Data Types in ABAP

[Former Member]

Hi All,

Can anybody explain me about the ABAP data types ( C, N, I , P, X......) and the conversion of one data type to another?

Also please explain me about packed data type (P), when should it be used?

Thanks in advance,

Smitha

[Former Member]

Hi

the five non-numeric types (text field (C), numeric text field (N), date field (D), time field (T), and hexadecimal field (X)), there are three numeric types, used in ABAP to display and calculate numbers. Data type N is not a numeric type. Type N objects can only contain numeric characters (0...9), but are not represented internally as numbers. Typical type N fields are account numbers and zip codes.

integers - type I

The value range of type I numbers is -2*31 to 2*31-1 and includes only whole numbers. Non-integer results of arithmetic operations (e.g. fractions) are rounded, not truncated.

You can use type I data for counters, numbers of items, indexes, time periods, and so on.

Packed numbers - type P

Type P data allows digits after the decimal point. The number of decimal places is generic, and is determined in the program. The value range of type P data depends on its size and the number of digits after the decimal point. The valid size can be any value from 1 to 16 bytes. Two decimal digits are packed into one byte, while the last byte contains one digit and the sign. Up to 14 digits are allowed after the decimal point. The initial value is zero. When working with type P data, it is a good idea to set the program attribute Fixed point arithmetic.Otherwise, type P numbers are treated as integers.

You can use type P data for such values as distances, weights, amounts of money, and so on.

Floating point numbers - type F

The value range of type F numbers is 1x10*-307 to 1x10*308 for positive and negative numbers, including 0 (zero). The accuracy range is approximately 15 decimals, depending on the floating point arithmetic of the hardware platform. Since type F data is internally converted to a binary system, rounding errors can occur. Although the ABAP processor tries to minimize these effects, you should not use type F data if high accuracy is required. Instead, use type P data.

You use type F fields when you need to cope with very large value ranges and rounding errors are not critical.

Using I and F fields for calculations is quicker than using P fields. Arithmetic operations using I and F fields are very similar to the actual machine code operations, while P fields require more support from the software. Nevertheless, you have to use type P data to meet accuracy or value range requirements.

C ---> character

D ---> date

P ---> packed

T ---> time

X ---> hexadecimal

I ---> integer.

N ---> Muneric.

Regards

Anji

[former_member387317]

Go through below link..

For learning <b>ABAP data types</b>

http://venus.imp.mx/hilario/Libros/TeachYrslfAbap4/ch07.htm

it will really help you a lot...

and for <b>Conversion of data type</b>..

See the <b>DATA conversion</b> topic of below link..

http://venus.imp.mx/hilario/Libros/TeachYrslfAbap4/ch09.htm#AssignmentStatements

<b>Reward points if it is helpul</b>

Thanks & Regards

ilesh 24x7

[ferry_lianto]

Hi,

Numeric Types:

As well as the five non-numeric types (text field (C), numeric text field (N), date field (D), time field (T), and hexadecimal field (X)), there are three numeric types, used in ABAP to display and calculate numbers. Data type N is not a numeric type. Type N objects can only contain numeric characters (0...9), but are not represented internally as numbers. Typical type N fields are account numbers and zip codes.

integers - type I

The value range of type I numbers is -2*31 to 2*31-1 and includes only whole numbers. Non-integer results of arithmetic operations (e.g. fractions) are rounded, not truncated.

You can use type I data for counters, numbers of items, indexes, time periods, and so on.

Packed numbers - type P

Type P data allows digits after the decimal point. The number of decimal places is generic, and is determined in the program. The value range of type P data depends on its size and the number of digits after the decimal point. The valid size can be any value from 1 to 16 bytes. Two decimal digits are packed into one byte, while the last byte contains one digit and the sign. Up to 14 digits are allowed after the decimal point. The initial value is zero. When working with type P data, it is a good idea to set the program attribute Fixed point arithmetic.Otherwise, type P numbers are treated as integers.

You can use type P data for such values as distances, weights, amounts of money, and so on.

Floating point numbers - type F

The value range of type F numbers is 1x10*-307 to 1x10*308 for positive and negative numbers, including 0 (zero). The accuracy range is approximately 15 decimals, depending on the floating point arithmetic of the hardware platform. Since type F data is internally converted to a binary system, rounding errors can occur. Although the ABAP processor tries to minimize these effects, you should not use type F data if high accuracy is required. Instead, use type P data.

You use type F fields when you need to cope with very large value ranges and rounding errors are not critical.

Using I and F fields for calculations is quicker than using P fields. Arithmetic operations using I and F fields are very similar to the actual machine code operations, while P fields require more support from the software. Nevertheless, you have to use type P data to meet accuracy or value range requirements.

Character Types:

Of the five non-numeric types, the four types C, D, N, and T are character types. Fields with these types are known as character fields. Each position in one of these fields takes up enough space for the code of one character. Currently, ABAP only works with single-byte codes such as ASCII and EBCDI. However, an adaptation to UNICODE is in preparation. Under UNICODE, each character occupies two or four bytes.

Hexadecimal Type:

The remaining non-numeric type - X - always interprets individual bytes in memory. One byte is represented by a two-digit hexadecimal display. The fields with this type are called hexadecimal fields. In hexadecimal fields, you can process single bits.

For more detail on Type Conversions, please check this link.

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/fc/eb3427358411d1829f0000e829fbfe/content.htm

Regards,

Ferry Lianto

[Former Member]

Thank u very much...

[Former Member]

Have a look at this following link where you can see types of Data Types in ABAP

http://www.saptechies.com/abap-data-types/