Interactive Multiple-Line Basic Lists (SAP Library

Interactive Multiple-Line Basic Lists

Up to Release 4.6A, you may only use SAP Query's interactive functions (EXCEL, table display, display as an interactive list, graphics, etc.) with single line basic lists, statistics, and ranked lists. From Release 4.6A, almost all multiple-line basic lists are interactive. This means that the system treats them as single line lists and allows you to use them in conjunction with all of the functions listed above. This also allows you to arrange direct interactions, that is to directly call one of these interactive functions without having to display the list first.

In order for multiple-line basic lists to be interactive, the data presented in the list must be entered into a flat internal table. This table's line structure is determined by attaching all fields of all lines from the basic list one to the next, one right after the other. Each time that a list line is output, the fields from that list line are transferred to their corresponding fields in the table line. New lines are only ever added to the internal tables when all fields within a table line are filled, or when it is apparent in the list that those fields still missing will not be displayed in the list.

If, for example, a basic list has been defined with two lines (line 1 and 2) and a random number of line 2s can belong to line 1, you must distinguish between the following cases:

Exactly one line 2 belongs to every line 1 found in the list.

In this case, exactly one line is inserted in the internal table containing the values of both lines.

Multiple line 2s belong to every line 1 found in the list.

In this case, multiple lines are added to the internal table; the fields found in line 1 repeat themselves and the fields from line 2 are new for each new table line.

No line 2s whatsoever belong to every line 1 found in the list

In this case, exactly one line is added to the internal table; in it the fields for line 2 are initial.

If a basic list contains more that two lines, the process described above occurs at multiple levels.

In general, all basic lists that do not retrieve their data from a logical database are interactive. If a list's data comes from a logical database, all fields used in the list my lie on one path in the database. In other words, those multiple-line basic lists that process fields from parallel tables are not interactive.