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 .