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ABAP SQL - col

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54

Syntax


... [data_source|tabalias~]colname 

  | [data_source|tabalias~]sql_path-element ...

Variants

1. ... colname
2. ... sql_path-element

Addition

... data_source|tabalias~

Effect

Specifies a column of a data source of a query or the target of a write in an ABAP SQL statement.

Columns can be specified as elementary SQL expressions in all operand positions in which SQL expressions are possible. However, they can also occur in specific operand positions in which no SQL expressions are possible.

Variant 1

... colname

Effect

Specifies a column of a data source of a query or of the target of a write directly using its name colname (as defined as a component of the associated structure in ABAP Dictionary).


Note

When a column is specified, the actual names of the components must be used for a database table containing an include structure, and not the names of any groups defined in ABAP Dictionary.


Example

Columns carrid, carrname, and url specified directly in the clauses of a SELECT statement.

SELECT FROM scarr 
       FIELDS carrid, carrname 
       WHERE  url = ' ' 
       INTO   TABLE @DATA(itab).

Variant 2

... sql_path-element

Effect

Specifies an element of a data source of a CDS view after a path expression sql_path. This can be specified in SELECT statements where path expressions can be used and in all places where a column can be specified (unless otherwise indicated).

The element element closes the path expression (compiled from CDS associations or CTE associations) for which the structure component selector - is used. This element must be an element of the target data source of the final association in the path.


Notes

  • If an element is specified after the path expression, this represents a column specified of the join created implicitly for the path expression. Left outer joins (LEFT OUTER JOIN) are created for path expressions in specified columns.

  • source~ can be used to prefix the path expression with the unit from which its first association is published.

  • When a column is specified using a path expression, the syntax check is performed in a strict mode, which handles the statement more strictly than the regular syntax check.


Example

A SELECT statement accesses the CDS view demo_cds_assoc_scarr that publishes a CDS association _spfli. As its target data source, this CDS association uses a view that publishes the CDS associations _sflight and _sairport. The columns specified by the SELECT statement cover any path expressions created by these CDS associations. See also the associated executable example.

SELECT carrname, 
        \_spfli-connid AS connid, 
        \_spfli\_sairport-name AS name 
        FROM demo_cds_assoc_scarr 
        WHERE carrid = '...' and 
              \_spfli\_sflight-fldate > '20190515' 
        INTO TABLE @DATA(itab).

Addition

... data_source|tabalias~

Effect

The column selector ~ can be used to prefix every specified column directly with the name of the associated data source of a query or of the target of a write (as data_source or as an alias name tabalias).

The data source must be specified in the following cases:

  • If multiple data sources in an ABAP SQL statement need to be edited and the column name is not unique.


Example

Using the name scarr of a data source and the alias name connections of a different data source in front of the column selector ~ of specified columns.

SELECT FROM scarr 
         INNER JOIN spfli AS connections 
           ON scarr~carrid = connections~carrid 
       FIELDS scarr~carrname, connections~connid 
       WHERE  connections~cityfrom = '...' 
       INTO TABLE @DATA(itab).