IBM abap interview Questions phase - A

	Memory Management
1.	How to use the new two-part roll area? - Some data must be held in roll area and must be rolled into and out of work processes. Roll area must not drop below a minimum size. In two part roll area implementation, you can limit amount of data in roll area before extended memory is used remaining portion of roll area is used only if no further extended memory can be allocated to a user context.
	DICTIONARY
1.	What is a dictionary? - Dictionary contains Meta data or information for the data in data management system. - It supports redundancy free data storage and data integrity.
2.	Primary Key – field or combination of fields used to uniquely identify a row of the table
3.	Foreign Key - Combination of fields in a table acting as a primary key in another table.
4.	Difference between structure and a Table ? Ans - Using tables, data can be stored permanently in Database, and Structures contain no data.
5.	Define Structures ? Ans - Structures are used for example in ABAP programs to define internal tables or to define the type of the interface parameters of function modules.
6.	Table attributes – Determine who is responsible for maintaining the table and which type of access is allowed for the table e.g.: Delivery class – table maintained by sap or customer. Table maintenance allowed – Table entries accessed using std table maintenance. Activation Type – Whether table can be activated directly from ABAP/4 dictionary or whether the runtime object must first be generated by c program.
7.	Database Utility – Interface between ABAP/4 Dictionary and the database.
8.	Data Elements – Describe the role played by a field in technical context. Fields of same semantic meaning refer same data elements.
9.	Domain – describe technical characteristics of a table field. It specifies the value range, which describes allowed values for a field.
10.	Index – Copy of database table reduced to specific fields Function – speed up scanning of table for data records satisfying a given search criteria.
11.	Foreign key Table – Table which contains the foreign key. E.g. ZEMP table.
12.	Check Table – Table which has foreign key of another table as its primary key e.g. DEPT.
13.	Cardinality – N: M indicates how many dependent record or referenced records.
14.	View :- used to summarize data distributed among different tables type of views
15.	Types of Views – 1 Database – created in database (read only) – 2 Projection - used to suppress the display of table fields (all operations possible) – 3 Help views – Display information in online help system - 4 Maintenance views – used to realize commercially relevant views on data customizing vies business oriented approach to looking at data
16.	Views that cannot be used to create new views - Structure views – used to generate a structure from several logically connected tables - Entity views – used to represent entity type of Data Modular on tables of ABAP/4 dictionary
17.	Maintain Status – Determine if records can only be read or if it is also possible to change them.
18.	Match codes – tool to help you search for data records in the system
19.	Match codes object – describes the set of all possible search paths for the search term.
20.	Match codes Id – describes a special search path for a search term.
21.	Match codes - fields from several tables - built on the basis of transparent tables, clusters and pools - restricted by stipulating selection conditions - use as entry aids Database index - fields from only table
22.	Lock Objects – simultaneous access of records by two users synchronized by lock objects.
23.	Activation – During activation, the runtime object of aggregate object or tables is created. The runtime object is buffered so that the application program can access it quickly. Runtime object has information about the following objects of table - domain – data elements – field definition – table definition

IBM abap interview Questions phse - B

Time stamp – whenever the table is activated, a time stamp is created and stored activation of table in ABAP/4 dictionary affects time stamp of all reports using it. When the program is called we can determine whether to execute it or regenerate it by comparing the time stamps Type of stamp – CRSTAMP – most recent activation of table - ABSTAMP – comparison of reports - DYSTAMP – comparison with screens.

Runtime object – of a table collects the information about the data elements, domain field definition in a form optimal for program access. It is created when the table is generated for first time.

Mass activation program – Activate large sets of objects Simultaneously. ADV – 1 – large no of tables are affected by the change of domains or data elements at a time, so reactivated only once. 2 – related objects and its associated value table could be activated together else we should maintain sequence correctly. Activation Procedure – Step 1 – internal and external characteristics check (naming convention. Relation between check table and value table. Step 2 – partially active objects are checked whether external characteristics are arranged in order

Changing the structure – deleting the table in database. Activate the revised table in the dictionary. Table in database is created. Data in table is lost. Changing the database catalog by ALTER TABLE. Data is preserved indexes – recreated. Converting of tables – original table is renamed and temporarily buffered, revised table is activated in ABAP/4 dictionary and created in database Data from temporary table is reconstructed.

Conversion procedure – - 1 Generating a program - 2 Renaming the database table Prefix of QCM is added to table name - 3 Activating revised version - 4 reloading data - 5 secondary index - we need at least 16 MB RAM for conversion

Lock Mechanism – prevents a new database operation being started an existing one has been correctly completed. When conversion is done, lock is created automatically and released only when conversion is successful. Clearing of locks – restart adjustment – attempt is made to continue conversion at the point of termination – Cancel adjustment – lock entry is simply deleted from table

Restart log – progress of each step of conversion is noted in restart log,

Adjust structures – - A – structured adjustment is activated by changing database catalog - U – structured adjustment is activated by converting tables

Type of versions – - Versions in ABAP Dictionary – active or partially active / revised - Temporary versions - Historical versions

Type of status - New – newly created , not activated - Activated – activated version of object used by other components during runtime - Partially active – not yet been fully activated - Revised – version changed after activation, but not yet re-activated - Deactivated – match code Id is not proposed for selection by F4 help function

Version Management functions – - Canceling changes – reset revised version to active version - Storing changes – active version will be temporarily stored in version - Switching changes – switch between active and revised versions

Version catalog – list of all existing versions of an object - Revised version – produced when we edit an existing object - Active version – produced when we activate an object - Temporary version – produced when we copy the active version temporarily to the database with store version functions - Historical versions – created when 1. Correction is created 2 correction is released

Function provided - Display old versions - Retrieving historical or temporary versions - Comparing versions in same system - Comparing versions in different systems

Buffering – created locally on application server, changes in buffer are loaded in log table. Synchronization mechanism runs (1 –2 min) log table is read and buffer contents changed by other servers are invalid. Synchronization of all buffers in application servers is by asynchronous procedure

Tables that can be buffered – transparent and pooled tables

Possible buffering types - full buffering – either, whole table or none of the table is located in the buffer (Tables up to 30 kb done in client dependent fully buffered tables) - Generic buffering – generic areas of the table are fully buffered. - - Generic key – left justified section of primary key of a table. - - generic area – all records for which fields of generic key correspond - Single record buffering – records actually being accessed are loaded to buffers, large records where few records are accessed.

When to reset a buffer? A) If consistencies occurred between the buffer contents and the database.

What is Database Utility? A) Interface between ABAP/4 dictionary and relational database in SAP system. It allows to create, delete and convert objects from ABAP/4 dictionary in the database.

Processing types :- Direct – Changes carried out immediately. Background – background job is scheduled. Enter mass processing - entries are generated with relevant function in system table TBATG.

Repository Information System: - tool that makes data stored in ABAP/4 dictionary available. Find - search for objects from a specific object class that meets certain search criteria. Where-used list: -used to determine the use of an object in other objects.

Layers for data and data descriptions: · External layer – plane at which user sees and interacts with the data · ABAP/4 layer – data formats used by ABAP/4 processor. · Database layer – data formats used in the database.

Table spaces and extents: - · Table space - physical storage area in the database. · Database – determines in which table space the table is stored when it is created in the database. · Size category – describes the probable space requirement of the table in the database.

Transport system: - · Allows you to transport changes made to a particular development object. · Allows transporting objects from one SAP sys to another.

Table pool: - used to combine several logical tables in ABAP/4 dictionary, created for each match code object.

Table clusters: - · Combine several logical tables in ABAP/4 dictionary. Several logical rows from different cluster tables are brought together in a single physical record. · Used to store control data, temporary data or texts e.g. documentation.

Work bench organiser: - provides assistance for organizing development projects by allowing you to distribute project work for individual developers or teams among different change requests.

Request: - Objects from the areas of customizing and ABAP/4 development workbench are managed and recorded in separate requests.

Request overview: - When we start the workbench organizer, we are presented with a request overview that shows all change requests available and allows us to access several levels of detail, right down to the level of the object list itself.

Task: - Developments, correction and repairs recorded in tasks.

Change request: - Tasks are transported using change requests.

Development class: - Indicates which area the object belongs to. (Set of repository objects, which are mutually different.)

Production system: - Development projects are carried out here.

Transport log: - Enables you to immediately find out which objects were transported, by whom and why.

Transport system: -Used for moving objects from SAP development system to production system or between different systems.

System types: - § Development system (development work). § Quality assurance system: - Development and customizing settings are tested here. § Production system: - After successful testing, cust. Setting released here. § Training or demo systems: - For presentation of completed developments. § Relationship between system types. Special development Integration Consolidation Recipient System Û System Þ System Þ System Transports of Transportable Automatic Originals change requests Delivery

Special development system: - used for programming critical paths of development projects.

Integration system: - developing applications and testing systems.

Consolidated (production) system: - receives transports from integration system. It contains released versions.

Recipient system: - receive transportable change requests as soon as they are imported successfully into consolidation system.

Transport layer: - describes the transport route for distributing the developer class objects among various systems in the group. All development classes are distributed via same route belong to same transport layer.

Correction system: - prevents parallel, uncoordinated changes to the same object, even if many copies of the objects exists, connected by SAP system. It saves all changes to repository and customizing objects in original system on a version database. It is activated each time the user edits Repository object.

Request category: - § CUST – client-specific customizing. § SYST – SAP Repository and customizing for all clients.

Request Types: - § Transport request – List of objects to be transported. § Repair request – List of changed objects, which are not original. § Local change request – List of local objects. § Correction request – List of all changed original objects. § Object list – List of all transport objects. § Customizing request – List of all changed client specific-customizing objects.

Request source client: - Client in which requests and all assigned tasks are edited.

Request target client: - Client where request is imported.

Private object: - Exempt from the correction system.

Local object: - Exempt from both correction and transport systems.

Restrictions on transport system: - § Cannot overwrite, add to or delete original objects that are under repairs. § Can transport to consolidation system only with transport type K. § Can transport to recipient systems only from consolidation system to which recipient systems have subscribed.

Protecting a Transport Request: - Lock the objects listed in requests so prevents users from correcting it.

Task & Request Status: - § DOCUMENT – still editing a task or request and have not protected or released yet (not locked). § LOCKED – shows that you have tried to lock a task or request, but not all objects are locked. § LOCKED ALL – objects in task or transport layer-locked successfully. § RELEASED – task or request released. § OPEN – released but not yet transported.

Tables associated with CTS: - § TSYST – list of available systems. § DEVL – ABAP/4 Development Workbench transport layers. § TWSYS – consolidation routes for change requests. § TASYS – recipient system.

IBM abap interview Questions phase - c

	Memory
1.	SAP memory (Global Memory): - is available to a user during the entire duration of a terminal session. Its contents are retained across transaction boundaries as well as external and internal sessions.
2.	External session: - when user logs on to R/3 system, the system creates a new terminal session called external session. E.g. System à Create Session.
3.	Internal session: - created by calling a transaction (with CALL TRANSACTION), a dialog module (with CALL DIALOG) or a report (with SUBMIT or RETURN).
4.	For external session: - internal sessions are allowed.
5.	Roll area: - Data areas of used programs are created in roll areas for each internal session.
6.	Posting data between internal sessions: - EXPORT TO MEMORY and IMPORT FROM MEMORY.
7.	Main program group: - Created when exporting an internal session.
8.	Additional program group: - If a function module belonging to a function group not so far loaded, additional program group is created.
9.	Main program: - First program of program group.
10.	Subroutine call: - When external subroutine is called, system loads the relevant program and adds it to the program group of calling program.
11.	Work areas: - Both table & common workareas with the same name are created once for each program group and then shared by all programs in the group.
12.	List system: - Consists of basic list and all details list belonging to basic list assigned to exactly one screen level.
13.	User interface: - Only program has its own user interface. Internal sessions interface is initially empty. Special user interface has to be activated using SET PF-STATUS statement.
14.	ABAP/4 memory: - Retained only during the lifetime of an external session.
15.	Data cluster: - Group of several data objects.
16.	Data objects: - Units of data, which a program processes at runtime.

1.	What is ABAP? Ans :- Advanced Business Application Programming is a 4th generation programming language created by SAP for the interactive development of application programs.
2.	What is ABAP/4 Development workbench? Ans :- An SAP CASE tool to develop standard application software or your own application software that can process both tables and your own tables.
3.	Describe interactive reporting? Ans :- ¨ Interactive reporting is a totally screen-orientated evaluation technique. ¨ From a highly aggregated form the user can select detailed information for the required items using the menu and function keys. Such information could, for example, be: - subitems of totals items. - company shares. - comparison values for user-defined comparison periods. - standardizing and consolidation entries .
4.	What are the functions in the editor command line? Press F1 or F4 Examples include: I(nsert)-Insert new lines at end of text FIND string -Multiple text search N(ext)string-On/Off text search R(eplace)string 1 string 2 -Replace String 1 by String 2 IC abc –Insert Structure PP-Call Pretty Printer Etc…
5.	What are chain statements? Ans :- A way to join together successive statements starting the same way Example: WRITE:/ 'xyz', X, COUNTER.
6.	Correct the syntax: data: wf_name(25) type C, wf_age(3) type C, Move myname to wf_name Answer: data: wf_name (25) type C. wf_ age (3) type n. move 'myname' to wf_name.
7.	What is program attributes type? Ans :- Executable program, INCLUDE program, Module pool, Function group, Subroutine pool, Interface pool, Class pool.
8.	What is the program application field used for? Ans :- This field is used to select the module in SAP to which the program belongs.
9.	What is the syntax of the WRITE statement? Ans :- WRITE Format = 3D/p(l) /- line feed p-column position l-output length value=3D output value field or literal options-format options Example: Write: /5(3)'CAPPY'. output starting at position 5 3D CAP
10.	Where are text elements maintained? Ans :- ABAP/4 >>Development>>Text Elements>>(headers, columns titles etc.) SE38 >> Text Elements >> (headers, column, titles etc.)
11.	What functions do the ULINE and SKIP commands serve? Ans :- ULINE- ULINE statement creates a line feed first and then draws horizontal line. SKIP-generates a blank line.
12.	What are the data types within SAP? Ans :- P-Packed number I-Integer F-Floating point number N-Numeric text C-Text D-Date T-Time X-Hexadecimal.
13.	What purpose does LIKE serving? Ans :- To define variables that are similar to those you previously defined or those that exist in the Data Dictionary.
14.	What is the syntax of the COMPUTE statement? Ans :- COMPUTE X=3D A + B (COMPUTE is optional.)
15.	How is the PARAMETERS statement defined? What does it do? Ans :- PARAMETERS : PAR1 TYPE P, PAR2 DEFAULT 'X'. Allows a selection screen to appear for user-input when report is executed.
16.	How do the field-symbol and assign statements work with each other? Ans :- Field-symbol statement inherits technical attributes of data objects. - Assign statement assigns attributes of ITAB to FS.
17.	Name 3 ways to activate the debugger. Ans :- Via menu navigation. Set breakpoints in the program. Type '/h' in the command field when executing the program.
18.	Describe the functions of the debugger screen. Ans :- - Single step(F5) - Use this option to step through the program statement by statement. This allows you to branch into subroutines and function modules, and to execute these routines step by step as well. Once a subroutine or function module has been processed, control returns to the statement following the CALL FUNCTION or PERFORM statement. - Execute(F6)- Use this option to process a program line by line. All of the statements on the current line are processed in a single step. If you are positioned on a line that calls a subroutine and you choose Execute, the Debugger processes the whole subroutine and then moves on to the line following the subroutine call. This allows you to jump through the statements within the subroutine. - Return(F7) - The Debugger returns from a routine to the point at which control returns to the main program. Use this option to return from a subroutine, function module, or called program to the calling program. - Continue(F8)- Use this option to process the program up to the next dynamic or static breakpoint or up to the cursor position. If there are no more breakpoints in the program and no cursor has been set, the system exits debugging mode and executes the rest of the program normally. - Table - Display the contents of internal tables.
19.	What is the basic format of the SELECT statement? Select * from where EX:SELECT * from TABNA WHERE COUNTRY=3D 'USA'