Selecting a Main Program for Multiple-Use ABAP Includes
To enable certain functions (for example, ABAP syntax check, navigation, and so on) in the ABAP source code editor, you need to select a main program for the include.
Prerequisites
Context
Typically, an ABAP include is used by exactly one main program. This main program is then automatically selected by ABAP Development Tools (ADT).
If an include is used in several main programs, you need to select a specific main program in order for the functionality to be executed.
Procedure
- Open an include that is used in several main programs by double-clicking, for
example, from the Project Exploreror a search result
list, or by pressing Cltr + Shift + A.
A dialog is opened for selecting a main program. If possible, ADT already preselects the most relevant main program.
Figure 1: Dialog for selecting a main program
Results
- If you have selected a main program, all the functions that are now executed in the ABAP source code editor will take the selected main program into consideration.
- If you have not selected any main program and you are executing an operation such as syntax checking, activating, and so on, an error message will be displayed in the status bar. You can then select a main program from the Properties view, as described below, and repeat your operation. Otherwise, you can only continue working with functionalities that are independent of the main program.
The selection is valid until you close the include editor. Alternatively, without closing the include editor, you can select another main program by opening the Properties view. In the Specific tab, your previous selection is displayed. Here, you can also select a main program from the dropdown list.
