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Changes to the ABAP Workbench in Release 4.6B 

Scope of Functions

From Release 4.6B, the old version of the ABAP Workbench is no longer available . You cannot (as was possible in Release 4.6A) use the "Settings" menu to switch between the old and the new versions.

Other changes mainly involve extensions of the navigation options within the ABAP Workbench. Developers can now make the Workbench conform to their preferred style of working, instead of having to use a fixed navigation system.

Starting the ABAP Workbench

As before, you can start the ABAP Workbench using transaction SE80. On starting, the Workbench displays the last object list on which you were working.

You now select development objects using a selection list containing the following categories of objects:

• Application hierarchy

• Development class

• Program

• Function group

• Class

• Local objects

Note:

The procedure for creating objects in the Object Navigator in a category for which there is not yet another object in the object list has changed.

To do this, you should choose Other object from the application toolbar.

Navigation

Navigation Stack

During a terminal session, the system records all steps in a navigation stack. You can display the entire stack in a separate window, which allows you a full overview of your session at all times.

As well as the single step operations Forward and Back, you can also access a target by jumping several steps within the stack.

This recording of the navigation stack is not persistent, and it is deleted when you end your terminal session. There is a separate navigation stack for each internal session.

Single-Step Navigation (Forward and Back):

You can navigate separately in the object list and the work area. Navigating in one area does not automatically update the other.

The Previous object and Next object functions allow you to navigate forwards and backwards in the tool area. You can access these functions from the application toolbar and the navigation stack, and they allow you to switch quickly between two navigation targets in a stack.

Navigation Contexts

When you navigate to an object (or object component) in the same development class, program, class, or function group, the navigation context is retained. If, for example, you navigate from a method implementation (in change mode) into another method of the same class, this method is also displayed in change mode.

Worklist

The worklist is another means by which you can group navigation targets together (for example, after a search in the Repository Information System) for the duration of your terminal session.

You can fill a worklist as follows:

• By choosing Display or Change in set mode (see below)

• By using drag & drop from the object list

• By adopting an object that you have been editing using a menu function

Set Mode

There are certain operations that you can apply simultaneously to a set of development objects in an object list.

To do this, you select the entries from the object list while holding down CTRL (or SHIFT), and use the context menu (right-hand mouse button) to choose the relevant operation.

You can use set mode for the following operations:

• Delete (delete several objects)

• Display

• Change

• Print

• Write transport request

• Change development class

If you choose Display or Change, the selected entries are placed in the worklist (see above).

Changes to Other Tools

ABAP Editor (SE38)

The following ABAP Objects statements have been added to the "Pattern" function:

• CALL METHOD

• CREATE OBJECT

• RAISE EVENT

Data Browser (SE16)

You can display the contents of a table using the ALV Grid. You can change the user parameters using the function user-specific settings.

See also

For further information, refer to the ABAP Workbench Tools documentation in the SAP Library.