Running Software Structure and Logistics

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to create an ABAP Package.

ABAP Package Creation

Organizing Development

Repository Objects belong to a Package, which belongs to a Software Component

You develop your applications in a development environment. Still, you must ensure that they can be tested in an appropriate test environment before being moved to the production environment. Typically, you will have a single global account and a subaccount for each of the development, test, and production environments. Software components allow you to transport your objects. Looking at the graphic above we see a software component with two packages assigned to it. This "one" (software component) to "many" (packages) assignment promotes modularization and reusability. Repository objects are then in turn assigned to a package (also utilizing a "one to many" approach).

One additional point to know is that a package can be assigned as a "subpackage" to a "superpackage" (think parent / child relationship). In that case the software component will be assigned to the superpackage and the subpackage will "inherit" it. You will not be able to substitute a different software component for the subpackage. Again this approach can promote modularization and reusability.

Transport Request

When you create a new development object or change an existing one, you must assign it to a Transport Request. Transport Requests ensure that all created development objects or changes to existing development objects that logically belong together are transported together into the test, and subsequently the production system.

Note

It is not the "object" that is transported, but the "change" to that object.
New objects and changes to existing objects are collected in a Transport Request

Each transport request has an Owner. The owner can assign other users to the request. In this way, transport requests support team development.

When an object is included in a transport request, it is locked. This means it can only be edited by a user assigned to the same request. When work on all the objects in the request is finished, the developers assigned to it must Release their work. After this, the owner of the request can release the entire request. If the Transport Request belongs to a transportable software component, the administrator can import it into the test subaccount for testing and eventually to the production subaccount. When you release any Transport Request, the locks on the objects in the request are released, so that any developer can access them again.

To Create a New Package

Steps

  1. Choose File→New→ABAP Package.

    Screenshot of the New ABAP Package wizard

  2. Enter the Package Name – customer objects must begin with a Z or Y as the first character of the name.

  3. Enter a description.

  4. Choose Next.

To Assign a Package to a Transport Request

Steps

  1. Create a new request.

    Screenshot of the Select Transport Request wizard

  2. Enter a description for the Transport Request.

  3. Choose Finish.

Create a Package

Business Example

Create an ABAP package in which you can store the development objects, which you will create during this class. Add the package to your favorites so you can easily access it anytime.

Note

In this exercise XX refers to your number.

Prerequisites

Steps

  1. Create an ABAP package, ZS4D100_XX, where XX is your number (as an example we will use 01). Assign the package to the superpackage, ZSTUDENTS. When you are prompted to assign the package to a transport request, create a new one.

    1. Choose File→New→ABAP Package.

    2. Enter the name, ZS4D100_XX, where XX is your number.

    3. Enter a description for your package.

    4. Enter the superpackage, ZSTUDENTS, and choose Next.

    5. No changes are needed for the "Package Type", "Software Component" or "Transport Layer" fields. Therefore choose Next.

    6. Select Create a new request and enter a description for the new transport request.

    7. Choose Finish.

  2. Add the package to your favorites.

    1. Expand your ABAP project tree until you can see the node, Favorite Packages.

    2. Right-click and choose Add Package.

    3. In the dialog box, enter the package name ZS4D100_XX.

    4. Double-click the name of the package in the hit list to add it to your list of favorite packages.

    Practice

    ExerciseStart Exercise

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