Skip to content

ABAP Keyword Documentation →  ABAP Dictionary →  Classic Objects in ABAP Dictionary 

Database Tables

In ABAP Dictionary, the term "database table" (or table for short) is the database-independent definition of a database table. In Open SQL, only those database tables can be accessed that are defined in ABAP Dictionary.

The name of a database table in ABAP Dictionary can have a maximum of 16 characters, can consist of letters, numbers, and underscores, must start with a letter can be prefixed by a namespace prefix (/.../) of a prefix namespace. It is in the namespace of the data types in ABAP Dictionary.

The definition of a database table consists of the following:

The most common category of database table is the transparent table. When activated, the platform-specific SQL DDL statement CREATE TABLE generates a physical database table with all indexes not excluded explicitly in the definition in the central AS ABAP database in a separate database schema SAPsid. Here, sid stands for the system ID (the name of the AS ABAP). The predefined types in ABAP Dictionary used to defined the components of the structure are converted to database-specific types. The definition of a table in the database can be displayed in ABAP Dictionary by choosing Utilities → Database Object. Alongside the transparent tables, there are also special pooled tables and cluster tables that are grouped in different tables rather than being defined directly as individual database tables on the database.

The order of the fields in ABAP Dictionary and on the database does not need to match. More specifically, the order of the table fields (with the exception of key fields) of existing database tables in the dictionary can be modified without modifying the database object. When using Open SQL, this is handled accordingly in the database interface and the order in ABAP Dictionary always applies. When using Native SQL, the order of the columns in the database system must be applied explicitly.

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54


Note

Customizing includes and append structures are available for making enhancements to database tables in ABAP Dictionary delivered by SAP without making modifications.

Continue

Technical Attributes of Database Tables

Semantic Attributes of Database Tables

Pooled Tables and Cluster Tables

Converting Database Tables