Data Dictionary

1.What is table? Explain different types of tables in SAP?

Tables is a data definition object which is defined independently of the database
in the abap dictionary.
There are three types of tables in SAP.
➢ Transparent tables.
➢ Pooled tables.
➢ Cluster tables.
a. Transparent Tables: - It has one to one relationship i.e. for each table in
data dictionary has one table in the database. Secondary indexes can be
created. Table name and field name and number of fields are similar. Data
of commercial relevance is used in transparent tables.
b. Pooled Tables: - It is special table in abap dictionary. Data from several
tables can be stored together in a single table called table pool. Tables
assigned to table pool are referenced as pool tables. It has many to one
relation ship i.e. for several tables in data dictionary has a single table in
the database. Secondary indexes cannot be created. Table name and field
names are different.
c. Cluster Table: -It is also a special table in the abap data dictionary. It has
many to one relationship. Cluster tables should contain at least one key
relationship between all the table in a table cluster.
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2. What is a structure? Explain different types of structures in Sap?
A structure comprises components (fields). It can be reusable.
There are 3 types of structure.
➢ Flat structure: - It references only elementary types.
➢ Nested structure: - A structure which reference at least one structure but
not table type.
➢ Deep structure: - A structure which references at least one table type.
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3. Difference between pooled and cluster tables?

POOLED TABLES CLUSTER TABLES

1.It is used for integrating and holding
a large number of small tables.
2.All the pooled tables are assigned to
a single table called table pool.
3.All the pooled tables in a table pool
does not need to have a relation.
4. A table pool can contain 100 to 1000
tables which has 10 to 100 records.
1. It is used for holding continuous text
documents.
2. All the cluster tables are assigned to
a single table called cluster table.
3. All the cluster tables in a table
cluster must have a relation.
4. A table cluster can contain 1 to 10
tables which contain many records.

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4. What is Table type?
Table type describe the structure and functional attributes of a field. It is
defined by: -
➢ Its line type, that defines the structure and data type attributes of a line in
internal table.
➢ It is used for managing and accessing of data in the internal table.
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5. Difference between table, structure, table type?
➢ Table: - It stores the data physically in a table.
➢ Structure: - It does not store the data but hold the single record during
runtime.
➢ Table Type: - It does not store the data but hold multiple records during
runtime.
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6. Explain about view? Explain different types of views and difference between
them?
View: - The data from several tables can be viewed together. The table fields
which are not required can be hidden. The views are not physically stored but are
derived from one or more tables.
 Types of views: -
➢ Projection View: - Just retrieves fields and hide unwanted fields from a
single table.
- It is used for only single table.
- Cannot define selection conditions
- Read and change can be done.
➢ Database view: - It is used to get data from different tables.
- At least one relationship is required.
- no modification is done to the tables. If we provide single table then
we can read and change else it has read only.
- It uses inner join.
➢ Maintenance view: -It is used for maintaining data of application object
where data is distributed among several tables.
- N no. of relationships can be maintained.
- Modifications can be maintained.
- It uses outer join.
➢ Help View: - It is used in search help.
- It uses outer join.
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7. What is a Lock object in SAP and explain different types of lock objects in
sap?
Lock object is used to avoid the concurrent access of multiple users on same
data records.
Types of Locks: -
➢ Shared lock: -More than one user can access locked data at the same
time in display mode. A request for another shared lock is also accepted
even if it comes from another user.
➢ Exclusive lock: - The locked data can only be displayed or edited by a
single user. A request for another exclusive lock or for a shared lock is
rejected.
➢ Exclusive but not cumulative: - The locked data can only be displayed
or edited by a single user. A request for another exclusive lock or for a
shared lock is rejected
8. what is data element and domain and explain the difference between them?
Domain specifies the technical attributes of a field like data type and length of
a field.
Data element describes the semantic description of a field. It can contain a domain
in it instead of using the ‘built-in type’.
Routine: - Conversion routines are used to convert external storage format to the
internal storage format and vice-versa.
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9.What is search help and its purpose? Explain different types of search helps in
sap?
Search help, is a repository object of ABAP data dictionary. It is used to display
all the possible values for a field in the form of list. The list is known as hit list.
Types of search helps: -
➢ Elementary search help: - It is used to provide possible values in a hit list
from a single table.
➢ Collective search help: - It is a combination of elementary search help.
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10. What is enhancement category and explain briefly?
It refers to enhance or modify the functionality of pre-existing R/3 object.
Enhancement category governs manner in which enhance or modify take place.
Types of enhancement category: -
➢ Can be enhanced (deep): - We can enhance the table with a deep structure,
reference fields and any other valid types.
➢ Can be enhanced (character-type or numeric type): -we can enhance the
table/structure with the fields that are exactly character-type or numeric
types. example: - C, N, D, T, I type.
➢ Can be enhanced (Character-type): - can be enhanced by including only
character-type fields.
➢ Cannot be enhanced: -Restricting enhancement of the table/structure post
creation.
➢ Not classified: - This is the default enhancement category option that leads
to warnings.
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11. What is data class and delivery class? Difference between them?
Data class specifies in which tablespace the table stored in the database when
it is created.
➢ APPLO (master data): -data which changes seldomly.
➢ APPL1 (transaction data): - data which changes frequently.
➢ APPL2(organizational data): - data that is defined when the system is
installed which changes seldomly.
Delivery class specifies type of data to be stored in a table.
➢ A: Application table (master and transaction data).
➢ C: Customer table, data is only maintained by the customer.
➢ L: Table for storing temporary data.
➢ G: Customer table, SAP may insert new data records but may not
overwrite or delete existing ones.
➢ E: System table with its own namespace for customer entries.
➢ S: System table, data changes have the status of program changes.
➢ W: System table.

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12. What is the use of technical settings in table and explain different options in
it?

The technical settings of a table define how the table will be handled when it
is created in the database, that is whether the table will be buffered and whether
changes to data records of the table will be logged.

➢ Data class: The data class defines the physical area of the database
(tablespace) in which the table should be created.
➢ Size category: The size category defines the size of the extents created for
the table.
➢ Buffering permission: The buffering permission defines whether the table
may be buffered.
➢ Buffering type: If the table may be buffered, you must define a buffering
type (full, single-record, generic). The buffering type defines how many
table records are loaded into the buffer when a table entry is accessed.

➢ Full buffering: All the records of the table are loaded into the buffer
when one record of the table is accessed.
 ➢ Generic buffering: When a record of the table is accessed, all the
records having this record in the generic key fields are loaded into
the buffer.

➢ Single-record buffering: Only the records of a table that are really

accessed are loaded into the buffer.

➢ Logging: This parameter defines whether changes to the table entries

should be logged. If logging is switched on, each change to a table record
is recorded in a log table.

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13. Explain about TMG?

Table maintenance generator is used to maintain the table.

One step: -

If we provide one step in TMG we have to provide the screen number in overview
screen only. we can give any number other than 1000 which is reserved for
selection screen. In one step we can display and maintain the table in a single
screen.

Two steps: -

If we provide Two step in TMG we have to provide the screen number in

overview screen and single screen. In one screen we can display and in other
screen we maintain the data in table.

Standard recording routine: -

If we check standard recording routine when we do any changes in the table

through tmg, it will ask for transport request.

No user recording routine: -

If we check no user recording routine when we do any changes in the table by

tmg it will not ask any request.

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14. What is the use of database utility?

Database utility is an interface between the abap data dictionary and relational
database under laying in the R/3 system.

You can use the database utility to edit all the database objects that are generated
from objects of the ABAP Dictionary. These are database tables that are
generated from transparent tables or physical table pools or table clusters,
indexes, database views.

It is mainly used when a table is changed in abap data dictionary to ensure that
the changes also should be done in database.

It is also used for mass processing, direct processing, background processing.

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15. what is the maximum number of primary keys in a table and what is the
maximum length of primary key?

A maximum of 16 key fields per table is permitted. The maximum length of the
table key is 255.

If the key length is greater than 120, there are restrictions when transporting
table entries. The key can only be specified up to a maximum of 120 places in a
transport. If the key is larger than 120, table entries must be transported
generically.

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16.What is cardinality different types of relations?

The cardinality describes the foreign key relation with regard to the number of
dependent records or referenced records.

For N: -

➢ n=1: There is exactly one record assigned to the check table for each
record of the foreign key table.
 ➢ n=C: The foreign key table may contain records which do not correspond
to any record of the check table because the foreign key field is empty.

For M: -

➢ m=1: There is exactly one dependent record for each record of the check
table.
➢ m=C: There is at most one dependent record for each record of the
check table.
➢ m=N: There is at least one dependent record for each record of the check
table.
➢ m=CN: There may be any number of dependent records for each record
of the check table.

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17. what is the use of search help exit?

It is used to modify search help using function module. It is like deleting the
duplicate values in search help.

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18. Difference between custom include and append structure?

Include structure Append structure

1.It can be used for multiple tables and
structures i.e. reusable.
2. It can be inserted at any position.
3.It is not possible to provide in the
standard tables.
1. It is used for a single table i.e.
cannot be reused.
2. It is inserted at end of the table.
3. It can be provided in both standard
tables and custom tables.

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19. What happens when we delete or add a primary key?

We can delete or add primary key to the table but it will not be activated. Then
we need to go to Database utility (SE14) and activate and adjust the database
table. Then the table will be activated.
20.Mention all the tables related to Material, Purchase and Sales order?

Material Tables: -
➢ MARA -Material data.
➢ MARC- Plant Data for Material.
➢ MARD-Storage Location Data for Material.
➢ MAKT-Material Descriptions.
Purchase order tables: -
➢ EKKO -Purchasing Document Header.
➢ EKPO -Purchasing Document Item.
Sales order Tables: -
➢ VBAK -Sales Document Header Data.
➢ VBAP -Sales Document Item Data.

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