They are used when data from a number of tables have to be selected and processed before presenting
Used when reports demand a special format
Used when the report has to be downloaded from SAP to an Excel sheet to be distributed across.
Used when the report has to be mailed to a particular person.
Important Points to Note About Report Program
Report Programs are always Executable Programs. Program Type is always 1.
Every Report program corresponds to a particular Application Type i.e. either with Sales & Distribution, FI - CO etc. It can also be Cross Application i.e. type '*'.
Report Programming is an Event-driven programming.
The first line of a report program is always Report <report-name>.
To suppress the list heading or the name of the program the addition No Standard Page Heading is used.
The line size for a particular report can be set by using the addition line-size <size>.
The line count for a particular page can be set by using the addition line-count n(n1). N is the number of lines for the page and N1 is the number of lines reserved for the page footer.
To display any information or error message we add a message class to the program using the addition: Message-id <message class name>. Message classes are maintained in SE91.
Therefore an ideal report program should start with:
Report <report name> no standard page heading
line-size <size>
line-count <n(n1)>
message-id <message class>.
Selection Screen
"Selection screen" is the screen where one specifies the input values for which the program should run.
The selection screen is normally generated from the
Parameters
Select-Options
Syntax
Selection-screen begin of screen <screen #>
selection-screen begin of block <#> with frame title <text>
.........
.........
selection-screen end of block <#>
selection-screen end of screen <screen #>
Parameters
Parameters help one to do dynamic selection. They can accommodate only one value for one cycle of execution of the program.
Syntax
Defining parameters as a data type
Parameters p_id(30) type c.
Defining parameters like a table field.
Parameter p_id like <table name>-<field name>.
Parameters can be Checkboxes as well as Radiobuttons.
Parameters p_id as checkbox.Parameters p_id1 radiobutton group <group name>.
Parameters p_id2 radiobutton group <group name>.
Parameters can be listbox.
Parameter p_id like <table name>-<field name> as listbox
Select Options
A Select-Option is used to input a range of values or a set of values to a program
Syntax
select-options s_vbeln for vbak-vbeln.
Used for interactive reporting. It is used to create a detailed list from a basic list.
Formatting the report
ABAP allows the reports to be formatted as the user wants it to be. For example, "Alternate Lines" must appear in different colors and the "Totals" line should appear in Yellow.
Syntax
Format Color n
Format Color n Intensified On
n may correspond to various numbers
Please note that there are other additions along with format as well
FORMAT COLOR OFF INTENSIFIED OFF INVERSE OFF HOTSPOT OFF INPUT OFF
Interactive Report Programming
Using Interactive Programming users can actively control the data retrieval and display of data
Used to create a detailed list from a very basic list
The detailed data is written on a secondary list.
The secondary list may either completely overlay the first screen or one can display it in a new screen
The secondary lists can be themselves interactive.
The first list may also call a transaction.
There are different events associated with interactive programming.
Some commands used for interactive programming Hotspot If one drags the mouse over the data displayed in the report the cursor changes to a Hand with an Outstretched Index finger. An hotspot can be achieved using the FORMAT statement.
Syntax: Format Hotspot On (Off).
Hide This command helps you to store the field names based on which one will be doing further processing to get a detailed list. It is written directly after the WRITE statement for a field. When a row is selected the values get automatically filled in the variables for further use.
Syntax: Hide <field-name>.
Logical Databases
Instead of using "Select" queries you can use logical database to retrieve data for a program.
Logical databases are created by transaction SE36
The name of a logical database can be up to 20 characters long. It may begin with a namespace prefix.
The data is selected by another program and one can access the data using GET <table-name> command which places the data in the work area <table-name>.
Advantages of a logical database over normal Select queries.
It offers check conditions to see whether the input is correct, complete and plausible
It contains central authorization checks for database access
Enhancements such as improvement in performance immediately apply to all reports which use logical database.
Note: Due to the complexities involved, logical databases are not used in most of the cases
