The Database Utility

Use

The database utility is the interface between the ABAP Dictionary and the relational database underlying the SAP system. The database utility allows you to edit (create, delete and adjust to changes to their definition in the ABAP Dictionary) database objects derived from objects of the ABAP Dictionary. In the following figure, you can see the place of the database utility.

Features

Editing Database Objects

You can use the database utility to edit all the database objects that are generated from objects of the ABAP Dictionary. These are database tables that are generated from transparent tables or physical table pools or table clusters, indexes, and database views.

To call the database utility for a object, proceed as follows:

Open the Repository Browser (Transaction Code SE80) and navigate to the required object.
Open the object in display mode by double-clicking on it.
Choose Utilities → Database Object → Database Utility.

Since different functions are required for different object types, a separate maintenance screen is displayed for each object type.

Note

All screens of the database utility use the Enter button as refresh.

Note

If you want to use the database utility, you need authorization for authorization object S_DDIC_OBJ, for example S_DDIC_ALL.

For more information about the functions provided, see:

Analyzing and Continuing Terminated Conversions

If a conversion terminates, you can find the reason using the database utility. After correcting the error you can continue the conversion with the database utility. For more information, see:

Administration of Requests for Database Modifications

The database utility provides a number of options for administering and monitoring requests for database modifications. You can perform these functions directly on the initial screen of the database utility (transaction SE14).

You can:

Executing and Monitoring Incremental Conversions

You can reorganize a table and change its structure with an incremental table conversion. In contrast to a standard conversion, when an incremental conversion is performed the system can continue using the table during the data transfer. This means that there is much more time available for the data transfer and larger sets of data can be converted than with the standard conversion method. There is a short reduction in productivity only when initializing the incremental conversion and when switching to the new table.

The monitor for the incremental conversion can be displayed from the initial screen of the database utility with DB requests → Incremental.

To display more information about the flow of an incremental conversion in the monitor of the incremental conversion, choose with the quick info text Information. An assistant helps you to perform an incremental conversion.