SAP ABAP Hard Interview Questions

• 1. What is ALV programming in ABAP? When is this grid used in ABAP ?

ALV is Application List viewer. Sap provides a set of ALV (ABAP LIST VIEWER) function modules which can be put into use to embellish the output of a report. This set of ALV functions is used to enhance the readability and functionality of any report output. Cases arise in sap when the output of a report contains columns extending more than 255 characters in length. In such cases, this set of ALV functions can help choose selected columns and arrange the different columns from a report output and also save different variants for report display. This is a very efficient tool for dynamically sorting and arranging the columns from a report output. The report output can contain up to 90 columns in the display with the wide array of display options.

• 2. What is CTS and what do you know about it ?

The Change and Transport System (CTS) is a tool that helps you to organize development projects in the ABAP Workbench and in Customizing, and then transport the changes between the SAP Systems and clients in your system landscape. This documentation provides you with an overview of how to manage changes with the CTS and essential information on setting up your system and client landscape and deciding on a transport strategy. Read and follow this documentation when planning your development project.

• 3. What are logical databases? What are the advantages of logical databases ?

To read data from a database tables we use logical database. A logical database provides read-only access to a group of related tables to an ABAP/4 program. Advantages:

1. Check functions which check that user input is complete, correct, and plausible.
2.  Meaningful data selection.
3. Central authorization checks for database accesses.
4.  Good read access performance while retaining the hierarchical data view determined by the application logic.

• 4. Define batch input session ?

Batch input session is an intermediate step between internal table and database table. Data along with the action is stored in session i.e data for screen fields, to which screen it is passed, program name behind it, and how next screen is processed.

• 5. How to upload data using CATT ?

These are the steps to be followed to Upload data through CATT: Creation of the CATT test case & recording the sample data input. Download of the source file template. Modification of the source file. Upload of the data from the source file.

• 6. What are the disadvantages of logical databases ?

Disadvantages:

1. If you do not specify a logical database in the program attributes, the GET events never occur.
2. There is no ENDGET command, so the code block associated with an event ends with the next event statement (such as another GET or an END-OF-SELECTION).

• 7. What is difference between dependent and independent data ?

Client dependent or independent transfer requirements include client specific or cross client objects in the change requests. Workbench objects like Subscripts are client specific, some entries in customizing are client independent. If you display the object list for one change request, and then for each object the object attributes, you will find the flag client specific. If one object in the task list has this flag on, then that transport will be client dependent.

• 8. Describe the difference between macro and subroutine ?

Macros can only be used in the program they are defined in and only after the definition are expanded at compilation / generation. Subroutines (FORM) can be called from both the program they are defined in and other programs. A MACRO is more or less an abbreviation for some lines of code that are used more than once or twice. A FORM is a local subroutine (which can be called external). A FUNCTION is (more or less) a subroutine that is called external. Since debugging a MACRO is not really possible, prevent the use of them (I’ve never used them, but seen them in action). If the subroutine is used only local (called internal) use a FORM. If the subroutine is called external (used by more than one program) use a FUNCTION.

• 9. Define Spool request ?

Spool requests are generated during dialog or background processing and placed in the spool database with information about the printer and print format. The actual data is places in the Term See (Temporary Sequential objects). 

• 10. What are the types of Update requests ?

An update request can be divided into one primary (V1) and several Secondary update components (V2). Time-critical operations are placed in V1 component and those whose timing is less critical are placed in V2 components. If a V1 update fails, V2 components will not be processed.

• 11. Who is introduced SAP ?

SAP is developed by SAP AG, a Germany based company. The development process began in 1972 with five IBM employees, Dietmar Hopp, Hans-Werner Hector, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira and Claus Wellenreuther in Mannheim, Germany.

• 13. What are two methods of modifying SAP standard tables ?

The methods are:

• Append Structures and

• Customizing Includes.

• 14. What is the difference between a Substructure and an Append Structure ?

• In case of a substructure, the reference originates in the table itself, in the form of a statement include.

• In case of an append structure, the table itself remains unchanged and the reference originates in the append structure.

• 15. What are the different types of views in SAP R/3 system ?

The different views are:

a. Logical view

b. Software-oriented view

c. User-oriented view

• 16. What are the components in SAP Application Server ?

The components are:

a. Work Processes

b. Dispatcher

c. Gateway

d. Shared Memory

• 17. What are the two ways for restricting the value range for a domain ?

The two ways are:

• By specifying fixed values.

• By stipulating a value table.

• 18. Define Dispatcher ?

Act as a bridge to connect different work processes with the respective users logged on to the SAP R/3 system. The request received by the Application Server are first directed to the dispatcher, which enrolls them to a dispatcher queue. The dispatcher then retrieves the request from the queue on the first-in first-out basis, and allocate them to a free work process.

• 19. Define Gateway in SAP R/3 ?

It acts as an interface for R/3 communication protocols such as a Remote Function Call (RFC). RFC is the standard SAP Interface used to communicate between SAP systems.

• 20. What are the three components of a work process ?

The Three components of work process are:

1. Screen Processor

2. ABAP Processor

3. Database Interface

• 21. What are the different types of work process ?

Dialog Work Process:  Deals with request to execute dialog steps triggered by an active user.

Update Work Process: Execute database update requests

Background Work Process:     Execute the programs that run without the involvement of the user

Enqueue Process: Handle the lock mechanism.

Spool Work Process: Passes sequential data flows on to printers

• 22. What are the different types of memory assigned to a Work Process ?

Memory assign to work process are:

1. SAP Roll Area

2. SAP Extended Memory

3. Private Memory

• 23. What is ABAP work bench ?

It is a graphical programming environment in the SAP R/3 system to develop different application using ABAP language. It provides different tools such as ABAP Dictionary, ABAP Editor, Screen Painter to create ABAP application.

• 24. What is an ERP System ?

It is a system that automates and integrates all modules of the business. It effectively and efficiently manages the resources of an enterprise to maximize the profit and to give a value to its stakeholders.

• 25. What are the aggregate objects in the Dictionary ?

The aggregate objects are:

• Views

• Match Code.

• Lock Object.