Show TOC

Quick LaunchLocate this document in the navigation structure

This Quick Launch aims to provide you with the compact knowledge you may need when working with ABAP Development Tools for SAP NetWeaver during the introductory or training period.

Getting Started...
  • To start, create an ABAP project from the Start of the navigation path New Next navigation step ABAP Project End of the navigation path menu path. An ABAP project always represents one system connection. It acts as an intermediary between an ABAP back-end system and the front-end IDE client. TIP: To be able to work in multiple ABAP systems in parallel, you only need to create one additional ABAP project.

    More on this: Creating ABAP Projects

  • Start of the navigation path Open ABAP Development Objects End of the navigation path in your project using Ctrl + Shift + A.

    More on this: Searching Development Objects

  • Browse the contents of an ABAP project in the Project Explorer. The root of an ABAP project contains a list of ABAP packages that are grouped either under the favorites list (Favorite Packages) or the System Library node. You can find the development objects simply by expanding the package node. More on this: Browsing Development Objects in the Project Explorer
  • Add ABAP packages that are relevant for your work to the list of favorites. More on this: Adding or Removing a Favorite Package
  • To open a development object, starting from the project tree, double-click the corresponding node in the ABAP project. More on this: Opening Development Objects
  • Use Link with Editor to synchronize the project structure in the Project Explorer with the editor. Whenever you change an object in the editor, this object will be selected in the expanded Project Explorer tree.
  • Use the Start of the navigation path Outline End of the navigation path view to display the structure of a development object.
  • Add a new ABAP development object (for example: a new class) to a package by selecting the package and using the context menu Start of the navigation path New Next navigation step ABAP Class End of the navigation path . More on this: Creating Development Objects
Working with the Editor
  • You can open multiple development objects in multiple editor tabs.
  • You can search for ABAP source code or development objects.
  • Search for references to your development object using the Where-Used function (Ctrl + Shift + G).

    More on this: Searching Usages (Where-Used)

  • Open the Quick Outline in the source editor currently opened using Ctrl + O.

    More on this: Using Quick Views

  • Navigate the source code using F3 or Ctrl + Click.
  • To navigate between editors, click the back or forward arrow key on the toolbar.
  • To switch between the class, its local types or its ABAP Unit test classes, use the bottom tabs of the class editor.
  • Press F2 to display the signature of a class or method.
Writing ABAP Source Code
  • To change the source simply start typing directly in the editor.
  • Use code completion (Ctrl + Space) in the editor.
  • Insert source code templates using code completion and then Shift + Enter.

    More on this: Working with Source Code Templates

  • Start the ABAP language help with F1 in the source code editor.

    More on this: Accessing ABAP Keyword Documentation

  • Format the complete source code (Shift + F1) or a source code block (Ctrl + Shift + F1) within the editor.

    More on this: Formatting ABAP Source Code

  • Activate one or multiple development objects using the corresponding icons in the toolbar.

    More on this: Activation

  • Compare source code objects, even across different ABAP systems, using the Compare with function in the context menu of the editor or Project Explorer.

    More on this: Comparing Source Code

Running ABAP Unit Tests
  • Run ABAP Unit tests for one or multiple development objects using the context menu Start of the navigation path Run As Next navigation step ABAP Unit Test End of the navigation path in the editor or Project Explorer.

    More on this: Running ABAP Unit Tests

  • ABAP Unit test results are displayed automatically for you in the ABAP Unit Runner view.

    More on this: Evaluating ABAP Unit Results

Running ABAP Programs and Test Environments
  • Run ABAP programs or test environment for classes or function modules using the context menu Start of the navigation path Run As Next navigation step ABAP Application End of the navigation path in the Project Explorer or by pressing F8.
Working with ABAP Runtime Errors (ABAP Short Dumps)
  • If a runtime error occurs in a program that you have started, the IDE will alert you to an ABAP feed with a small window. However, you can also subscribe to an ABAP feed from the ABAP repository. To subscribe to an additional ABAP feed, press Ctrl + 3 and select Feed Reader.

    More on this: Subscribing to Feeds from ABAP Repository

Getting User Assistance Support
  • The Welcome page Start of the navigation path Help Next navigation step Welcome End of the navigation path provides a standardized set of pages that introduce the ABAP Development Tools to new users.
  • To access the complete reference user guide in the context of standard ABAP development, choose Start of the navigation path Help Next navigation step Contents Next navigation step ABAP Development User Guide End of the navigation path .
  • Press F1 to request context-sensitive help for a given tool or UI component.
  • The cheat sheets Start of the navigation path Help Next navigation step Cheat Sheets... End of the navigation path provided will guide you interactively through some essential tasks.
  • The ABAP Samples Gallery Start of the navigation path Help Next navigation step Welcome Next navigation step Samples End of the navigation path allows you to take a look at the source code of a variety of ABAP samples that are available in your development system.
Enabling Accessibility Features in ADT

To configure Eclipse for using a screen reader, bigger fonts, higher contrasts

More on this: Accessibility Features in ADT

Most Common Keyboard Shortcuts
Development Objects Source Code Editing
Ctrl + Shift + A Open development object Shift + F1 Format source code (Pretty Printer)
Ctrl + Shift + N New development object Ctrl + Shift + F1 Format source block
Ctrl + S Save development object Ctrl + < Add comment
Ctrl + F2 Check development object Ctrl + Shift + < Remove comment
Ctrl + F3 Activate development object Ctrl + Space Code completion
Navigation Search and Help
F3 Open source code Ctrl + Shift + G Where-used list
Alt + Left Backward navigation F1 Show context-sensitive help
Alt + Right Forward navigation F2 Show tooltip description

More on this: Keyboard Shortcuts for ABAP Development