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Working with Files on the Application ServerLocate this document in the navigation structure

In ABAP, there is a range of statements for processing data that is stored in sequential files on the application server instead of the database.

  • OPEN DATASET opens a file for a particular type of access and storage.
  • TRANSFER transfers the contents of a data object to a file.
  • READ DATASET transfers data from a file to a data object.
  • GET DATASET using the addition POSITION the current position of the file pointer in a file is ascertained. Using the addition ATTRIBUTES further characteristics of the file are obtained.
  • SET DATASET using the addition POSITION the position of the file pointer is specified. Using the addition ATTRIBUTES further characteristics of the file can be specified.
  • TRUNCATE DATASET sets the end of a file to a specified value, thereby changing the size of the file.
  • CLOSE DATASET closes a file.
  • DELETE DATASET deletes a file.

For further details about these statements and their additions, see the keyword documentation.

During sequential file operations, the system performs a range of automatic checks, some of which may lead to runtime errors.

Refer also to the chapter: Automatic Checks in File Operations .