What is ABAP: A Brief Overview

ABAP is a high-level, fourth-generation programming language developed by SAP. The word ABAP was originally an abbreviation of the words Allgemeiner-Berichts-Aufbereitungs-Prozessor in German, which can be translated to "generic report preparation processor". ABAP was then coined as "Advanced Business Application Programming".

ABAP helps SAP users enhance their SAP ERP modules by developing additional features they might need. Together with Java, it’s the programming language for the SAP NetWeaver Application Server—making it the most widely used language for developing business applications. ABAP also helps customize workflows for financial accounting, materials management, asset management and all other SAP modules.

SAP ABAP is object-oriented and provides powerful features that allow developers to create robust and scalable applications. It has a wide range of development tools, including the ABAP Workbench, ABAP Editor, and ABAP Debugger. These tools allow developers to develop, debug, and optimize their applications quickly and easily.

Brief History of ABAP Programming Language

ABAP programming was first developed in the 1980s as a coding language for developing the SAP R/2 platform. It then became a language for a program for the client-server. SAP ABAP Objects, an object-oriented extension, was introduced in 1999. Its switch framework feature was released with ABAP 7.0 in 2006, followed by the Table expressions feature in 2012. Developers benefitted from its support for Open SQL expressions and sorting of the internal table feature with the 7.5 version. ABAP is the first coding language to use the Logical Databases (LDBs) concept.

ABAP code is the primary application and extension language of the "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)" system and is of substantial relevance to SAP R/3. ABAP features are highly integrated with SAP R/3 and all NetWeaver versions. The only way to access the new features of the language is to upgrade to a newer version of the ABAP application server. Usually, applications developed using the features of a newer application server version will not work on older SAP systems.

Features of SAP ABAP

• SAP ABAP Programming Language has an object-oriented programming language.
• SAP ABAP can process big data and perform complex calculations.
• ABAP has powerful data processing capabilities. In this way, users can carry out their work with internal tables, database tables, and data structures.
• ABAP provides developers with an integrated set of development tools and enables extensive debugging.
• With the Luw concept integrated into the ABAP working environment, multiple users can use the standard database at the same time.
• ABAP uses Remote Function Call and can thus be integrated into other programming environments.
• The ABAP Programming Language has an interface integrated into the XML language.

Advantages of SAP ABAP

Modularization methods for complex applications provide ease and practicality for developers. ABAP helps run ERP applications and provides scalable lifecycle management for IT landscapes of organizations of all sizes.

The main benefit of using SAP ABAP program is its ability to integrate seamlessly with other SAP applications and systems. It also allows developers to quickly develop and deploy applications, reducing development costs and time. With its object-oriented approach and powerful features, SAP ABAP is an ideal choice for developing complex business applications.

It supports the following functions:  

• Strong report development,
• Developing forms in printable format,
• Screen development,
• Customizing screens according to customer needs,
• Loading data and viewing informative data,
• Generating complex reports.

What is SAP ABAP used for?

Companies use SAP ABAP to create custom applications that can integrate with SAP systems, allowing them to quickly and easily build business processes for their organizations. SAP ABAP also helps companies automate their processes and functions, streamline their operations, and improve their business efficiency. As a result, companies can save time and money, increase their competitiveness, and better meet the needs of their customers.

SAP ABAP system is used to create custom programs for various business tasks, such as inventory management, customer relationship management, financial accounting, and data warehousing. It is also used to create user interfaces and web applications, as well as to integrate applications with other systems. SAP ABAP is used in many industries, including banking, insurance, retail, telecommunications, and manufacturing.

Types of ABAP Programs

1. Dialog Programs
2. Report Programs
3. Module Pool Programs
4. Function Group Programs
5. Class Programs
6. Subroutines
7. Interface Programs
8. Web Dynpro Programs
9. Smart Forms
10. ALV Reports
11. BDC Programs

What is SAP ABAP Workbench?

SAP ABAP Workbench is a development environment used to create and customize SAP applications. It is used to create custom programs and applications, develop user interfaces, and interface with other systems. SAP ABAP Workbench is based on the ABAP language, which is an advanced programming language designed for SAP applications.

It is used to develop the business logic within an SAP system. It provides tools to create data objects, screen elements, reports, menus, and more. It also provides debugging capabilities, performance analysis, and other features.

Key Tools In ABAP Development

1. ABAP Editor: This component is used to write, edit and maintain ABAP programs. It has code completion and syntax highlighting features to make code writing effective.

2. ABAP Dictionary: This component is used to create and maintain data definitions. It serves as a storage for all data types used in ABAP programs.

3. ABAP Painter: This component has two different features, menu painter and screen painter. The menu painter is used to create menus for ABAP programs while the screen painter is used to design the screen layout. It is user-friendly, so it is very easy to design an application configuration with low code.

4. Function Builder: This component is used to create and maintain function modules for application programs.

5. Object Navigator: This component is used to navigate through programs, screens and menus.
6. Class Builder: This component is used to create and manage classes and objects.
7. ABAP Debugger: This component is used to debug application programs.
8. Web Application Builder: This tool is used to develop web-based applications in ABAP by utilising technologies such as SAPUI5, Web Dynpro ABAP.

What is ABAP Runtime Environment?

The ABAP Runtime Environment is a set of tools and services for SAP applications. It includes an ABAP runtime engine, a database system, an operating system, and a development environment. The ABAP runtime environment is used to create, deploy, and maintain SAP applications. It provides the necessary infrastructure to enable applications to run reliably and efficiently.

It enables developers to create business objects, including reports, forms, and interfaces, as well as access and manipulate data from the underlying database. The ABAP Runtime Environment is integrated with the SAP NetWeaver platform, which provides a secure, reliable, and scalable platform for creating and running business applications.

What are SAP ABAP Reports?

SAP ABAP Reports are programs written in the ABAP programming language to generate a list or a form for output. These reports are used to extract data from SAP tables, manipulate the data and display the output in a user-friendly format. They can also be used to generate statistics and perform calculations.

These reports can be used to generate reports in a variety of formats and can be used to monitor and analyze data, such as customer orders, sales, inventory and financial information.

What is SAP ABAP Consultancy?

SAP ABAP consultancy refers to the support and development services provided to customers by SAP consultants. SAP software is not a one-size-fits-all solution and in many cases, customers have varying needs regarding SAP business applications. SAP ABAP consultants use ABAP to provide unique functionalities and applications to organizations and integrate these solutions with existing SAP systems.

What Does A SAP ABAP Consultant Do?

Role and Responsibilities of an ABAP developer:

1. Analyze and document functional requirements and develop technical specifications for ABAP development.
2. Design, develop, test, and deploy custom solutions using ABAP.
3. Support and maintain existing ABAP code.
4. Debug and troubleshoot ABAP code and related issue.
5. Design, implement and maintain database objects such as tables, views and indexes.
6. Responsible for performance optimization and code refactoring.
7. Create and maintain technical documents, user manuals and other relevant documents.
8. Support the end-users and the technical team in resolving any technical issues related to the system.
9. Define and maintain security roles and authorization profiles for users.
10. Monitor system performance and make adjustments as needed.

MDP Group’s ABAP consultancy services provide extensive support to help your business make the most of your IT landscape. Kindly refer to the SAP ABAP Consultancy page on our website to read more about ABAP and find out the scope of our services. Alternatively, feel free to contact us for custom solutions and quotes.