Difference in user exit , fm and includes

[Former Member]

HI,

What is user exit , function module and includes? What is the difference among them? When and how to use them? Please provide example.

Regards,

Pramod

[Former Member]

Dear Pramod,

A small search on SDN ABAP forum will help you to answer your query. I have done that and I got lot of relevant answers.

I will suggest you to visit http://sap-img.com. It will give you the overview of most of the modules of SAP.

Moreover there is a separate section of FAQs with answers which will help you in great deal.

Hope this helps you.

Do award points if you found them useful.

Regards,

Rakesh

[Former Member]

Hi Pramod,

A user exit is a place in a software program where a customer can arrange for their own tailor-made program to be called. In the R/3 system from SAP, a user exit is contrasted with a customer exit and allows a customer's developer to access program components and data objects within the R/3 system.

In R/3, some user exits use Include statements to include customer program enhancements that are called from the program. Other user exits use tables that are accessed through customization.

Function modules are procedures that are defined in special ABAP programs only, so-called function groups, but can be called from all ABAP programs. Function groups act as containers for function modules that logically belong together. You create function groups and function modules in the ABAP Workbench using the Function Builder.

Function modules allow you to encapsulate and reuse global functions in the SAP System. They are managed in a central function library. The SAP System contains several predefined functions modules that can be called from any ABAP program. Function modules also play an important role during updating and in interaction between different SAP systems, or between SAP systems and remote systems through remote communications.

Unlike subroutines, you do not define function modules in the source code of your program. Instead, you use the Function Builder. The actual ABAP interface definition remains hidden from the programmer. You can define the input parameters of a function module as optional. You can also assign default values to them. Function modules also support exception handling. This allows you to catch certain errors while the function module is running. You can test function modules without having to include them in a program using the Function Builder.

Regards

Nadarajah Pratheb

[Former Member]

Hi Pramod,

user exits, function modules and includes can not be compared to each other. Each one of them carry their own purpose and functionality.

User exit's help you in achieving the additional functionality that standard SAP doesnt offer.

For example, if your client requirement is add another tab in sales order in addition to the existing ones............it can be done using the user exit.

SAP has provided several user exits through which you provide the additional functionality to the client without disturbing the SAP standard code.

you can view SAP standard user exits using t-code: SMOD

Function modules help you in carrying out a specific task. They can be called into a program to perform a particular task and are resuable any number of times i.e. can be called into any program to perform the same task.

SAP has already provided many function modules, for example - for determining exhange rates, reading texts etc.

Apart from the SAP standard ones, you can also develop your own function module using transaction code SE37 and use them appropriately.

Includes can be defined as sub programs.........they are part of a program. Include can either be local or global i.e. can be restricted to be used in a particular program and can be made available to other programs.

Basically, a main program is divided into several includes for a better understanding.

REWARD POINTS IF HELPFUL

Regards

Sai