The document describes new string functions introduced in ABAP 7.02, including cmax/cmin for character extreme values, condense for condensing strings, concat_lines_of for linking lines from a table, and over a dozen other functions for tasks like escaping characters, inserting/replacing/matching substrings, and comparing string distances. It also provides examples of how each function works.

1. ABAP 7.02 New Features
New String Functions
Johann Fößleitner, Cadaxo GmbH https://twitter.com/foessleitnerj

2. Table of Contents
➤ cmax/cmin – character like extreme value function
➤ condense – condensation function
➤ concate_lines_of – linking function
➤ escape – escape function
➤ insert – insert function
➤ match – match function
➤ repeat – repeat function
➤ replace – replace function
➤ reverse – reverse function
➤ shift_left/shift_right – shift function
➤ substring – substring function
➤ to_upper/to_lower/… - upper and lower case function
➤ translate – translate function
➤ distance – distance function

3. cmax/cmin – character like extreme value
function
• comparison up to a value of 9 character like arguments
• result is the smallest (cmin) or the biggest (cmax) delivered
character
• comparison is used codepage-based

4. cmax/cmin – character like extreme value
function
l_result = cmax( val1 = 'AAAC' val2 = 'AAAB' val3 = 'AAAD' ).
result: AAAD
l_result = cmax( val1 = 'AAAC' val2 = 'AZAB' val3 = 'AAAD' ).
result: AZAB
l_result = cmin( val1 = 'AAAC' val2 = 'AAAB' val3 = 'AAAD' ).
result : AAAB
l_result = cmin( val1 = 'AAAC' val2 = '0AAC' val3 = 'AAAD' ).
result : 0AAC

5. condense – condensation function
• condensates the content of a string
• provides more possibilities than the ABAP Command
Condense
• removes leading and ending character
l_string = condense( val = ‘XXXabcXXXdefXXX‘ del = ‘X‘ from = ‘X‘ to = ‘X‘ ).
result: abcXdef

6. concat_lines_of – linking function
• links lines from an intern table in a string
• additive sep enables the seperation by a seperator
L_string = concate_lines_of( table = tab sep = ‘;‘ ).

7. escape – escape function
• enables the rule-based replacing of a string with escape
symbols
• usable rules are defined as constants in
CL_ABAP_FORMAT

8. escape – escape function
DATA l_string0 TYPE string.
DATA l_string1 TYPE string.
l_string0 = 'http://www.cadaxo.com'.
l_string1 = escape( val = l_string0 format = cl_abap_format=>e_url_full ).
WRITE: / l_string0, / l_string1.
result:
http://www.cadaxo.com
http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cadaxo.com

9. insert – insert function
• insert a string at any position of another string
L_string = ‘NewsABAP‘.
L_result = insert( val = l_string sub = ‘ in ‘ off = 5 ).
Write: l_string.
result:
news in ABAP

10. match – match function
• searches for a text with a specific Regex accordance
• more information of Regex can be gathered from SAP online
documentation

11. repeat – repeat function
• generates a string through repitition of another string
l_string = repeat( val = ‘ABC‘ occ = 5 ).
write: l_string.
result:
ABCABCABCABCABC

12. replace – replace function
• replaces a section of a string
• section can be determined by an offset-/length or by Regex
l_result = replace( val = 'ABAP xx GOOD' off = 6 len = 0 with = 'IS' ).
result: ‘ABAP xISx GOOD‘
l_result = replace( val = 'ABAP xx GOOD' off = 4 len = 4 with = 'IS' ).
result: ‘ABAPISGOOD‘

13. reverse – reverse function
• reverses a complete string
L_string = ‘PABA‘.
L_string = reverse( l_string ).
result: ABAP
PS: If you know a useful application of this function, please let me know!

14. substring, substring_... – substring function
• investigation of a section from a given character amount
l_result = substring( val = 'ABCDEFGH' off = 3 len = 4 ).
result: ‘DEFG‘
l_result = substring_from( val = 'ABCDEFGH' sub = 'DEF' ).
result: ‘DEFGH‘
l_result = substring_after( val = 'ABCDEFGH' sub = 'DEF' ).
result: ‘GH‘
l_result = substring_before( val = 'ABCDEFGH' sub = 'DEF' ).
result: ‘ABC‘
l_result = substring_to( val = 'ABCDEFGH' sub = 'DEF' ).
result: ‘ABCDEF‘

15. to_upper, to_lower, to_mixed, from_mixed
upper and lower case function
• to_upper/to_lower conforms the command TRANSLATE
TO UPPER/LOWER CASE
• to_mixed transforms all letters from the second position on
in lower cases
• from_mixed inserts from left to right from the second
position on the first declared character from the additive sep
• further additives are case and min

16. to_upper, to_lower, to_mixed, from_mixed
upper and lower case function
l_result = to_mixed( val = 'CADAXO GMBH' ).
result: ‘Cadaxo gmbh‘

17. distance – distance function
• investigates the edit distance (Levenshtein-distance) of to
strings
• minimal amount of insert, delete or replace processes to get from string
1 to string 2
l_int = distance( val1 = 'CADAXO GMBH' val2 = 'ADAXOGMBH' ).
result: 2 („C“ and a blank have to be inserted)
l_int = distance( val1 = 'ABCD' val2 = 'EFGH' ).
result: 4 (all characters have to be replaced)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenshtein-Distanz

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