Show TOC

Version 2.31Locate this document in the navigation structure

Here is an overview of the most significant changes in the context of ABAP core development that relate to the:

  • Back end: SAP NetWeaver Release 7.40 SP08
  • Client: ABAP Development Tools (ADT) 2.31
Note Following features that are highlighted with a '*' are available for all ABAP systems supported by ADT.
ABAP Development Objects

Switching Between Inactive and Active Versions of a Source-Based Object

You can toggle between the inactive and active version of any source-based objects such as ABAP classes, function modules, or programs. This functionality enables you to read the inactive version that is saved by another user and not available in your working area.

For more information, look here: Switching between Inactive and Active Versions of a Source-based Object

Linking for Displaying ABAP Source Code in a Web Browser

From the context menu in the Project Browser, you can copy the hyperlink of a development object and paste it into an email or any document. This enables you to create a hyperlink so that the receiver can open the ABAP source code of the development object in a Web browser.

Note

Http links are available for the following development objects:

  • ABAP programs
  • ABAP includes
  • ABAP function groups
  • ABAP function group includes
  • ABAP function modules
  • ABAP classes
  • ABAP interfaces

For more information, look here: Linking for Displaying ABAP Source Code in a Web Browser

Generating an Email for Sharing Hyperlinks to ABAP Source Code

You want to share a hyperlink to a development object or a part of ABAP source code through an email. To do this, you can now select Email link in the Share Link dialog. A new email is then generated from your default email client where the hyperlink is added.

Selecting a Main Program for Multiple-Use Include Programs

Typically, an include program is used by exactly one main program. If an include program is used in several main programs, you need to select a specific main program in order for the functionality to be executed.

You can now select a specific main program for a multiple-use include program in the Properties view. Note that this selection is valid until you close your Eclipse-based IDE.

Whenever a specific functionality (for example, ABAP syntax check, navigation, and so on) is executed that requires a main program, but none is selected, a dialog is opened. You then need to select a main program in the Properties view.

For more information, look here: Selecting a Main Program for Multiple-Use ABAP Includes

Element Info

In the Element Info view and Element Info popup, the following details are now displayed:

  • Texts that are provided for message classes and text elements
  • If a long text exists for any ABAP function module, a link to the corresponding documentation is provided:
    Example of a link that refers to a long text document
    Figure 1: Example of a link that refers to a long text document
Working with ABAP Projects

Creating ABAP Projects by Defining a Manual System Connection*

You want to define the connection of your Eclipse-based IDE to an ABAP system directly without using the SAP Logon Pad. This enables you to adopt certain properties like the connection type, message server, instance number, and so on.

For more information, look here: Defining a Manual System Connection

Quick Assist View*

The Quick Assist view supports you in executing refactorings and ABAP quick fixes, or when generating ABAP source code. It interacts directly with the ABAP source code editor. At every position where a quick assist can be applied, the content of the Quick Assist view is therefore automatically updated according to the selection made.

The layout of the Quick Assist view is divided into the:

  • Proposal overview that displays the possible quick assists at the current cursor position in the source code.
  • Description per proposal that provides details about the operating steps of the quick assist that is selected in the Proposal overview.
  • Previous Result that displays the changes performed by the recently applied quick assist.

From the toolbar, you can execute several operations like applying the selected proposal, disabling link with editor, clearing the result history, and so on.

Example of a Quick Assist view after executing a quick assist
Figure 2: Example of a Quick Assist view after executing a quick assist

For more information, look here: Quick Assist View

ABAP Quick Fixes

Creating Local ABAP Classes or ABAP Interfaces from Usage

In the source code of an ABAP program, you can now also create a local ABAP class or interface directly from the name of the missing class or interface. The creation of global classes is already possible.

For more information, look here: Creating ABAP Classes or ABAP Interfaces from Usage

Other ABAP Quick Assists

Creating and Maintaining Text Symbols

Using a text symbol makes a development object translateable and easier to maintain.

In the source code editor, the following other quick assists are now provided for working with text symbols:

For more information, look here: Creating and Maintaining Text Symbols

ABAP Searches

Expansion of the Where-Used Functionalities

Now, in the Search view, the number of matches and the development objects that contain at least one match are displayed. The matches themselves are structured according to ABAP packages, development objects, and the subobjects where the actual matches are highlighted.

In addition, the following functionalities are provided from the toolbar:
  • Set a filter for:
    • ABAP package(s)
    • Development object type(s)
    • Responsible user(s)
    • Code category
    • Exclusion of indirect references
  • Navigate to the next or previous match
  • Expand or collapse a main tree or a subsequent subtree
  • Show or hide the ABAP package hierarchy
  • Rerun the search function
  • Stop the current search
  • Display or clear data as well as navigate in the search result history
  • Pin the search view
  • Display the search result view as a list or tree
From the context menu of a selected development object or element, you can:
  • Run an ABAP unit test
  • Search for other usages
For more information, look here:

Searching ABAP Source Code

In the Search Filter input field, you can now limit the search for the name of the responsible user provided in table TADIR, field AUTHOR.

For more information, look here: Searching ABAP Source Code

Ensuring Quality of ABAP Code with the ABAP Test Cockpit

ABAP developers have various new options at their disposal for using ATC in ABAP Development Tools. In the current shipment, they can use ATC in the following use cases:

For more information, look here: Checking Quality of ABAP Code with ATC

  1. Running ATC checks during development

    Developers run the ATC checks to find potential bugs already during the development and launching of ATC from their IDE.

    For more information, look here: Working with ATC During Development

  2. Running ATC checks during transport release

    During the transport release, the ATC implicit check run for all development objects that are included in the transport request provides the first Q Gate (quality gate).

    For more information, look here: Working with ATC During Transport Release

  3. Working with central ATC results from mass regression check runs that have been scheduled in a central quality system

    In the target quality system, the mass regression check runs are scheduled and serve as the final Q Gate before the code changes are released.

    For more information, look here: Working with Central ATC Results

  4. Handling exemptions (false positives) for ATC findings

    ATC tools integrate an exemption process for false positives in order to handle findings that cannot be cleaned up. In a separate process, the developer requests an exemption for a finding. The quality manager then approves or rejects the request.

    For more information, look here: Applying for ATC Exemptions