ABAP Select data from SAP table MCHAR into internal table

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Below is a number of ABAP code snippets to demonstrate how to select data from SAP MCHAR 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 MCHAR. 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 MCHAR 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_MCHAR TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF MCHAR,
      WA_MCHAR TYPE MCHAR,
      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: <MCHAR> TYPE MCHAR.

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

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

*Select data and declare internal table using in-line method @DATA
*SELECT *
*  FROM MCHAR
*  INTO TABLE @DATA(IT_MCHAR2).
*--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_MCHAR INDEX 1 INTO DATA(WA_MCHAR2).


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

*To update a field value using a field symbol simply change the value via the field symbol pointer
<MCHAR>-ZEILC = 1.
<MCHAR>-MATNR = 1.
<MCHAR>-WERKS = 1.
<MCHAR>-LGORT = 1.
<MCHAR>-CHARG = 1.

ENDLOOP.

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

*Write selected data to screen/report before conversion.
  WRITE:/ sy-vline,   WA_MCHAR-BWTAR, sy-vline,
  WA_MCHAR-CLABS, sy-vline,
  WA_MCHAR-MENGE, sy-vline,
  WA_MCHAR-MEINS, sy-vline,
  WA_MCHAR-ERFMG, sy-vline,
  WA_MCHAR-ERFME, sy-vline.
ENDLOOP.
   
*Add any further fields from structure WA_MCHAR 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_MCHAR 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_MCHAR INTO WA_MCHAR.


*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 MATN1, internal->external for field MATNR
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_MATN1_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_MCHAR-MATNR
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_MCHAR-MATNR.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit CUNIT, internal->external for field MEINS
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_CUNIT_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_MCHAR-MEINS
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_MCHAR-MEINS.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit CUNIT, internal->external for field ERFME
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_CUNIT_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_MCHAR-ERFME
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_MCHAR-ERFME.
WRITE:/ 'New Value:', ld_input.

*Conversion exit ALPHA, internal->external for field LIFCH
CALL FUNCTION 'CONVERSION_EXIT_ALPHA_OUTPUT'
  EXPORTING
    input =                      WA_MCHAR-LIFCH
  IMPORTING
    output =                     ld_input.
WRITE:/ 'Org Value:', WA_MCHAR-LIFCH.
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_MCHAR_STR, 
ZEILC TYPE STRING,
MATNR TYPE STRING,
WERKS TYPE STRING,
LGORT TYPE STRING,
CHARG TYPE STRING,
BWTAR TYPE STRING,
CLABS TYPE STRING,
MENGE TYPE STRING,
MEINS TYPE STRING,
ERFMG TYPE STRING,
ERFME TYPE STRING,
ZUSTD TYPE STRING,
ZUSCH TYPE STRING,
BSTAR TYPE STRING,
SPERC TYPE STRING,
XSELK TYPE STRING,
KZICL TYPE STRING,
KZVCL TYPE STRING,
KZICQ TYPE STRING,
KZVCQ TYPE STRING,
KZICS TYPE STRING,
KZVCS TYPE STRING,
VERAB TYPE STRING,
VFDAT TYPE STRING,
LVOCA TYPE STRING,
HERKR TYPE STRING,
HERKL TYPE STRING,
MTVER TYPE STRING,
LIFCH TYPE STRING,
LICHA TYPE STRING,
QNDAT TYPE STRING,
ZAEDT TYPE STRING,
FVDT1 TYPE STRING,
FVDT2 TYPE STRING,
FVDT3 TYPE STRING,
FVDT4 TYPE STRING,
FVDT5 TYPE STRING,
FVDT6 TYPE STRING,
LVOCB TYPE STRING,
SGT_SCAT TYPE STRING,
FSH_SEASON_YEAR TYPE STRING,
FSH_SEASON TYPE STRING,
FSH_COLLECTION TYPE STRING,
FSH_THEME TYPE STRING,
FSH_ATP_DATE TYPE STRING,
HSDAT TYPE STRING,
LWEDT TYPE STRING,
ERSDA TYPE STRING,END OF T_EKKO_STR.
DATA: WA_MCHAR_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_MCHAR_STR-ZEILC sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-MATNR sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-WERKS sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-LGORT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-CHARG sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-BWTAR sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-CLABS sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-MENGE sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-MEINS sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-ERFMG sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-ERFME sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-ZUSTD sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-ZUSCH sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-BSTAR sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-SPERC sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-XSELK sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-KZICL sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-KZVCL sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-KZICQ sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-KZVCQ sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-KZICS sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-KZVCS sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-VERAB sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-VFDAT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-LVOCA sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-HERKR sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-HERKL sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-MTVER sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-LIFCH sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-LICHA sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-QNDAT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-ZAEDT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FVDT1 sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FVDT2 sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FVDT3 sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FVDT4 sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FVDT5 sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FVDT6 sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-LVOCB sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-SGT_SCAT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FSH_SEASON_YEAR sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FSH_SEASON sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FSH_COLLECTION sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FSH_THEME sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-FSH_ATP_DATE sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-HSDAT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-LWEDT sy-vline 
WA_MCHAR_STR-ERSDA sy-vline      INTO ld_text SEPARATED BY SPACE.

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