ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP - Release-Specific Changes → Changes in Release 4.6A

Data Objects and Data References in Release 4.6A

In Release 4.6A, references to data objects have been introduced in the following variants:

2. Creating data objects and getting references

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54

Modification 1

Reference Variables for Data Objects

Previously, reference variables were only available in ABAP Objects. In Release 4.6A, DATA f TYPE REF TO DATA can be used to declare f as a reference variable that points to a different data object.

Modification 2

Creating Data Objects and Getting References

CREATE DATA dref ... can be used to create a new data object (field) at runtime, where dref can be any reference variable with type REF TO DATA. Furthermore, GET REFERENCE can be used to get a reference to a data object (field).

Modification 3

Assignment of Referenced Fields

The statement ASSIGN dref->* TO <fs> makes the field symbol <fs> point to the same content as the data reference dref at runtime. If the field symbol is typed, the type is checked when the assignment is made.