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ABAP System FieldsLocate this document in the navigation structure

ABAP system fields are always available in ABAP programs. The runtime system fills them according to context. They can then be used in programs to query the system status. System fields are variables but you should always treat them as though they were constants, and only read them. If you change their values, important information for the flow of the program may be lost. In exceptional circumstances, system fields may be overwritten in an ABAP program to control the system - for example, SY-LSIND (for navigating to a detail list).

With one exception, the names and data types of the system fields are stored in the ABAP Dictionary in the SYST structure and realized as components of the predefined structure SY in ABAP programs.

The system field SY-REPID is not part of SYST or SY. Instead, every program contains the predefined constants SY-REPID and SYST-REPID, which both contain the name of the corresponding program. Furthermore, there are two predefined types of the same name, SY-REPID and SYST-REPID.

All system fields are addressed using SY field name and their types using SYST field name.

 

The following table lists the definitions of the structure SYST in the ABAP Dictionary alphabetically. The character in the first column indicates how you can use the corresponding system field in ABAP programs. Name is the name of the component, Type is the Dictionary data type, and Length is the field length defined in the Dictionary. The Use column shows in which environment the system fields are set. The Description indicates the content.

Name

Type

Length

Use

Short Description

ABCDE

CHAR

26

Constants

Alphabet (A,B,C,...)

APPLI

RAW

2

Obsolete

BATCH

CHAR

1

Background Processing

Program runs in the background

BATZD

CHAR

1

Obsolete

BATZM

CHAR

1

Obsolete

BATZO

CHAR

1

Obsolete

BATZS

CHAR

1

Obsolete

BATZW

CHAR

1

Obsolete

BINPT

CHAR

1

Batch Input

Program runs under batch input

BREP4

CHAR

4

Obsolete

BSPLD

CHAR

1

Obsolete

CALLD

CHAR

1

ABAP Program

Call mode of ABAP program

CALLR

CHAR

8

Printing Lists

ID for print dialog function

CCURS

DEC

9

Obsolete

CCURT

DEC

9

Obsolete

CDATE

DATS

8

Obsolete

CFWAE

CUKY

5

Internal

CHWAE

CUKY

5

Internal

COLNO

INT4

10

Creating Lists

Current column in the list

CPAGE

INT4

10

List Processing

Current Page Number

CPROG

CHAR

40

ABAP Program

External procedure caller

CTABL

CHAR

4

Obsolete

CTYPE

CHAR

1

Obsolete

CUCOL

INT4

10

Screens

Horizontal cursor position at PAI

CUROW

INT4

10

Screens

Vertical cursor position at PAI

DATAR

CHAR

1

Dynpros

Displays user input

DATLO

DATS

8

Date and Time

Local date of user

DATUM

DATS

8

Date and Time

Current (application server) date

DAYST

CHAR

1

Date and Time

Daylight-saving time flag

DBCNT

INT4

10

Database Accesses

Number of processed table rows

DBNAM

CHAR

20

ABAP Program

Linked logical database

DBSYS

CHAR

10

SAP System

Name of central database system

DCSYS

CHAR

4

Obsolete

DEBUG

CHAR

1

Internal

DSNAM

CHAR

8

Internal

DYNGR

CHAR

4

ABAP Program

Screen group of current dynpro

DYNNR

CHAR

4

ABAP Program

Number of current dynpro

ENTRY

CHAR

72

Internal

FDAYW

INT1

3

Date and Time

Factory calendar weekday

FDPOS

INT4

10

Character Strings

Offset in character strings

FFILE

CHAR

8

Internal

FLENG

INT4

10

Internal

FMKEY

CHAR

3

Obsolete

FODEC

INT4

10

Internal

FOLEN

INT4

10

Internal

FTYPE

CHAR

1

Internal

GROUP

CHAR

1

Internal

HOST

CHAR

8

SAP System

Name of application server

INDEX

INT4

10

Loops

Current loop pass

INPUT

CHAR

1

Internal

LANGU

LANG

1

SAP System

Current language

LDBPG

CHAR

40

ABAP Program

Program of logical database

LILLI

INT4

10

List Processing

Selected list row

LINCT

INT4

10

Creating Lists

Page length of list

LINNO

INT4

10

Creating Lists

Current row

LINSZ

INT4

10

Creating Lists

Column width of list

LISEL

CHAR

255

List Processing

Content of selected row

LISTI

INT4

10

List Processing

Index of selected list

LOCDB

CHAR

1

Obsolete

LOCOP

CHAR

1

Obsolete

LOOPC

INT4

10

Dynpros

Number of rows visible in table

LPASS

CHAR

4

Internal

LSIND

INT4

10

List Processing

Index of details list

LSTAT

CHAR

16

List Processing

ID for list levels

MACDB

CHAR

4

Obsolete

MACOL

INT4

10

Printing Lists

Columns from SET MARGIN statement

MANDT

CLNT

3

SAP System

Client number from logon

MARKY

CHAR

1

Obsolete

MAROW

INT4

10

Printing Lists

Rows from SET MARGIN statement

MODNO

CHAR

1

SAP System

Index of external modes

MSGID

CHAR

20

Messages

Message class

MSGLI

CHAR

60

Messages

Message line

MSGNO

NUMC

3

Messages

Message number

MSGTY

CHAR

1

Messages

Message type

MSGV1

CHAR

50

Messages

Message variable

MSGV2

CHAR

50

Messages

Message variable

MSGV3

CHAR

50

Messages

Message variable

MSGV4

CHAR

50

Messages

Message variable

NEWPA

CHAR

1

Internal

NRPAG

CHAR

1

Internal

ONCOM

CHAR

1

Internal

OPSYS

CHAR

10

SAP System

Operating system of application server

PAART

CHAR

16

Print Parameters

Print formatting

PAGCT

INT4

10

Obsolete

PAGNO

INT4

10

Creating Lists

Current page

PAUTH

NUMC

2

Internal

PDEST

CHAR

4

Print Parameters

Output device

PEXPI

NUMC

1

Print Parameters

Spool retention period

PFKEY

CHAR

20

Screens

Current GUI status

PLAYO

CHAR

5

Internal

PLAYP

CHAR

1

Internal

PLIST

CHAR

12

Print Parameters

Name of spool request

PNWPA

CHAR

1

Internal

PRABT

CHAR

12

Print Parameters

Part of cover sheet

PRBIG

CHAR

1

Print Parameters

Selection cover page

PRCOP

NUMC

3

Print Parameters

Number of copies

PRDSN

CHAR

6

Print Parameters

Name of spool dataset

PREFX

CHAR

3

Obsolete

PRI40

CHAR

1

Internal

PRIMM

CHAR

1

Print Parameters

Print immediately

PRINI

NUMC

1

Internal

PRLOG

CHAR

1

Internal

PRNEW

CHAR

1

Print Parameters

New spool request

PRREC

CHAR

12

Print Parameters

Receiver

PRREL

CHAR

1

Print Parameters

Delete after print

PRTXT

CHAR

68

Print Parameters

Text for cover sheet

REPI2

CHAR

40

Internal

REPID

CHAR

40

ABAP Program

Current master program

RSTRT

CHAR

1

Internal

RTITL

CHAR

70

Print Parameters

Title of printing program

SAPRL

CHAR

4

SAP System

Release status of SAP System

SCOLS

INT4

10

Screens

Number of columns

SFNAM

CHAR

30

Obsolete

SFOFF

INT4

10

Internal

SLSET

CHAR

14

Selection Screens

Variant name

SPONO

NUMC

10

Printing Lists

Spool number

SPONR

NUMC

10

Obsolete

SROWS

INT4

10

Screens

Number of lines

STACO

INT4

10

List Processing

First displayed column

STARO

INT4

10

List Processing

Uppermost displayed row

STEPL

INT4

10

Dynpros

Index of current table row

SUBCS

CHAR

1

Internal

SUBRC

INT4

10

Return Value

Return value after ABAP statement

SUBTY

RAW

1

Internal

SYSID

CHAR

8

SAP System

Name of SAP System

TABID

CHAR

8

Internal

TABIX

INT4

10

Internal Tables

Current row index

TCODE

CHAR

20

ABAP Program

Current transaction code

TFDSN

CHAR

8

Obsolete

TFILL

INT4

10

Internal Tables

Current number of rows

TIMLO

TIMS

6

Date and Time

Local time of user

TITLE

CHAR

70

Screens

Text in header line

TLENG

INT4

10

Internal Tables

Row size

TLOPC

INT4

10

Internal

TMAXL

INT4

10

Obsolete

TNAME

CHAR

30

Obsolete

TOCCU

INT4

10

Obsolete

TPAGI

INT4

10

Obsolete

TSTIS

INT4

10

Internal

TTABC

INT4

10

Obsolete

TTABI

INT4

10

Obsolete

TVAR0

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR1

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR2

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR3

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR4

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR5

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR6

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR7

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR8

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TVAR9

CHAR

20

Creating Lists

Text variable for headers

TZONE

INT4

10

Date and Time

Time difference to Greenwich Mean Time

UCOMM

CHAR

70

Screens

Function code that triggered PAI

ULINE

CHAR

255

Constants

Horizontal line with length 255

UNAME

CHAR

12

SAP System

Logon name of user

UZEIT

TIMS

6

Date and Time

Current (application server) time

VLINE

CHAR

1

Constants

Vertical line

WAERS

CUKY

5

Obsolete

WILLI

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINCO

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINDI

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINRO

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINSL

CHAR

79

Obsolete

WINX1

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINX2

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINY1

INT4

10

Obsolete

WINY2

INT4

10

Obsolete

WTITL

CHAR

1

Creating Lists

Flag for standard page header

XCODE

CHAR

70

Internal

XFORM

CHAR

30

Internal

XPROG

CHAR

40

Internal

ZONLO

CHAR

6

Date and Time

Time zone of user

Key:

The system field is set by the runtime environment. Its content can be evaluated in the ABAP program but must not be changed.

The system field is set by the runtime environment. Its content can be changed in the ABAP program to influence the runtime environment.

The system field must be set in the ABAP program. It can then be evaluated by the runtime environment or the program.

The system field is only for internal use and must not be used in ABAP programs.

The system field is obsolete and its content is not set. It must not be used in ABAP programs.

 
Thematic Overview

The following is a thematic summary of the system fields with notes on their use:

System Information

  • Information on the Current SAP System
  • Information on the User Session
  • Date and Time Information
  • Information on the Current ABAP Program
  • Background Processing
  • Batch Input

ABAP Programming

  • Constants
  • Character Strings
  • Loops
  • Internal Tables
  • Database Accesses
  • Return Value

    Screens

  • Dynpros
  • Selection Screens
  • Lists
  • Messages

Internal System Fields

Obsolete System Fields

 
System Information

Information on the Current SAP System

SY-DBSYS

Central database system, for example INFORMIX, ORACLE ...

SY-HOST

Application server, for example HS0333, PAWDF087 ...

SY-OPSYS

Operating system of application server, for example HP-UX, SINIX

SY-SAPRL

Release status of the SAP System, for example 30D, 46A, ...

SY-SYSID

Name of the SAP System, for example B20, I47, ...

Information on the User Session

SY-LANGU

One-digit language key, for example D, E, F. Either logon language of user or set using the SET LOCALE LANGUAGE statement.

SY-MANDT

Client number the user logged on with, for example 000, 400, ...
For database accesses with Open SQL, SY-MANDT is used as the first key field of the WHERE clause.

SY-MODNO

Indexing of External Modes Zero in first mode. In new modes, opened using the Create Mode function or by calling a transaction using /o, it is raised by 1. If previous modes were deleted, the free numbers are used first. Modes opened using CALL TRANSACTION … STARTING NEW TASK start back at 0.

SY-UNAME

Logon name of user, for example KELLERH, BC400-01, ...

Date and Time Information

The following system fields are always set automatically. If necessary, the GET TIME statement synchronizes the application server time with that of the database server and writes it to the system field SY-UZEIT. SY-DATUM and the system fields for the local time zone, that is SY-TIMLO, SY-DATLO, and SY-ZONLO, are also reset.

SY-DATLO

Local date of user, for example 19981129, 19990628, ...

SY-DATUM

Current (application server) date, for example 19981130, 19990627, ...

SY-DAYST

During daylight saving time X, otherwise empty.

SY-FDAYW

Factory calendar weekday, Sunday 0 … Saturday 6.

SY-TIMLO

Local time of user, for example 154353, 225312, ...

SY-TZONE

Time difference from Greenwich Mean Time (UTC) in seconds, for example 3600, 10800, ...

SY-UZEIT

Current (application server) time, for example 164353, 215312, ...

SY-ZONLO

Time zone of user, for example CET, UTC, ...

Information on the Current ABAP Program

SY-CALLD

SY-CALLD contains SPACE if the program is the first and only program in a call chain. SY_CALLD contains 'X' if the program is a called program in a call chain.

  • SY-CALLD is set to 'X' in a program called using CALL TRANSACTION, CALL DIALOG, or SUBMIT … AND RETURN.
  • SY-CALLD is set to space in a program called using LEAVE TO TRANSACTION, entering a transaction code on a screen, and processing batch input folders.
  • With SUBMIT (without RETURN), SY-CALLD retains the previous value.

SY-CPROG

In externally called procedures, the name of the calling program, otherwise the name of the current program. If an externally called procedure calls another external procedure, SY-CPROG keeps the name of the first main program and is not given the name of the master program of the next caller.

SY-DBNAM

In executable programs, this is the linked logical database.

SY-DYNGR

Screen Group of Current Dynpro You can assign several screens to a common screen group. You can use this, for example, to modify all the screens in the group in a uniform way.

SY-DYNNR

Number of Current Dynpro During selection screen processing, SY-DYNNR contains the dynpro number of the current selection screen. During list processing, SY-DYNNR contains the number of the container screen. While a subscreen is being processed, SY-DYNNR contains its screen number. This also applies to tabstrips.

SY-LDBPG

With executable programs, the database program of the linked logical database.

SY-REPID

Name of Current ABAP Program With externally called procedures, this is the name of the procedure's master program.

If SY-REPID was transferred to an external procedure as an actual parameter before Release 6.10, the formal parameter was not given the name of the caller, but the name of the procedure's master program. SY-REID had to be transferred to an auxiliary variable before the call or you had to use SY-PROG.

As of Release 6.10, SY-REPID is a separate constant that is no longer part of the structure SYST or SY. It can be transferred to external procedures directly.

SY-TCODE

Name of the current transaction code.

Background Processing

SY-BATCH

SY-BATCH is set to X in an ABAP program running in the background. Otherwise it is empty.

Batch Input

SY-BINPT

SY-BINPT is set to X during processing of batch input folders and in ABAP programs called with CALL TRANSACTION USING. Otherwise it is empty.

OPTIONS FROM in the CALL TRANSACTION USING statement can set SY-BINPT to empty for the entire program execution, as well as at the end of the BDC data.

In CATT procedures, SY-BINPT is always empty.

 
ABAP Programming

Constants

SY-ABCDE

Contains the alphabet. Can be used to access individual letters independently of the code page by specifying the offset.

SY-ULINE

Contains a horizontal line with length 255. Can be used when creating lists.

SY-VLINE

Contains a vertical line (|). Can be used when creating lists.

Loops

SY-INDEX

SY-INDEX contains the number of loop passes in DO and WHILE loops, including the current loop pass.

Character Strings

SY-FDPOS

Found location for operations with character-type fields.

  • If the operators CO, CN, CA, NA, CS, NS, CP, NP are used in comparisons, SY-FDPOS is assigned offset values - depending on the comparison result.
  • SEARCH … FOR … sets SY-FDPOS to the offset value of the found search string.

Internal Tables

SY-TABIX

Current line in an internal table. With the following statements SY-TABIX is set for index tables. With hashed tables, SY-TABIX is not filled or it is set to 0.

  • APPEND sets SY-TABIX to the index of the last table row, that is, the total number of entries in the target table.
  • COLLECT sets SY-TABIX to the index of the existing or appended table row. With hashed tables, SY-TABIX is set to 0.
  • LOOP AT sets SY-TABIX to the index of the current table row at the beginning of every loop pass. After leaving a loop, SY-TABIX is set to the value it had before entering the loop. With hashed tables, SY-TABIX is set to 0.
  • READ TABLE sets SY-TABIX to the index of the table row read. If no row is found with binary search while reading, SY-TABIX contains the index of the next highest row or the total number of rows +1. If no row is found with linear search while reading, SY-TABIX is undefined.
  • SEARCH itab FOR sets SY-TABIX to the index of the table row in which the search string was found.

SY-TFILL

With the statements DESCRIBE TABLE, LOOP AT, and READ TABLE, SY-TFILL is filled with the row number of the addressed internal table.

SY-TLENG

With the statements DESCRIBE TABLE, LOOP AT, and READ TABLE, the system fills SY-TLENG with the row size of the addressed internal table.

Database Accesses

SY-DBCNT

SQL statements set the content of SY-DBCNT to the number of database lines processed. With SELECT loops in Open SQL, SY-DBCNT is set after the ENDSELECT statement. In Native SQL, SY-DBCNT is set after the ENDEXEC statement.

  • DELETE sets SY-DBCNT to the number of lines deleted.
  • FETCH sets SY-DBCNT to the number of lines already read by the respective cursor.
  • INSERT sets SY-DBCNT to the number of lines inserted.
  • MODIFY sets SY-DBCNT to the number of lines processed.
  • UPDATE sets SY-DBCNT to the number of lines changed.

Return Value

SY-SUBRC

Return value set by the following ABAP statements. In general, a content of 0 means that the statement was executed without problems.

  • ASSIGN sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if assignment to a field symbol is possible; otherwise 4.
  • ASSIGN dref->* sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if dereferencing is possible; otherwise 4.
  • AUTHORITY-CHECK sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the user has the necessary authorization; otherwise 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 28, 32, or 36, depending on the cause.
  • CALL DIALOG with USING sets SY-SUBRC to 0, if processing was successful; otherwise <>0.
  • CALL FUNCTION sets SY-SUBRC in accordance with the exception handling process.
  • CALL METHOD sets SY-SUBRC in accordance with the exception handling process.
  • CALL SELECTION-SCREEN sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the user chose Enter or Execute and to 4 if the user chose Cancel.
  • CALL TRANSACTION with USING sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if processing was successful; otherwise <>0.
  • CATCH SYSTEM-EXCEPTIONS sets SY-SUBRC if there are runtime errors after the ENDCATCH statement. The value is specified in the program.
  • COMMIT WORK sets SY-SUBRC to 0.
  • COMMIT WORK AND WAIT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if update was successful; otherwise <>0.
  • COMMUNICATION INIT DESTINATION … RETURNCODE sets SY-SUBRC as specified.
  • CONCATENATE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the result fits into the target variable; otherwise 4.
  • CREATE OBJECT sets SY-SUBRC if the exceptions of the instance constructor are handled.
  • CREATE OBJECT in OLE2 sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if an external object was created; otherwise 1,2, 3 with different causes.
  • DELETE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the operation was successful; otherwise 4 or <> 0, depending on the cause.
  • DEMAND … MESSAGES INTO sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if a message table is empty; otherwise <> 0.
  • DESCRIBE LIST sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if row or list exists; otherwise 4 or 8.
  • EXEC SQL - ENDEXEC sets SY-SUBRC to 0 in almost all cases. Only if no set was read with FETCH is SY-SUBRC 4.
  • FETCH sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if at least one row was read; otherwise 4.

GENERATE SUBROUTINE POOL sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if generation was successful; otherwise 8.

  • GET CURSOR sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the cursor is correctly positioned; otherwise 4.
  • GET PARAMETER sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the value was found in the SAP Memory; otherwise 4.
  • IMPORT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the import of data objects was successful; otherwise 4.
  • INSERT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the operation was successful; otherwise 4.
  • LOAD REPORT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if operation was successful; otherwise 4 or 8, depending on the cause.
  • LOOP sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if loop over extract was passed at least once; otherwise 4.
  • LOOP AT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if loop over internal table was passed at least once; otherwise 4.
  • MODIFY sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the operation was successful; otherwise 4.
  • MODIFY LINE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the list row was changed; otherwise <> 0.
  • MODIFY sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the operation was successful; otherwise 4.
  • OLE2 automation, bundled commands set SY-SUBRC to 0 if all were successfully executed; otherwise 1, 2, 3, 4, depending on the cause.
  • OPEN DATASET sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the file was opened; otherwise 8.
  • Open SQL commands set SY-SUBRC to 0 if the operation was successful; otherwise <>0.
  • OVERLAY sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if at least one character is overlayed; otherwise 4.
  • READ DATASET sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the read operation was successful; otherwise 4 or 8, depending on the cause.
  • READ LINE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if a list row exists; otherwise <> 0.
  • READ TABLE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the table row was found; otherwise 2, 4, 8, depending on the cause.
  • REPLACE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the search string could be replaced; otherwise <> 0.
  • ROLLBACK WORK always sets SY-SUBRC to 0.
  • SCROLL sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if scrolling in list was successful; otherwise 4 or 8, depending on the cause.
  • SEARCH sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the search string was found; otherwise 4.
  • SELECT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if at least one row was read; otherwise 4 or even 8 with SELECT SINGLE FOR UPDATE.
  • SET COUNTRY sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the country ID was found in table T005X; otherwise 4.
  • SET BIT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if bit was set; otherwise <> 0.
  • SET TITLEBAR sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if title exists; otherwise 4.
  • SHIFT … UP TO sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the position was found in the character string; otherwise 4.
  • SPLIT sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the size of the target fields is sufficient; otherwise 4.
  • UPDATE sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if the operation was successful; otherwise 4.
  • WRITE … TO sets SY-SUBRC to 0 if assignment was successful; otherwise 4.
 
Screens

Dynpros

System fields are set at the PAI event for every screen. These can be also used for interactive list processing, except for SY-DATAR, SY-LOOPC, and SY-STEPL.

SY-CUCOL

Horizontal Cursor Position Counting starts at column 2.

SY-CUROW

Vertical Cursor Position Counting starts at row 1.

SY-DATAR

Is set to X at the time of PAI if at least one screen input field was changed by the user or other data transfer; otherwise it is empty.

SY-LOOPC

Number of rows currently displayed in a screen table (table control).

SY-PFKEY

GUI status of the current dynpro. Can be set at PBO using SET PF-STATUS.

SY-SCOLS

Number of columns in the current screen.

SY-SROWS

Number of rows in the current screen.

SY-STEPL

Index of the current row in a screen table (table control). Is set at every loop pass. Outside a loop, for example during the POV event for a table row, SY-STEPL is not set appropriately.

SY-TITLE

Text that appears in the title bar of the dynpro. For selection screens and lists this is the program name; otherwise SAP. Can be set during PBO using SET TITLEBAR.

SY-UCOMM

Function code that triggered the event PAI. Each user action that triggers PAI has a unique function code assigned to it, with one exception: Choosing ENTER triggers the PAI event, whereby different function codes can be passed to SY-UCOMM:

  • If there is an entry in the command field of the standard toolbar, this is transferred to SY-UCOMM as the function code.
  • If there is no entry in the command field and a function code is assigned to the ENTER key, this function code is transferred to SY-UCOMM.
  • If the command field does not contain an entry and no function code is assigned to the ENTER key, it is empty and the content of SY-UCOMM is not affected.

Selection Screens

SY-SLSET

Variant used to fill the selection screen.

Creating Lists

When creating a list you can use the following system fields to navigate. They help to ensure that output statements do not overwrite any existing output and that the system does not try to write outside the list. The current output position is always in the system fields SY-COLNO and SY-LINNO and is reset for every output statement. The remaining system fields contain further values for list creation.

SY-COLNO

Current column during list creation. Counting starts at 1. SY-COLNO is set by the following output statements:

  • WRITE, ULINE, SKIP set SY-COLNO to the next output position.
  • BACK sets SY-COLNO to 1.
  • POSITION col sets SY-COLNO to col. If col lies outside the page, the subsequent output statements are ignored.
  • NEW-LINE sets SY-COLNO to 1.
  • NEW-PAGE sets SY-COLNO to 1.

SY-LINCT

Page length of list. SY-LINCT is 0 for a standard list of any length and has a value unequal to 0 for lists with fixed page length.

  • LINE-COUNT in the statements REPORT, PROGRAM, FUNCTION POOL sets SY-LINCT for the current program.
  • LINE-COUNT in the SUBMIT statement sets SY-LINCT for the called program.

SY-LINNO

Current row during list creation. Counting begins at 1 and includes the page header. SY-LINNO is set by the following output statements:

  • WRITE, ULINE, SKIP raise SY-LINNO by 1 in the case of a line break.
  • BACK sets SY-LINNO to the first row after the page header. BACK in combination with RESERVE sets SY-LINNO to the first row of a block of rows.
  • NEW-LINE raises SY-LINNO by 1.
  • SKIP TO LINE lin sets SY-LINNO to lin. If lin does not lie between 1 and the page length, the system ignores the statement.

SY-LINSZ

Line width of list. Without further influence, this is the standard window width: If SY-SCOLS >= 84, SY-LINSZ = SY-SCOLS; if SY-SCOLS < 84, SY-LINSZ = 84.

To change the width of the output list, use the LINE-SIZE option of the REPORT or NEW PAGE statements.

  • LINE-SIZE in the statements REPORT, PROGRAM, FUNCTION POOL sets SY-LINSZ for the current program.
  • LINE-SIZE in the SUBMIT statement sets SY-LINSZ for the called program.

SY-PAGNO

Current page during list creation.

  • WRITE, ULINE, SKIP raise SY-PAGNO by 1 in the case of a line break.
  • NEW-PAGE raises SY-PAGNO by 1, but only if at least one output follows both on the current page and after the NEW-PAGE statement.
  • NEW-SECTION of the NEW-PAGE PRINT ON statement sets SY-PAGNO to 1.

SY-TVAR0 ... SY-TVAR9

In the program, you can assign values to these system fields. During the TOP-OF-PAGE event, the system replaces the placeholders of the program's list and column headers with the contents of the system fields SY-TVAR0 to SYTVAR9.

SY-WTITL

Is set to N in the statements REPORT, PROGRAM, and FUNCTION-POOL if the NO STANDARD PAGE HEADING addition is used; otherwise empty. NEW-PAGE does not set SY-WTITL.

List Processing

At each interactive list event and for READ LINE, the system automatically fills the following system fields:

SY-CPAGE

Page number of the first displayed page of the list from which the event was triggered. Counting starts at 1.

SY-LILLI

Line from which the event was triggered. Counting begins at 1 and includes the page header.

SY-LISEL

Contents of the line from which the event was triggered (restricted to the first 255 characters).

SY-LISTI

Index of the list from which the event was triggered.

SY-LSIND

Index of the list that is currently being created (basic list: 0; details list > 0). Each time an interactive list event occurs, the system automatically increases SY-LSIND by 1. SY-LSIND can be changed in the ABAP program to navigate between detail lists. Changes to SY-LSIND are not taken into account until the end of the list event. Therefore, any manipulation of SY-LISND should be done using the last command of the processing block.

SY-LSTAT

ID for list levels within the program. SY-LSTAT can be filled with values during list creation in the ABAP program. The value valid when the list is completed is saved with the list. In the case of an interactive list event, SY-LSTAT is set to the value it was assigned during the creation of the list from which the event takes place. SY-LSTAT is no longer maintained and should therefore no longer be used.

SY-STACO

Number of the first displayed column of the list from which the event was triggered. Counting starts at 1.

SY-STARO

Number of the uppermost displayed line of the uppermost page of the list from which the event was triggered. Counting begins at 1. This does not include the page header.

Printing Lists

When printing lists, the spool and runtime systems require certain internal information, which is available in the following system fields and is set during print activation.

SY-CALLR

Contains a value that displays where printing was started, for example NEW-PAGE for program-controlled printing or RSDBRUNT for printing from the selection screen.

SY-PRDSN

Contains the name of the spool file during printing.

SY-SPONO

Contains the name of the spool number during printing.

SY-MAROW, SY-MACOL

The SET MARGIN statement fills the system fields SY-MAROW and SY-MACOL, which determine the number of lines on the upper margin and the number of columns on the left margin when printing.

Print Parameters

The print parameters are transferred to the spool system by the runtime system in a structure of dictionary type PRI_PARAMS. Before this structure was used, its purpose was served by system fields. Today a subset of the PRI_PARAMS structure is still written to system fields with the same names when printing is activated. This information is redundant and should not be used.

Messages

If you execute the MESSAGE statement, the following system fields are set. If you execute the MESSAGE … RAISING statement in function modules and methods, these fields are also set in the calling program, if it handles the exception.

SY-MSGID

SY-MSGID contains the message class.

SY-MSGNO

SY-MSGNO contains the message number.

SY-MSGTY

SY-MSGTY contains the message type.

SY-MSGV1,…,SY-MSGV4

SY-MSGV1 to SY-MSGV4 contain the field contents that are used for the message placeholders.

Special actions that fill message fields

  • If you request database locks using the ENQUEUE function module, the field SY-MSGV1 contains the name of the user who holds the lock, in the case of the FOREIGN_LOCK exception.
  • In the case of CALL TRANSACTION or CALL DIALOG with the USING addition, a message displayed during the called screen sequence is returned in the fields SY-MSGID, SY-MSGTY, SY-MSGNO, SY-MSGV1, ... , SY-MSGV4.
  • During Remote Function Call (RFC), error messages are transferred from the remote system to the calling system and SY-MSGID, SY-MSGTY, SY-MSGNO,SY-MSGV1, SY-MSGV2, SY-MSGV3, SY-MSGV4 are set. If short dumps or type X messages occur, the system also sets the fields.
 
Internal System Fields

Internal system fields are only for internal use in the ABAP runtime environment and are defined in the kernel. Under no circumstances must they be overwritten in ABAP programs and they should also not be read (processed).

SY-CFWAE

Undocumented

SY-CHWAE

Undocumented

SY-DEBUG

Undocumented

SY-DSNAM

Name of spool output file.

SY-ENTRY

Undocumented

SY-FFILE

Flat file (USING/GENERATING DATASET).

SY-FLENG

Length of a field.

SY-FODEC

Number of decimal places of a field.

SY-FOLEN

Output length of a field.

SY-FTYPE

Data type of a field.

SY-GROUP

Bundling

SY-INPUT

Undocumented

SY-LPASS

Undocumented

SY-NEWPA

Undocumented

SY-NRPAG

Undocumented

SY-ONCOM

On Commit flag. This system field is set to different values, depending on the call status of an ABAP program. Of these, only the value of 'P' is guaranteed. If at all, SY-ONCOM must only be queried for 'P'.

The value 'P' means that the program is executed. This is the case even if a subroutine is already started using PERFORM ... ON COMMIT. A further subroutine run using PERFORM ... ON COMMIT will cause a runtime error.

SY-PAUTH

Undocumented

SY-PLAYO

Undocumented

SY-PLAYP

Undocumented

SY-PNWPA

Undocumented

SY-PRI40

Undocumented

SY-PRINI

Undocumented

SY-PRLOG

Undocumented

SY-REPI2

Undocumented

SY-RSTRT

Undocumented

SY-SFOFF

Undocumented

SY-SUBCS

Call status of an executable program.

SY-SUBTY

Call type of an executable program.

SY-TABID

Undocumented

SY-TLOPC

Undocumented

SY-TSTIS

Undocumented

SY-XCODE

Extended Function Code Is filled, like SY-UCOMM, by user actions on lists. Before the length of SY-UCOMM was increased from 4 to 70 characters, SY-XCODE was used internally to evaluate lengthy entries in the command field of the list's standard toolbar. Use SY-UCOMM in application programs.

SY-XFORM

SYSTEM-EXIT subroutine.

SY-XPROG

SYSTEM-EXIT program.

 
Obsolete System Fields

In the transition from R/2 to R/3, some system fields were carried over that are no longer filled. These system fields are obsolete and can no longer be used.

SY-APPLI

In R/2, ID for which SAP applications are installed. No longer filled.

SY-BATZD

In R/2, ID for daily background scheduling. No longer filled.

SY-BATZM

In R/2, ID for monthly background scheduling. No longer filled.

SY-BATZO

In R/2, ID for single background scheduling. No longer filled.

SY-BATZS

In R/2, ID for immediate background scheduling. No longer filled.

SY-BATZW

In R/2, ID for weekly background scheduling. No longer filled.

SY-BREP4

In R/2, root name of request report for background processing. No longer filled.

SY-BSPLD

In R/2, ID for immediate spool output for background processing. No longer filled.

SY-CCURS

In R/2, rate specification / result field from CURRENCY CONVERSION. No longer filled.

SY-CCURT

In R/2, table rate from CURRENCY CONVERSION. No longer filled.

SY-CDATE

In R/2, rate date from CURRENCY CONVERSION. No longer filled.

SY-CTABL

In R/2, rate table from CURRENCY CONVERSION. No longer filled.

SY-CTYPE

In R/2, rate type from CURRENCY CONVERSION. No longer filled.

SY-DCSYS

Dialog system of R/2 System No longer filled.

SY-FMKEY

Previously, current function code menu. No longer filled.

SY-LOCDB

Local database, not implemented.

SY-LOCOP

Local database operation, not implemented.

SY-MACDB

Previously, name of file for matchcode access. No longer filled.

SY-MARKY

Current line character for the MARK statement. However, the language element MARK will only be supported for a short time.

SY-PAGCT

In R/2, maximum number of pages per list. No longer filled.

SY-PREFX

ABAP prefix for background jobs. No longer filled.

SY-SFNAM

Undocumented

SY-SPONR

In R/2, you could process spool files using the TRANSFER statement, set by SY-SPONR. No longer filled.

SY-TFDSN

Previously, name of external storage file for extracts. No longer filled.

SY-TMAXL

Previously, maximum number of entries in an internal table. No longer filled.

SY-TNAME

Previously, name of an internal table after an access. No longer filled.

SY-TOCCU

With the statements DESCRIBE TABLE, LOOP AT, and READ TABLE, SY-TOCCU was filled with the value of the initial main memory requirements for the addressed internal table. No longer filled.

SY-TPAGI

Previously, ID whether an internal table is stored in the paging area. No longer filled.

SY-TTABC

Previously, index of last read row in an internal table. No longer filled.

SY-TTABI

Previously, offset of internal tables in roll area. No longer filled.

SY-WAERS

Previously, company code currency after reading booking segment. No longer filled.

SY-WILLI

In R/2, number of selected list row for detail list in window. Use SY-LILLI.

SY-WINCO

In R/2, cursor position for detail list in window. Use SY-CUCOL.

SY-WINDI

In R/2, index of list for detail list in window. Use SY-LSIND.

SY-WINRO

In R/2, cursor position for detail list in window. Use SY-CUROW.

SY-WINSL

In R/2, content of selected row for detail list in window. Use SY-LISEL.

SY-WINX1

In R/2, window coordinate for details list in window. No longer used.

SY-WINX2

In R/2, window coordinate for details list in window. No longer used.

SY-WINY1

In R/2, window coordinate for details list in window. No longer used.

SY-WINY2

In R/2, window coordinate for details list in window. No longer used.