Creating Attributes

Attributes contain data. They define the state of an object (an instance of a class).

You have already created the internal data types in the class which you want to refer to. For more information, see Creating Internal Types in Classes.

1. Open the class you want to edit.
2. Choose the Attributes tab page.
3. To create an attribute, make the following entries:

   Option	Description
   Attribute	Name of the attribute
   Level	The declaration type specifies whether the attribute is an instance attribute (DATA), a static attribute (CLASS-DATA), or a constant (CONSTANTS).
   Visibility	The visibility sets the visibility section of the class component. The component can be in the PUBLIC SECTION, in the PROTECTED SECTION, in the PACKAGE SECTION or in the PRIVATE SECTION. For more information, see Visibility Sections in Classes.
   Read Only	The flag determines whether an attribute can be changed from outside the object, or if it is read only.
   Typing	Determines the type of an attribute or parameter. The possible values are: Reference another attribute using LIKE Reference a data type using TYPE Reference an object type using TYPE REF TO Reference a data type using TYPE REF TO DATA Embed an object type (not yet available in ABAP objects) Other type (in this case, the type is defined by direct input in the protected or private section).
   Associated Type	ABAP associated type for an interface parameter. The associated type must be a global type in the ABAP Dictionary or exist in a type pool. In the latter case, the type pool must be declared in the function group. When assigning a type using the LIKE method, you cannot use types from type pools. Additionally, you can use the internal ABAP types C, I, N, X, P, D, T, F, and the TABLE type - to an extent in generic form.
   Description	Short description of the method.
   Initial Value	You must enter an initial value for constants.

   Note

   If you need the definition of a structured data object here, choose the Direct Type Entry pushbutton and define the structure within the DATA statement:

   DATA: BEGIN OF structure,

    ...

    END OF structure.

   Perform the syntax check after that.

4. Save your entries.

You have created and specified attributes for a class or an interface. The system generates the corresponding ABAP code in the definition part of the class or interface pool for all of the attributes.