This is a small series about some useful tools making consultant's life a little easier dealing with Web AS ABAP.

Introduction

Wouldn't it be nice, if you can share database table content between different Web AS ABAP systems?
I recently worked for a customer who installed a brand new empty ERP 6.0. When I looked at the shipped customizing of the units of measure, the whole data was complete messed up. (Important UoMs where missing, ISO codes were not set, not everything was translated.) Instead of manually correcting the data using transaction CUNI (which is quite old and not user friendly) I downloaded the data from a system where I new data were consistent and uploaded the relevant tables into the customers system.
For this I have deleloped a small tool, I would like to share with you:
Usage cases can be:

• Moving quickly table content between different systems.
• Backing up data into a file, to restore it later, e.g. to repeat a demo
• Moving only selected data from productive to QAS or development system.

The Solution

To download the data base tables into XML files use the following program:

************************************************************************ * SAP Deutschland * *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Historie * ======== * Revisionen Name Firma Datum *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Rev 01 Stephan Heinberg SAP Deutschland * Ersterstellung *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Programmbeschreibung: *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Download DB table content into XML files *----------------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT ZPL_MIG_R002 MESSAGE-ID bc_datamodel_service. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Globale Daten *----------------------------------------------------------------------* CONSTANTS: gc_file_extension TYPE string VALUE 'XSAP'. DATA: gv_tabname LIKE dd02l-tabname. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Selektionsbild *----------------------------------------------------------------------* SELECTION-SCREEN BEGIN OF BLOCK s01 WITH FRAME. SELECT-OPTIONS gr_tabs FOR gv_tabname. PARAMETERS: p_path TYPE dxlpath OBLIGATORY DEFAULT 'C:\temp' "#EC NOTEXT . SELECTION-SCREEN END OF BLOCK s01. *======================================================================= * At Selection screen *======================================================================= AT SELECTION-SCREEN ON VALUE-REQUEST FOR p_path. PERFORM get_path CHANGING p_path. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Prüfungen Einstiegsscreen *----------------------------------------------------------------------* AT SELECTION-SCREEN. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Ausführung *----------------------------------------------------------------------* START-OF-SELECTION. PERFORM format_path CHANGING p_path. PERFORM do_it USING p_path gr_tabs[]. *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form get_filename *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->CV_FILENAME text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM get_path CHANGING cv_path. DATA: lv_path_string TYPE string. lv_path_string = cv_path. CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>directory_browse CHANGING selected_folder = lv_path_string EXCEPTIONS cntl_error = 1 error_no_gui = 2 not_supported_by_gui = 3. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. cv_path = lv_path_string. ENDFORM. "GET_FILENAME *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form do_it *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->P_P_PATH text * -->P_GR_TABS text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM do_it USING uv_path TYPE dxlpath ut_tabs TYPE table. DATA: lt_tab TYPE TABLE OF tabname, lv_table TYPE tabname . SELECT tabname FROM dd02l INTO TABLE lt_tab UP TO 50 ROWS WHERE tabname IN ut_tabs AND as4local = 'A' AND tabclass = 'TRANSP'. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE e555 WITH 'No tables were found.'(001). ENDIF. PERFORM check_table_authority USING lt_tab. LOOP AT lt_tab INTO lv_table. PERFORM serialize USING lv_table uv_path. ENDLOOP. ENDFORM. " do_it *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form check_table_authority *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->UT_TAB text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM check_table_authority USING ut_tab TYPE table. DATA: lv_table TYPE tabname . LOOP AT ut_tab INTO lv_table. CALL FUNCTION 'VIEW_AUTHORITY_CHECK' EXPORTING view_action = 'S' view_name = lv_table no_warning_for_clientindep = abap_false EXCEPTIONS invalid_action = 1 no_authority = 2 no_clientindependent_authority = 3 table_not_found = 4 no_linedependent_authority = 5. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE e555 WITH 'No authority to view table:'(002) lv_table. ENDIF. ENDLOOP. ENDFORM. "check_table_authority *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form serialize *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->P_LV_TABLE text * -->P_UV_PATH text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM serialize USING uv_table TYPE tabname uv_path TYPE dxlpath. TYPES: xmlline(1024) TYPE x. DATA: lt_xml TYPE TABLE OF xmlline, lr_data_table TYPE REF TO data, lv_filename TYPE string . FIELD-SYMBOLS: <lt_data> TYPE ANY TABLE . CREATE DATA lr_data_table TYPE TABLE OF (uv_table). ASSIGN lr_data_table->* TO <lt_data>. SELECT * FROM (uv_table) INTO TABLE <lt_data>. CALL TRANSFORMATION id SOURCE table_node = <lt_data> RESULT XML lt_xml. PERFORM get_file_name USING uv_table uv_path CHANGING lv_filename. CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>gui_download EXPORTING * BIN_FILESIZE = filename = lv_filename filetype = 'BIN' * APPEND = SPACE * WRITE_FIELD_SEPARATOR = SPACE * HEADER = '00' * TRUNC_TRAILING_BLANKS = SPACE * WRITE_LF = 'X' * COL_SELECT = SPACE * COL_SELECT_MASK = SPACE * DAT_MODE = SPACE confirm_overwrite = abap_true * NO_AUTH_CHECK = SPACE * CODEPAGE = SPACE * IGNORE_CERR = ABAP_TRUE * REPLACEMENT = '#' * WRITE_BOM = SPACE * TRUNC_TRAILING_BLANKS_EOL = 'X' * WK1_N_FORMAT = SPACE * WK1_N_SIZE = SPACE * WK1_T_FORMAT = SPACE * WK1_T_SIZE = SPACE * IMPORTING * FILELENGTH = CHANGING data_tab = lt_xml EXCEPTIONS file_write_error = 1 no_batch = 2 gui_refuse_filetransfer = 3 invalid_type = 4 no_authority = 5 unknown_error = 6 header_not_allowed = 7 separator_not_allowed = 8 filesize_not_allowed = 9 header_too_long = 10 dp_error_create = 11 dp_error_send = 12 dp_error_write = 13 unknown_dp_error = 14 access_denied = 15 dp_out_of_memory = 16 disk_full = 17 dp_timeout = 18 file_not_found = 19 dataprovider_exception = 20 control_flush_error = 21 not_supported_by_gui = 22 error_no_gui = 23 . IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. WRITE: / 'The DB table has been succesfully downloaded:'(003), uv_table. ENDFORM. " serialize *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form get_file_name *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->P_LV_TABLE text * -->P_UV_PATH text * <--P_LV_FILENAME text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM get_file_name USING uv_table uv_path CHANGING cv_filename. CONCATENATE uv_path uv_table '.' gc_file_extension INTO cv_filename. ENDFORM. " get_file_name *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form format_path *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * <--P_P_PATH text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM format_path CHANGING cv_path TYPE dxlpath. DATA: lv_length TYPE i, lv_file_separator TYPE c . lv_length = STRLEN( cv_path ). CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>get_file_separator CHANGING file_separator = lv_file_separator EXCEPTIONS cntl_error = 1 error_no_gui = 2 not_supported_by_gui = 3. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. lv_length = lv_length - 1. IF cv_path+lv_length(1) <> lv_file_separator. CONCATENATE cv_path lv_file_separator INTO cv_path. ENDIF. ENDFORM. " format_path

To upload the tables again, here's the program:

************************************************************************ * SAP Deutschland * *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Historie * ======== * Revisionen Name Firma Datum *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Rev 01 Stephan Heinberg SAP Deutschland * Ersterstellung *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Programmbeschreibung: *----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Upload DB table content from XML files *----------------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT zpl_mig_r003 MESSAGE-ID bc_datamodel_service. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Globale Daten *----------------------------------------------------------------------* CONSTANTS: gc_file_extension TYPE string VALUE 'XSAP'. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Selektionsbild *----------------------------------------------------------------------* SELECTION-SCREEN BEGIN OF BLOCK s01 WITH FRAME. PARAMETERS: p_path TYPE dxlpath OBLIGATORY DEFAULT 'C:\temp', "#EC NOTEXT p_init_t TYPE flag AS CHECKBOX . SELECTION-SCREEN END OF BLOCK s01. *======================================================================= * At Selection screen *======================================================================= AT SELECTION-SCREEN ON VALUE-REQUEST FOR p_path. PERFORM get_path CHANGING p_path. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Prüfungen Einstiegsscreen *----------------------------------------------------------------------* AT SELECTION-SCREEN. *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * Ausführung *----------------------------------------------------------------------* START-OF-SELECTION. PERFORM format_path CHANGING p_path. PERFORM do_it USING p_path. *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form get_filename *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->CV_FILENAME text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM get_path CHANGING cv_path. DATA: lv_path_string TYPE string. lv_path_string = cv_path. CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>directory_browse CHANGING selected_folder = lv_path_string EXCEPTIONS cntl_error = 1 error_no_gui = 2 not_supported_by_gui = 3. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. cv_path = lv_path_string. ENDFORM. "GET_FILENAME *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form do_it *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->P_P_PATH text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM do_it USING uv_path TYPE dxlpath. DATA: lt_tab TYPE TABLE OF tabname, lv_table TYPE tabname . PERFORM get_tables USING uv_path CHANGING lt_tab. PERFORM check_tables_authority USING lt_tab. LOOP AT lt_tab INTO lv_table. PERFORM deserialize USING lv_table uv_path. ENDLOOP. ENDFORM. " do_it *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form get_tables *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->P_UV_PATH text * <--P_LT_TAB text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM get_tables USING uv_path TYPE dxlpath CHANGING ct_tab TYPE table. DATA: lt_file_table TYPE TABLE OF file_info, ls_file TYPE file_info, lv_directory TYPE string, lv_filter TYPE string, lv_count TYPE i, lv_file_extension TYPE string, lv_table TYPE tabname . lv_directory = uv_path. CONCATENATE '.' gc_file_extension INTO lv_file_extension. CONCATENATE '*' lv_file_extension INTO lv_filter. CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>directory_list_files EXPORTING directory = lv_directory filter = lv_filter files_only = abap_true directories_only = abap_false CHANGING file_table = lt_file_table count = lv_count EXCEPTIONS cntl_error = 1 directory_list_files_failed = 2 wrong_parameter = 3 error_no_gui = 4 not_supported_by_gui = 5. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. IF lv_count <= 0. RETURN. ENDIF. LOOP AT lt_file_table INTO ls_file. lv_table = ls_file-filename. * Dateiendung entfernen SPLIT lv_table AT '.' INTO lv_table lv_file_extension. INSERT lv_table INTO TABLE ct_tab. ENDLOOP. ENDFORM. " get_tables *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form check_tables_authority *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->UT_TABLE text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM check_tables_authority USING ut_table TYPE table. DATA: lv_table TYPE tabname . LOOP AT ut_table INTO lv_table. SELECT SINGLE tabname FROM dd02l INTO lv_table WHERE tabname = lv_table AND as4local = 'A' AND tabclass = 'TRANSP'. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE e555 WITH 'The table does not exist:'(001) lv_table. ENDIF. CALL FUNCTION 'VIEW_AUTHORITY_CHECK' EXPORTING view_action = 'U' view_name = lv_table no_warning_for_clientindep = abap_false EXCEPTIONS invalid_action = 1 no_authority = 2 no_clientindependent_authority = 3 table_not_found = 4 no_linedependent_authority = 5. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE e555 WITH 'No authority to update table:'(002) lv_table. ENDIF. ENDLOOP. ENDFORM. "check_tables_authority *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form format_path *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->CV_PATH text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM format_path CHANGING cv_path TYPE dxlpath. DATA: lv_length TYPE i, lv_file_separator TYPE c . lv_length = STRLEN( cv_path ). CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>get_file_separator CHANGING file_separator = lv_file_separator EXCEPTIONS cntl_error = 1 error_no_gui = 2 not_supported_by_gui = 3. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. lv_length = lv_length - 1. IF cv_path+lv_length(1) <> lv_file_separator. CONCATENATE cv_path lv_file_separator INTO cv_path. ENDIF. ENDFORM. " format_path *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* *& Form deserialize *&---------------------------------------------------------------------* * text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* * -->P_LV_TABLE text * -->P_UV_PATH text * -->P_ENDLOOP text *----------------------------------------------------------------------* FORM deserialize USING uv_table TYPE tabname uv_path TYPE dxlpath. TYPES: xmlline(1024) TYPE x. DATA: lt_xml TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF xmlline, lv_filename TYPE string, lr_data_table TYPE REF TO data . FIELD-SYMBOLS: <lt_data> TYPE ANY TABLE . * Tabelleninhalt, wenn gewünscht, löschen. IF p_init_t = abap_true. DELETE FROM (uv_table). ENDIF. CREATE DATA lr_data_table TYPE TABLE OF (uv_table). ASSIGN lr_data_table->* TO <lt_data>. CONCATENATE uv_path uv_table '.' gc_file_extension INTO lv_filename. CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>gui_upload EXPORTING filename = lv_filename filetype = 'BIN' CHANGING data_tab = lt_xml EXCEPTIONS file_open_error = 1 file_read_error = 2 no_batch = 3 gui_refuse_filetransfer = 4 invalid_type = 5 no_authority = 6 unknown_error = 7 bad_data_format = 8 header_not_allowed = 9 separator_not_allowed = 10 header_too_long = 11 unknown_dp_error = 12 access_denied = 13 dp_out_of_memory = 14 disk_full = 15 dp_timeout = 16 not_supported_by_gui = 17 error_no_gui = 18. IF sy-subrc <> 0. MESSAGE ID sy-msgid TYPE sy-msgty NUMBER sy-msgno WITH sy-msgv1 sy-msgv2 sy-msgv3 sy-msgv4. ENDIF. CALL TRANSFORMATION id SOURCE XML lt_xml RESULT table_node = <lt_data>. IF LINES( <lt_data> ) > 0. MODIFY (uv_table) FROM TABLE <lt_data>. WRITE: / 'Die Datenbanktabelle wurde erfolgreich gefüllt:'(003), uv_table. ENDIF. ENDFORM. " deserialize

How does it work?

The programs are quite simple. They benefit from the ABAP feature that the WebAS kernel can serialize ABAP data to XML and backwoods to deserialize the data. (Command CALL TRANSFORMATION, it is called Simple Transformation because it does not support XSLT in this mode, but this is fine for this program)
Any type of table data is supported. ABAP loads the data into Unicode-enabled XML via bytestring, the files are down- and uploaded binary, to there won't be problems with any codepages, as long as you WebAS supports Unicode.
You can find the source code as SAPLink nugget here.

Warning

The tool should only be used by professionals. Uploading DB table data may cause inconsistent business objects. So please only use the feature when you know what you are doing.

Conclusion

I have collected my tools during the last few years and I would like to share it with you now. Many bits and pieces are based on the work of others and some concepts have already been blogged in SDN. Feel free to add similar blogs to keep a cross-reference.
At the end the IP rights for ABAP coding remain anyway with SAP AG ;->