level 0 (the basic list itself) is selected during the creation of the basic list, and the list level at which the event was triggered
(sy-listi) is selected during the processing of a list event. If the list
level specified in idx does not exist, the variables are not changed and sy-subrc is set to the value 8.  
Alternative 1
... NUMBER OF {LINES|PAGES} n
 
Effect
The number of lines is expected when specifying LINES, the number of list
pages is stored in n when specifying PAGES. A
data object of the type i is expected for n. The
number of lines is counted from the first to the last line described by an output statement and contains
the page headers and page footers. The spaces automatically inserted between the list pages are not counted.  
Alternative 2
... LINE linno PAGE page
 
Effect
The corresponding page for the line number specified in linno is determined
and stored in page. Data objects of the type i
are expected for linno and page. If the line specified
in linno does not exist, page is not changed and
sy-subrc is set to 4. The page headers and page footers are included in the line count, but not the spaces automatically inserted between the list pages.  
Alternative 3
... PAGE pagno page_properties
 
Effect
Various properties page_properties
for the page number specified in pagno are determined and passed to the specified
variables. At least one addition must be specified after pagno. The data
type i is expected for pagno. If the page specified
in pagno does not exist, the variables are not changed and sy-subrc is set to the value 4.  
Example
Specification of properties of the list's last page that is currently displayed with two DESCRIBE statements during a list event.
DATA: last_page  TYPE i, 
      lines      TYPE i, 
      first_line TYPE i, 
      top_lines  TYPE i. 
... 
AT LINE-SELECTION. 
  DESCRIBE LIST: NUMBER OF PAGES last_page, 
                PAGE last_page LINES lines 
                               FIRST-LINE first_line 
                               TOP-LINES  top_lines.