Storing Data as a Local File
Use
The
List
Download to File
function allows you to download the data retrieved by the query to a local file on the presentation server. The function module DOWNLOAD performs this process.
Prerequisites
You have executed a query and chosen
ABAP List
as the display format.
Procedure
After you have activated the
Download to File
function, you specify a file name and the data format in the dialog box that appears. The system uses the name that you typed into the input field next to the
Download to File
radio button on the selection screen as a default for your file name.
If no file name was entered on the selection screen, the system chooses a default name for you.
You can choose the check box
With column header
in the dialog box. This will save your data with column headers if its data format so allows (DAT and DBF).
Note
You use the
System
List
Save
Local File
function that is generally available for lists to store the list on the presentation server as a simple text file without any structuring of the individual rows in the list. In contrast, the
Download to File
function does structure the rows in the list.
You may enter a default file name for the file created. The system uses the contents of the input field located next to the radio button
Download to file
on the query's selection screen as a default for your file name. This default value will always be as the file name whenever you call the
Download to file
function, regardless of whether the
Download to file
radio button is set on the selection screen or not.
Note
Be aware that by entering a suggested file name, you ARE NOT suppressing the dialog that is run through when the
Download to file
function is called.
The option of specifying a default file name on the selection screen as described above is particularly useful when you want to define variants for a query.