Enhancing the Quality of ABAP Development

- Preface 11

1. Introduction 13
1.1 The Technical Quality of ABAP Software 16
1.2 ABAP Objects and Unicode-Enabling 19
1.3 The Structure of This Book 32

2. Quality of the Development Organization 37
2.1 Introduction 37
2.2 The Impact of Using ERP Functionality 39
2.3 The Impact of a Multi-System SAP Landscape 52
2.4 The Impact of a Multi-Application Landscape 65
2.5 The Impact of Several SAP R/3 Production Systems 67
2.6 Summary 71

3. Correctness 73
3.1 Typical Correctness Categories 73
3.2 Selecting Data 74
3.3 Processing Data 91
3.4 Managing Data in Memory 109
3.5 Inconsistencies in Database Updates 128
3.6 Checking the Unicity of Interface Data 140

4. Stability 145
4.1 Stability Problems 145
4.2 Programming Errors That Promote Instability 147
4.3 Risks of Dynamic Programming 165
4.4 Changes in an ABAP Program's Environment 189
4.5 Using an ABAP Program Incorrectly 195

5. Exceptions and Error Handling 219
5.1 The Importance of Exception Handling 219
5.2 Implementation of Exception Handling 221
5.3 Class-Based Exception Handling 231
5.4 Conclusions 243

6. User-Friendliness 245
6.1 The Importance of Standardization 245
6.2 Guidelines for The Look-and-Feel and Behavior of Your Programs 247
6.3 Guidelines for Navigation and Support 260
6.4 Conclusion 265

7. Performance 267
7.1 Introduction 267
7.2 Optimizing Processing on the Database Server: Using Indexes 269
7.3 Minimizing Data Traffic Between the Database Server and the Application Server 293
7.4 Optimizing Processing on the Application Server 308
7.5 Minimizing Data Traffic Between the Application Server and a Client 327
7.6 Summary 329

8. Maintainability 331
8.1 Maintainability of Standard SAP Software 332
8.2 Maintainability of Customized ABAP Software 336
8.3 Enhancing Maintainability with ABAP Objects 365
8.4 Summary 377

9. Checking Robustness and Troubleshooting 379
9.1 Changes and New Developments 379
9.2 Troubleshooting Incidents 439
9.3

Wouter Heuvelmans works for Ctac as an expert in the field of the ABAP Development Workbench. From 1989 onwards, he collected 15 years of experience in this field. He joined Ctac in 1996 where, besides working in implementation and optimization projects, he also specializes in auditing ABAP developments. Furthermore, he is an established ABAP trainer for his colleagues and customers.In addition to his important contribution to the contents of this book, Wouter is also responsible for all illustrations.