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ABAP Keyword Documentation →  ABAP - Reference →  Program structure →  Modularization Statements →  Event Blocks →  Program Constructor 

LOAD-OF-PROGRAM

Short Reference

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54

Syntax


LOAD-OF-PROGRAM.

Effect

This event keyword defines the program constructor of an executable program, a module pool, a function group, or a subroutine pool. The program constructor is an event block whose event is triggered by the ABAP-runtime environment when one of the executable programs mentioned above is loaded into the internal session.

When a program is called using SUBMIT or using a transaction code, then (at every call) a new internal session is opened and the event block is executed once at every call. Global data objects of the program can be initialized here. The event block must be fully executed, otherwise a runtime error occurs. This means that statements can be specified that exit the event block without returning to it.

The first time an external procedure (subroutine or function module) or a subscreen is called, the master program of the called procedure is loaded into the internal session of the caller, thus triggering the event LOAD-OF-PROGRAM. The event block is executed before the called procedure. Each time a procedure of the same master program is called again by a caller of the same internal session, the event LOAD-OF-PROGRAM is not triggered.


Notes

  • The event LOAD-OF-PROGRAM should mainly be used to initialize global data when calling external procedures or transactions. If executable programs are called using SUBMIT, it is recommended that the event INITIALIZATION is used, since the start values for parameter and selection criteria are set after LOAD-OF-PROGRAM (see program flow after SUBMIT).
  • If a program is only loaded because declarations are required from it, such as when using absolute type names, the LOAD-OF-PROGRAM event is not triggered. The program constructor is only executed if an executable unit of the program is called afterwards.
  • Class pools do not have a program constructor, since the static constructor from the global class defined in the class pool can be used instead.