Creating Domains

Before creating a new domain, check whether a domain with the same value range already exists. In this case you should use the existing domain if possible.

Procedure:

  1. Enter the name of the domain in the initial screen of the ABAP Dictionary, select object class Domains and then Create. You branch to the domain maintenance screen.
  2. Enter an explanatory text in the field Short text.
  3. Select the Data Types in the ABAP Dictionary for the domain in field Data type.
  4. Select the Field length, that is, the valid positions of a field without editing characters (such as commas or periods). This defines the length of all the table fields referring to this domain.

    5. Note that some data types have a fixed length. For example, the data type CLNT (client) always has 3 positions. If you enter an invalid number of positions for such a data type, the system corrects this automatically after issuing a warning.

  5. Save the domain if you do not want to make any of the optional settings described below. You are requested to assign a development class to the domain.
  6. Activate the domain with Domain ® Activate.

Information about activation can be found in the activation log. You can call the activation log with Utilities ® Activation log. If errors occurred when the domain was activated, the activation log will be displayed automatically.

Optional Settings

You can enter the name of a table here. It is automatically proposed as check table when you attempt to define a foreign key for a field which refers to this domain. This proposal can be overridden when the foreign key is defined.

If you want to limit the value range by defining fixed values, select Goto ® Fixed values in the maintenance screen for fixed values.

You can define value ranges either by entering upper and lower limits or by specifying single values. Value ranges and single values can be combined as required. You can enter an explanatory short text for each single value or interval in the field Short text.

It is only possible to define fixed values for domains of data types CHAR, NUMC, DEC, INT1, INT2 and INT4.

There is only an input check of the template for data types CHAR and NUMC. When using NUMC you should note that the system only checks single values.

Both fixed values and a value table can be specified for a domain.

If necessary, create documentation for the domain with Goto ® Documentation. This is purely technical documentation which is not displayed in the online help system.

There is a number of options for controlling how a field is input or output. These depend on the data type chosen. Depending on the data type selection, these parameters are displayed or suppressed.

The number of places permitted for a value after the decimal point is defined here. This field is visible only when you choose a numeric data type (DEC, FLTP, QUAN and CURR).

If this field is selected, the first output position is reserved for a sign. This field is visible only when you choose a numeric data type (DEC, FLTP, QUAN and CURR).

Maximum field length including editing characters for input/output of the values. This value is computed automatically, but can be overwritten.

If you want to edit the domain values differently from the standard version, you can enter the name of a conversion routine here. For more information read Input and Output Conversions.

Select this field if you want to distinguish lowercase and uppercase letters. Otherwise, all the entered letters are converted into uppercase letters. This field is visible only when you choose a numeric data type (CHAR, NUMC).