Request Data Structure 

Definition

XML-based data structure of a request category that contains specific field attributes as well as structure information.

Use

In a request data structure, you create all form fields that are required for placing requests and processing Web requests. You can use an XML editor for this to define the fields and their attributes in IMG activity Define Request Categories.

To subdivide entry and display fields, you can define the sequence of field groups. Each field group receives a field group box by default and is therefore separated from other field groups. You can assign and define a sequence for fields and field groups by using the Drag&Drop function.

To define the attributes of a field (such as field length, field name and so on), you can reference an ABAP Dictionary data element that already exists and copy its attributes. The attributes can also be defined manually; referenced attributes are overridden in this case. You define the features of a field as an entry field, dropdown list field or radio button when assigning attributes.

You can use a finished request data structure for the request categories also using export/import functions.

Note that the XML request data structure does not support any XML schema or document category definitions (DTDs).

Usage of Online Text Repository Texts (OTR Texts)

If you want to support several languages for field labels – in other words, the output of the field label is controlled by the respective logon language – you can define an OTR alias instead of a fixed predefined field label text and create the respective language versions in the corresponding OTR package. You can also use the OTR packages delivered by SAP (for example, package SOTR_VOCABULARY_BASIC). For more information, see Online Text Repository (OTR).

Structure

The imported or exported XML file of a request data structure is subdivided into two parts:

·        The part beginning with the tag <request> contains the structural information of field groups and fields.

·        The part beginning with the tag <annotation> contains information on the attributes of the respective fields.

Integration

The request data structure of a request category is used when generating the BSP application for each request category view.

See also:

Views and Authorization Concept

Layout Maintenance for Web Requests