Creating an SQL Trace Data File

To start the SQL Trace from the ABAP Workbench, choose Test → SQL Trace. From other screens, choose System → Utilities → SQL Trace. The result of the trace is an SQL trace file. The system allows only one user at a time to create a trace file. If another user has already started a trace, the system notifies you.

Before you begin a trace, you should execute the program you intend to trace. Executing the program ensures that the database requests made by the program are buffered. When you execute the program again with the trace tool running, the protocol measures only the database accesses of non-buffered tables. Tuning the accesses for non-buffered tables has the most positive impact on your application's performance.

When activated, the SQL Trace records every database operation performed by the user or users. These measurements can affect the performance of the application server where the trace is running. To preserve system performance, you should turn off the trace as soon as you finish recording your application.

Turning Trace On and Off

Choose Trace on.
A dialog window appears.
Enter the name of the user whose database activities you want to trace.
In the Trace SQL status information box, the system confirms that the trace was turned on.
Carry out all the activities that you want to measure.
Return to the main SQL Trace screen and choose Trace off.

The system confirms that the trace was turned off.