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Character-Like Types and Byte-Like Types

Character Strings

The following built-in data types in ABAP Dictionary are available for general character strings:

The built-in type CHAR, mapped to the ABAP type c, is used to describe general text fields with a maximum length of 30000 characters (only 1333 characters for table fields).
The built-in type LCHR, also mapped to the ABAP type c, is used to describe general text fields with lengths between 256 and 32000 characters. In database tables, the maximum length must be specified as the value of a preceding INT2 or INT4 field. Table fields of this type cannot be used as key fields of database tables or in any positions in Open SQL statements.
The built-in type SSTRING is mapped to the ABAP type string, but handled like the type CHAR or VARCHAR in ABAP Dictionary and by database tables. The length is restricted to a maximum of 1333, but table fields of this type can also be used as key fields by database tables and used by Open SQL statements in almost all positions where text fields are possible.
The built-in type STRING is mapped to the ABAP type string and also handled like a text string (CLOB) in ABAP Dictionary and by database tables. Table fields of this type cannot be used as key fields or index fields in database tables or in any positions in Open SQL statements.

Notes

Byte Chains

The following built-in data types in ABAP Dictionary are available for general byte chains:

The built-in type RAW, mapped to the ABAP type x, is used to describe byte fields with a maximum length of 32000 characters (only 255 characters for table fields).
The built-in type LRAW, also mapped to the ABAP type x, is used to describe byte fields with lengths between 256 and 32000 characters. In database tables, the maximum length must be specified as the value of a preceding INT2 or INT4 field. Table fields of this type cannot be used as key fields of database tables or in any positions in Open SQL statements.
The built-in type RAWSTRING is mapped to the ABAP type xstring and also handled like a byte string (BLOB) in ABAP Dictionary and by database tables. Table fields of this type cannot be used as key fields or index fields in database tables or in any positions in Open SQL statements.

Notes

Notes on Strings

The following points must be remembered when using built-in data types for text strings or byte strings:

Use in Open SQL

The following restrictions apply when accessing database fields with character-like and byte-like types in Open SQL:

Note

The same restrictions apply to the obsolete data type VARC as to STRING and RAWSTRING plus LCHR and LRAW.

Handling in Dynpros

When a field with character-like dictionary type is used from a dynpro, lowercase letters are transformed to uppercase letters by default. This behavior can be overridden in Screen Painter. Furthermore, lowercase letters can be preserved for data elements in the semantic attributes of a domain.