Difference between Data Type Char & VarChar

Hi Experts,
I a design document that I have, some of the Data Types are mentioned as CHAR(e.g.CHAR(4)), and a few others as VARCHAR(e.g.VARCHAR(20)), can you let me know what is the difference between the two.And how is such an object to be developed in BW seeing that we don't have a DataType called Varchar in BW?
Thanks
Aravind

Hi
The char is a fixed-length character data type, the varchar is a variable-length character data type.
Because char is a fixed-length data type, the storage size of the char value is equal to the maximum size for this column. Because varchar is a variable-length data type, the storage size of the varchar value is the actual length of the data entered, not the maximum size for this column.
You can use char when the data entries in a column are expected to be the same size.
You can use varchar when the data entries in a column are expected to vary considerably in size.
but that is no need in SAP BW, any how you are going to assign the length of the variable while creating...
Thanks
M Kalpana

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kanan thiyam
Posts: 28
Questions: 7
Registered: 1/8/07
Forum points: 24
   Re: What is deffernce b/w Data type and message type
Posted: Jun 13, 2007 8:05 AM    in response to: suresh k         Reply      E-mail this post
Hi Suresh,
Data Type defines the structure of the message and it will be wrapped under Message Type.
Hope the details below will clearify your doubts.
A data type in a programming language is a set of data with values having predefined characteristics. Examples of data types are: integer, floating point unit number, character, string, and pointer.
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Check out the details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_type
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Details:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/2d/c0633c3a892251e10000000a114084/content.htm
kanan

Difference Between Data Type and Data Object

Difference Between Data Type and Data Object

hi magesh
Data types can be divided into
elementary,
reference, and
complex types.
Elementary Types
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Fixed-Length Elementary Types
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Four character types:
Character (C),
Numeric character (N),
Date (D),
and Time (T).
One hexadecimal type:
Byte field (X).
Three numeric types:
Integer (I),
Floating-point number (F)
and Packed number (P).
Variable-Length Elementary Types
There are two predefined types in ABAP with variable length:
STRING for character strings
XSTRING for byte strings
Reference Types
Reference types
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Data Types
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2)You can then use them later on in conjunction with a data object.
3) The definition of a user-defined data type is based on a set of predefined elementary data types.
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Data Objects
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2) The contents of a data object occupy memory space in the program.
3) ABAP statements access these contents by addressing the name of the data object and interpret them according to the data type..
4) For example, statements can write the contents of data objects in lists or in the database, they can pass them to and receive them from routines, they can change them by assigning new values, and they can compare them in logical expressions.
5) Each ABAP data object has a set of technical attributes, which are fully defined at all times when an ABAP program is running (field length, number of decimal places, and data type).
6) You declare data objects either statically in the declaration part of an ABAP program (the most important statement for this is DATA), or dynamically at runtime (for example, when you call procedures).
7) As well as fields in the memory area of the program, the program also treats literals like data objects.
hope this helps u,
reward points if useful
Ginni

Differences between DATA TYPE and DATA OBJECTS

I am new to ABAP,I want to know the differences between DATA TYPE and DATA OBJECTS with some examples.
please help me regarding this.

Hi Ashish,
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               No memory is associated with data types.
               Describes the technical properties of data objects.
EX.
1.     C-CHARACTER
2.     D-DATE
3.     F-FLOAT
4.     I-INTEGER
5.     N-NUMERIC TEXT
6.     T-TIME
7.     P-PACKED NUMBER
8.     X-HEXADECIMAL
9.     STRING-Variable length string.
10.     XSTRING-Variable length byte string.
Data Objects: Are created during runtime.
                They cannot exist without the data Types.
                Occupies memory space.
EX:
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     LITEERAL- A literal has a fixed value.Ex: WRITE:u201DWORK HARDu201D.
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EX.DATA: NUM TYPE I.
NUM: VARIABLE defined by data statement.
EX: DATA: PRICE LIKE NUM.
     CONSTANT-It is a data object, which contains a constant value throughout the program.
Can be declared in program by using CONSTANT statement.
EX:CONSTANT: INT TYPE I VALUE 15.
2.     EXTERNAL DATA OBJECT: Are defined in tables i.e In ABAP/4 dictionary you can access this data from table.
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3.     SYSTEM DEFINED DATA OBJECTS:Space & system variables like SY-UNAME,SY-DATUM, SY-REPID.
4.     SPECIAL DATA OBJECTS:
     PARAMETERS: Are Variables ,which can accept value from user.
      SELECTION SCREEN : Are special internal tables to accept value ranges from user.
3 APPROACHES TO DEFINE DATA OBJECTS.
1.     ELEMENTARY TYPES
DATA: Customer _Name (25) TYPE C,
               Vendor_Name (25) TYPE C.
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DATA: Customer _Name2 (25) TYPE C,
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3.     REFRENCE TO NON-ELEMENTARY TYPE:
TYPES: T_NAME (25) TYPE C
DATA: CUSTOMER_NAME TYPE T_NAME
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4.     RECORD-Information in rows & columns.
DATA: BEGIN OF BOOKING,
                                ID (4) TYPE C,
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You can also look into SAP help for more information.
Regards,
Indu.

Whats basic difference between data and types while declearing the itab

whats basic difference between data and types while declearing the internal tables...
DATA : BEGIN OF t_vbap OCCURS 0,
vbeln1 LIKE vbap-vbeln,
posnr LIKE vbap-posnr,
kwmeng LIKE vbap-kwmeng,
netpr LIKE vbap-netpr,
netwr LIKE vbap-netwr,
werks LIKE vbap-werks,
matnr LIKE vbap-matnr,
arktx LIKE vbap-arktx,
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vs
   TYPES : BEGIN OF t_vbap,
vbeln1 LIKE vbap-vbeln,
posnr LIKE vbap-posnr,
kwmeng LIKE vbap-kwmeng,
netpr LIKE vbap-netpr,
netwr LIKE vbap-netwr,
werks LIKE vbap-werks,
matnr LIKE vbap-matnr,
arktx LIKE vbap-arktx,
   END OF t_vbap.
and vs
TYPES : BEGIN OF t_vbap,
vbeln1 LIKE vbeln,
posnr LIKE posnr,
kwmeng LIKE kwmeng,
netpr LIKE netpr,
netwr LIKE netwr,
werks LIKE werks,
matnr LIKE matnr,
arktx LIKE arktx,
   END OF t_vbap.

hi,
like -> used for refering existing data elements in data dictionary or in sap
type -> used for refering existing data types in sap.
types: used for creating used defined structure of tables which has fields from more tahn one table.
diff b/w types and type in creation of internal tables is that when u create a table with types then u can use same for work area creation also.
ex:
TYPES : BEGIN OF t_vbap,
vbeln1 LIKE vbeln,
posnr LIKE posnr,
kwmeng LIKE kwmeng,
netpr LIKE netpr,
netwr LIKE netwr,
werks LIKE werks,
matnr LIKE matnr,
arktx LIKE arktx,
END OF t_vbap.
data: itab1 type t_vbap
        wa_itab1 type t_vbap.
when type is used then u have to create a defintion of work area for another time when internal table doesnt have headr line as
ex:
DATA : BEGIN OF t_vbap OCCURS 0,
vbeln1 LIKE vbap-vbeln,
posnr LIKE vbap-posnr,
kwmeng LIKE vbap-kwmeng,
netpr LIKE vbap-netpr,
netwr LIKE vbap-netwr,
werks LIKE vbap-werks,
matnr LIKE vbap-matnr,
arktx LIKE vbap-arktx,
END OF t_vbap.
DATA : BEGIN OF wa_vbap,
vbeln1 LIKE vbap-vbeln,
posnr LIKE vbap-posnr,
kwmeng LIKE vbap-kwmeng,
netpr LIKE vbap-netpr,
netwr LIKE vbap-netwr,
werks LIKE vbap-werks,
matnr LIKE vbap-matnr,
arktx LIKE vbap-arktx,
END OF wa_vbap.
if helpful reward soem points.
with regards,
suresh.

Difference between Data carrier type and Data carrier??

Hi experts,
Could you please explain me the difference between Data carrier type and Data carrier with an example??
Regards,
Kiran T

hi Kiran,
Data carrier is to achive communication between server and user front end. We can define one data carrier type along with path as default for all or seperate data carriers type for specific users in define data carrier in SPRO. This defined data carriers again we assign to application in defining network for workstation application in SPRO.
By using data carrier we can upload to & download originals from server. We can change and print the documents from server.
Please award pts if its useful / need further information.
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Hi..
I wanted to know, what is the difference between Line type and Internal Table?

Hi,
Before the 4.7 release in SAP if we want to define an internal table we have to write the defination using the occurs statement and we need to define all the fields using INCLUDE STRUCTURE or indidually all the fields ine by one.
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DATA: WA_ITAB TYPE LINE OF <LINE_TYPE>.
Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Greetson

Difference between date info object in characteristics and keyfigure

What is the difference between "date" data type in characteristic and keyfigure?
Thanks in advance.
Raj

Hi Rajasekhar,
If date is characteristics,query can be analysed based on date and filters can also be set using this date.
If it is key figure query cannot be analysed based on date,
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Regards
Prakash

Difference between message type and idoc type

Hi
difference between message type and idoc type
Regards
Rama

Hi,
Message Type:
A message type represents the application message exchanged between R/3 systems and R/3 and an external system. A message type characterises the data sent across systems and relates to the structure of the data called an IDOC type.
Diff. with IDOC type
An IDoc type specifies the structure of the data.
A message type specifies the meaning of the data
Diff. b/w IDOC type and IDOC
An IDoc type is the definition of a specific data structure.
An IDoc is an actual instance of data based on an IDoc type. Therefore, there can be many IDocs created from a single IDoc type.
Example:
MATMAS is the message type and MATMAS05 is IDoc type for Material Master.
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Operand data type char is invalid for sum operator

can someone help me re-writing the following so I wont keep getting thie baopv ementioned error: here is the statement:
RIGHT('0000000000'+REPLACE(CAST(SUM(PAID_AMT) AS VARCHAR),'.',''),14) AS TOT_NET_PAID
+
RIGHT('0000000000'+REPLACE(CAST(SUM(PAID_AMT)
AS
VARCHAR),'.',''),14)
AS TOT_NET_PAID
It keeps retuning he following error messages:
Operand data type char is invalid for sum operator

As Jingyang said, you cannot sum a non numeric field. Cast it to a numeric first (INT maybe?)
+ RIGHT('0000000000'+REPLACE(CAST(SUM(CAST(PAID_AMT AS INT)) AS VARCHAR),'.',''),14) AS TOT_NET_PAID
Don't forget to mark helpful posts, and answers. It helps others to find relevant posts to the same question.

Difference between Material type and Item category

What is the difference between Material type and Item category?
We can differentiate different kind of materails according to material type then why do we have Item category which is also more or less on the same lines.
Both can be considered as a terminology in SAP to group similar kind of materials.
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Dear Christino
We can list out so many differences.
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- Whether the material number can be assigned internally or externally
- The number range from which the material number is taken
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- What procurement type the material has; that is, whether it is manufactured in-house or procured externally, or both
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Difference between line type and table type

hi,
can any one explain the difference between line type and table type . and how to declare a internal table and work area in BSP's

hi,
Go through this blog, this might help you.
/people/tomas.altman/blog/2004/12/13/sdn-blog-how-to-do-internal-tables-in-bsp
People who have worked with ABAP for a while sometimes forget that the internal table concept is rather different than what exists in most programming languages. It is very powerful, but at the same time can be confusing.
In SAP it is possible to have a table which is the rows and a headerline which is the working area or structure which can then be commited to the table.
With a BSP, if we try to create an internal table within the BSP event or layout we will get the following error: mso-bidi-
 "InternalTableX" is not an internal table - the "OCCURS n" specification is mso-bidi- missing.
class="MsoNormal"><![if !supportEmptyParas]>The problem we are seeing as an inconsistency has to do with the difference between classic ABAP and ABAP Objects. When SAP introduced ABAP Objects they decided to clean up some of the legacy syntax and create stricter rules. However they didn't want to break the millions of line of code that already existed, so they only implemented these stricter checks when OO is being used. Therefore you can declare a table with a header line in a regular ABAP program or Function Module but you can't have one with a header line in OO.
Because everything in BSP generates ABAP OO classes behind the scenes, you get these same stricter syntax checks. My suggestion is that you have a look in the on-line help at the section on ABAP Objects and always follow the newer syntax rules even when writing classic ABAP programs.
In a BSP when we need to work with a table we must always do the following:
1, in the Types definitions create a structure:
 types : begin of ts_reclist,
mso-bidi- style='mso-tab-count:2'> receiver type somlreci1-receiver,
mso-bidi- style='mso-tab-count:2'> style='mso-tab-count: 1'> rec_type type somlreci1-rec_type,
mso-bidi- style='mso-tab-count:2'> end of ts_reclist.
mso-bidi- <![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>
but we must remember this is only a structure definition and we cannot store anything in it, although we can use it elsewhere as a definition for Structures(WorkAreas)
2, in our Types definitions (this is the best place for this one as we can then access it from many areas without having to create it locally) so in the Types definitions we must create a TableType:
class="MsoNormal"> types : tt_reclist type table of ts_reclist.
class="MsoNormal"><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]> this TableType is our table definition and again we cannot store anything in it, but we can use it elsewhere as a definition for InternalTables
3, now that you have laid the foundations you can build and in the event handler, it is now simply a case of creating the InternalTable based upon the Table definition:
 data: t_reclist type tt_reclist.
and creating the structure based upon the structure definiton:
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]> data: s_reclist type ts_reclist.
as described above, the structure becomes the work area and this is where you assign new values for elements of the table eg:<![endif]>
 s_reclist-receiver = '[email protected]'. "<-- change address
mso-bidi- <![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>
mso-bidi- s_reclist-rec_type = 'U'.
and then once the data is in the elements of the structure, the structure can be appended to the internal table as follows: class="MsoNormal">
 append s_reclist to t_reclist.
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>
the internal table will then be readable for the ABAP function and can be applied for example as follows: class="style1"> style='mso-tab-count:1; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, mono;'>
class="style1">CALL FUNCTION 'SO_NEW_DOCUMENT_SEND_API1'
 EXPORTING
style='mso-tab-count:2'> document_data = docdata
style='mso-tab-count:2'> DOCUMENT_TYPE = 'RAW'
style='mso-tab-count:2'> PUT_IN_OUTBOX = 'X'
style='mso-tab-count:2'> COMMIT_WORK = 'X' "used from rel.6.10
 TABLES
mso-bidi-font-size: style='mso-tab-count:2'> receivers = t_reclist
class="style1"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>
<![if !supportEmptyParas]>F inally, a comment from Thomas Jung,
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> when defining my work area for an internal table I like to use the like line of statement. That way if I change the structure of my table type, I know that my work area will still be OK. Second, your types and table types don't have to just be declared in your code. You can create a table type in the data dictionary and use it across multiple programs(also great for method and function parameters). I really push hard for the other developers at my company to use the Data Dictionary Types more and more.
Hope this helps, Do reward.

What is the difference between message type and element

hi,
When we create a new variable in BPEL we get the option to create 'simple', 'message type', 'element'
I would like to know what is the difference between message type and element.
thanks
Yatan

A message is part of the service and is usually assigned to one of the operations in the wsdl. For example getPhoneNumer() operation may have an input message of personInput and output of phoneNum. These messages would have a type...maybe of string or decimal or a complex type with multiple values.
An element is typically a complex type that could be defined in an xsd file.
When you create a variable in the bpel, you can declare it as a message or a simple type or an element. As I understand it, the simple types are pre-defined in the schema namespace such as string, decimal, date, etc.
The elements are defined in the xsd files or wsdls and can be a combination of strings, dates, etc or other stuff as well.
The messages are defined in the wsdl as part of the input/output but they are typically assigned a type just like other variables you create.

Difference between Dates: BW Query???

Hello all,
A.I have to get the difference between dates i.e Date1 and Date2.
I have used a 2 formula variables for each one of them with Replacement path - Key - number as the settings.
When i execute the difference between the 2 formula variables, i get inconsistent results if the dates are from 2 different months.
Example(Correct Result)
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Example(Incorrect Result)???????
Date1 = 14.02.2005
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Result = 104
Iam know that system is converting the date as a number like 20040214 and 22040110 and just substracts.....This is not correct....any solution to circmvent this problem???
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I know how to use a user-exit but not sure about working on 2 fields at a time for a formula variable????

1) For the first problem, I think you should play with the replacement path settings (type, offset,...). I did this before and I'm sure it worked.
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kr,
Tom

Difference between Data Type Char & VarChar

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