ABAP Select data from SAP table CHAR_LIST into internal table

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Below is a number of ABAP code snippets to demonstrate how to select data from SAP CHAR_LIST table and store it within an internal table, including using the newer @DATA inline declaration methods. It also shows you various ways to process this data using ABAP work area, inline declaration or field symbols including executing all the relevant CONVERSION_EXIT routines specific to CHAR_LIST. See here for more generic Select statement tips.

Sometimes data within SAP is stored within the database table in a different format to what it is displayed to the user. These input/output conversation FM routines are what translates the data between the two formats.

There is also a full declaration of the CHAR_LIST table where each field has a char/string type for you to simply copy and paste. This allows you to use processing that is only available to these field types such as the CONCATENATE statement.

DATA: IT_CHAR_LIST TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF CHAR_LIST,
      WA_CHAR_LIST TYPE CHAR_LIST,
      GD_STR TYPE STRING.

DATA: lo_typedescr type REF TO cl_abap_typedescr.
DATA: lv_fieldname type fieldname.

FIELD-SYMBOLS: <FIELD> TYPE any.
FIELD-SYMBOLS: <CHAR_LIST> TYPE CHAR_LIST.

*Process all fields in table header/work area as string values
  PERFORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING wa_CHAR_LIST.

SELECT *
*restrict ABAP select to first 10 rows
 UP TO 10 ROWS      
  FROM CHAR_LIST
  INTO TABLE IT_CHAR_LIST.

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM CHAR_LIST
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_CHAR_LIST2).
*--Further methods of using ABAP code to  select data from SAP database tables

*You can also declare the header/work area using the in-line DATA declaration method
READ TABLE IT_CHAR_LIST INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_CHAR_LIST2).


*Demonstrate how to loop at an internal table and update values using a FIELD-SYMBOL
LOOP AT IT_CHAR_LIST ASSIGNING <CHAR_LIST>.

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<CHAR_LIST>-CLINT = 1.
<CHAR_LIST>-KLART = 1.
<CHAR_LIST>-IMERK = 1.
<CHAR_LIST>-ATINN = 1.
<CHAR_LIST>-CHARACT = 1.

ENDLOOP.

LOOP AT IT_CHAR_LIST INTO WA_CHAR_LIST.
*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_CHAR_LIST-ABTEI, sy-vline,
  WA_CHAR_LIST-ATFOR, sy-vline,
  WA_CHAR_LIST-ATERF, sy-vline,
  WA_CHAR_LIST-ATINT, sy-vline,
  WA_CHAR_LIST-ATFOD, sy-vline,
  WA_CHAR_LIST-ATVSC, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_CHAR_LIST you want to display...

  WRITE:/ sy-uline.
* Aternatively use generic code to Write field values (and NAME) to screen report
  DO.
    ASSIGN COMPONENT sy-index OF STRUCTURE wa_CHAR_LIST TO <field>.
    IF sy-subrc <> 0. EXIT. ENDIF.
    WRITE:/ 'Field Value', <field>, sy-vline.
    gd_str = <field> .
    lo_typedescr ?= CL_ABAP_DATADESCR=>DESCRIBE_BY_DATA( <field> ).
    lv_fieldname = lo_typedescr->GET_RELATIVE_NAME( ).
    WRITE:/ 'Field Name', lv_fieldname.
  ENDDO.

  
*Redo loop but convert all fields from internal to out value  
LOOP AT IT_CHAR_LIST INTO WA_CHAR_LIST.


*Write horizonal line to screen report.
  WRITE:/ sy-uline.

*Convert all fields to display/output versions using conversion routines
  PERFORM convert_all_field_values CHANGING wa_EKKO.
	 
ENDLOOP.

  
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
*& Form convert_all_field_values
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
FORM convert_all_field_values CHANGING p_EKKO LIKE wa_EKKO.
DATA: ld_input(1000) TYPE c, ld_output(1000) TYPE C.

*Conversion exit ATINN, internal->external for field IMERK
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ATINN_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_CHAR_LIST-IMERK
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_CHAR_LIST-IMERK.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit ATINN, internal->external for field ATINN
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ATINN_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_CHAR_LIST-ATINN
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_CHAR_LIST-ATINN.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit ALPHA, internal->external for field DOKNR
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_CHAR_LIST-DOKNR
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_CHAR_LIST-DOKNR.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.
ENDFORM. 

*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
*& Form process_as_string_field_values
*&---------------------------------------------------------------------*
FORM process_as_string_field_values CHANGING p_EKKO LIKE wa_EKKO.

TYPES: BEGIN OF T_CHAR_LIST_STR, 
CLINT TYPE STRING,
KLART TYPE STRING,
IMERK TYPE STRING,
ATINN TYPE STRING,
CHARACT TYPE STRING,
ABTEI TYPE STRING,
ATFOR TYPE STRING,
ATERF TYPE STRING,
ATINT TYPE STRING,
ATFOD TYPE STRING,
ATVSC TYPE STRING,
ATWRD TYPE STRING,
ATSON TYPE STRING,
ATVIE TYPE STRING,
DOKNR TYPE STRING,
DOKAR TYPE STRING,
DOKTL TYPE STRING,
DOKVR TYPE STRING,
CLUDEF TYPE STRING,
OVCHR TYPE STRING,
OVVAL TYPE STRING,
MKENN TYPE STRING,
HERKU TYPE STRING,
SELRE TYPE STRING,
DRURE TYPE STRING,
ANZRE TYPE STRING,
XSORT TYPE STRING,
INDRE TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_CHAR_LIST_STR type T_EKKO_STR.

DATA: ld_text TYPE string.

LOOP AT IT_EKKO INTO WA_EKKO.
  MOVE-CORRESPONDING wa_EKKO TO WA_EKKO_STR.
  CONCATENATE: sy-vline
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-CLINT sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-KLART sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-IMERK sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATINN sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-CHARACT sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ABTEI sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATFOR sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATERF sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATINT sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATFOD sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATVSC sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATWRD sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATSON sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ATVIE sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-DOKNR sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-DOKAR sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-DOKTL sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-DOKVR sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-CLUDEF sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-OVCHR sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-OVVAL sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-MKENN sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-HERKU sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-SELRE sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-DRURE sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-ANZRE sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-XSORT sy-vline 
WA_CHAR_LIST_STR-INDRE sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

*Add any further fields from structure WA_EKKO_STR you want to CONCATENATE...
ENDLOOP.
ENDFORM.