ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP − Reference → ABAP Syntax → ABAP Statements → Operands
Escape Character for Names
The character !
can be placed directly before a name to distinguish it from an
ABAP word with the same name in a statement. With the
exception of the first word, each word of a statement that is preceded by the escape character is interpreted
as an operand, and not as an ABAP word, when the program is generated. The escape character itself is not part of a name and is ignored when the statement is executed.
Other versions:
7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
Notes
- The escape character
!
may be required on rare occasions in which the compiler cannot tell the difference between an operand and a reserved word of the same name. Otherwise, it can be used for the documentation of operands in the source code.
- The escape character
!
cannot be used in front of operators. For example,!=
cannot be specified instead of=
.
Example
Without the escape character !
before CHANGING
after USING
, the following program extract would have incorrect syntax, because
a formal parameter must be entered after USING
. Although the second escape
character is not necessary, it is used to document USING
after CHANGING
as a formal parameter.
FORM test USING !CHANGING
CHANGING !USING.
using = changing.
ENDFORM.