The ABAP Dictionary is the central repository for all data definitions in the SAP system. It allows common and non-redundant description of data and defines relationships between different objects to ensure data consistency. Changes made to objects in the ABAP Dictionary take effect across relevant system components via an activation process. The ABAP Dictionary also integrates with the ABAP development workbench and defines technical settings for database tables.

1. ABAP DICTIONARY

2. ABAP Dictionary
• The ABAP Dictionary is
the central repository for all
data definitions in the R/3
system.
• It permits common , nonredundant description of
the data.
• Management of data definitions
Technical and semantic description
Relationships
ss
•
•
•
•
Integration
Activation
Evaluation
F1 and F4 help
• It is also used to describe the
logical structure of the objects in
the
application
development
environment, and shows how they
are mapped to structure in the
underlying physical database.
Physical database

3. ABAP Dictionary
• Relationships can be
defined between different
objects to ensure
consistency of data.
• All the objects maintained
in the ABAP Dictionary are
available throughout the
system.
• Changes to objects in the
ABAP Dictionary take
effect in all relevant system
components via the
activation technique.
• Management of data definitions
Technical and semantic description
Relationships
ss
•
•
•
•
Integration
Activation
Evaluation
F1 and F4 help
Physical database

4. Integration with the ABAP Workbench
• The ABAP Dictionary is actively integrated in the ABAP Development
Workbench.
• Changes stay local to the Workbench environment until activation.
• Upon activation, the changes that were made are transferred to the runtime
environment and then take immediate effect in the relevant ABAP programs and
screens.
ABAP Development
Workbench
Screen
painter
Menu
painter
Menu
painter
Runtime Environment
Screens
ABAP /4 program
Dialogue
Control
Programs
Transactions

5. ABAP Dictionary
ABAP Dictionary
T-Code : SE11

6. ABAP Dictionary

7. ABAP Dictionary
Database Tables
Object consisting of a list of fields, which has a physical
underlying database table.
Views
A virtual table not containing any physical data. Data can be
derived from one or more database tables.
Data Types
Describe the usages of a field in a specific business context.
Can be one of three types Data element, structure and Table.
Domains
Describe the technical attributes of a field.
Search helps
Used to provide end users with input help on a field (F4)
Lock Objects
Used to manage simultaneous update of tables.

8. ABAP Dictionary

9. ABAP Dictionary

10. ABAP Dictionary
Display: To view the data rows of table.
Maintain : To Insert, update or Delete data rows of the table
Read
Write

11. ABAP Dictionary
Program Access
Direct Access Read
READ/WRITE
??
READ/WRITE
READ/W???
RITE
Z7EMP

12. Technical Settings
We must maintain the technical settings when we define a
table in the ABAP Dictionary.
The technical settings are used individually optimize the
storage requirements and accessing behavior of database
tables.

13. Technical settings
 Data Class
 Size Category
 Buffering

14. ABAP Dictionary

15. Technical Settings
 The table is automatically created on the database when it
is activated in the ABAP Dictionary.
 The storage area to be selected (table space) and space
allocation settings is determined from the settings for the data
class and size category.
 The settings for buffering define whether and how the
table should be buffered.

16. Data class
Table spaces
Database

17. Data class
Data classes maintained in SAP :
Master Data:
Master Data is data that is rarely modified. An Example of master data is the
data of an Address, for example, the name, address and telephone number.
Transaction Data:
Transaction Data is data that is frequently modified. An example is the
material stock of a warehouse , which can change after each purchase order.
Organizational Data:
Organizational Data is data that is defined during customizing when the
system is installed and that is rarely modified thereafter. The Country keys
are an example.
System Data:
System Data is data that the R/3 system itself needs . The program sources
are an Example.

18. Data class
Table space 1
App:. Mater Data
Table Space 2
App:. System Data
Table Space 2
App:. Transaction
Data
Table Space 2
App:. Organizational
Data

19. Data class
Oracle Blocks

20. ABAP Dictionary