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Unicode

Former Member
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What is UNICODE in SAP?

Where, Why and How we use it?

5 REPLIES 5

Former Member

Former Member
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From Release 6.10, ABAP supports multi-byte coding for characters in Unicode. Prior to Release 6.10, ABAP used only character sets that were based on single-byte codes – such as ASCII and EBCDIC – or double-byte codes, such as SJIS and BIG5.

This switch to Unicode affects all statements where an explicit or implicit assumption is made about the internal length of a character. If you use these statements in a program that is designed to exploit the Unicode capabilities of the runtime environment, they must be checked and changed if necessary. Once a Unicode-enabled program has been changed accordingly, it behaves in the same way in both Unicode and non-Unicode systems. You can develop programs in a non-Unicode system (NUS) and then import them into a Unicode system (US).

A Unicode-enabled ABAP program (UP) is a program in which all Unicode checks are effective. Such a program returns the same results in a non-Unicode system (NUS) as in a Unicode system (US). In order to perform the relevant syntax checks, you must activate the Unicode flag in the screens of the program and class attributes.

In a US, you can only execute programs for which the Unicode flag is set. In future, the Unicode flag must be set for all SAP programs to enable them to run on a US. If the Unicode flag is set for a program, the syntax is checked and the program executed according to the rules described in this document, regardless of whether the system is a US or an NUS. From now on, the Unicode flag must be set for all new programs and classes that are created.

If the Unicode flag is not set, a program can only be executed in an NUS. The syntactical and semantic changes described below do not apply to such programs. However, you can use all language extensions that have been introduced in the process of the conversion to Unicode.

As a result of the modifications and restrictions associated with the Unicode flag, programs are executed in both Unicode and non-Unicode systems with the same semantics to a large degree. In rare cases, however, differences may occur. Programs that are designed to run on both systems therefore need to be tested on both platforms

Former Member
0 Kudos

The Link will be helpful to you.

Very good document:

http://www.doag.org/pub/docs/sig/sap/2004-03/Buhlinger_Maxi_Version.pdf

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/d37d1ad9-0b01-0010-ed9f-bc322231...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/589d18d9-0b01-0010-ac8a-8a228520...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/f8e316d9-0b01-0010-8e95-829a58c1...

You need to use the transaction UCCHECK.

The report documentation is here

ABAP Unicode Scan Tool UCCHECK

You can use transaction UCCHECK to examine a Unicode program set for syntax errors without having to set the program attribute "Unicode checks active" for every individual program. From the list of Unicode syntax errors, you can go directly to the affected programs and remove the errors. It is also possible to automatically create transport requests and set the Unicode program attribute for a program set.

Some application-specific checks, which draw your attention to program points that are not Unicode-compatible, are also integrated.

Selection of Objects:

The program objects can be selected according to object name, object type, author (TADIR), package, and original system. For the Unicode syntax check, only object types for which an independent syntax check can be carried out are appropriate. The following object types are possibilities:

PROG Report

CLAS Class

FUGR Function groups

FUGX Function group (with customer include, customer area)

FUGS Function group (with customer include, SAP area)

LDBA Logical Database

CNTX Context

TYPE Type pool

INTF Interface

Only Examine Programs with Non-Activated Unicode Flag

By default, the system only displays program objects that have not yet set the Unicode attribute. If you want to use UCCHECK to process program objects that have already set the attribute, you can deactivate this option.

Only Objects with TADIR Entry

By default, the system only displays program objects with a TADIR entry. If you want to examine programs that don't have a TADIR entry, for example locally generated programs without a package, you can deactivate this option.

Exclude Packages $*

By default, the system does not display program objects that are in a local, non-transportable package. If you want to examine programs that are in such a package, you can deactivate this option.

Display Modified SAP Programs Also

By default, SAP programs are not checked in customer systems. If you also want to check SAP programs that were modified in a customer system (see transaction SE95), you can activate this option.

Maximum Number of Programs:

To avoid timeouts or unexpectedly long waiting times, the maximum number of program objects is preset to 50. If you want to examine more objects, you must increase the maximum number or run a SAMT scan (general program set processing). The latter also has the advantage that the data is stored persistently. Proceed as follows:

Call transaction SAMT

Create task with program RSUNISCAN_FINAL, subroutine SAMT_SEARCH

For further information refer to documentation for transaction SAMT.

Displaying Points that Cannot Be Analyzed Statically

If you choose this option, you get an overview of the program points, where a static check for Unicode syntax errors is not possible. This can be the case if, for example, parameters or field symbols are not typed or you are accessing a field or structure with variable length/offset. At these points the system only tests at runtime whether the code is sufficient for the stricter Unicode tests. If possible, you should assign types to the variables used, otherwise you must check runtime behavior after the Unicode attribute has been set.

To be able to differentiate between your own and foreign code (for example when using standard includes or generated includes), there is a selection option for the includes to be displayed. By default, the system excludes the standard includes of the view maintenance LSVIM* from the display, because they cause a large number of messages that are not relevant for the Unicode conversion. It is recommended that you also exclude the generated function group-specific includes of the view maintenance (usually L<function group name>F00 and L<function group name>I00) from the display.

Similarly to the process in the extended syntax check, you can hide the warning using the pseudo comment ("#EC *).

Applikation-Specific Checks

These checks indicate program points that represent a public interface but are not Unicode-compatible. Under Unicode, the corresponding interfaces change according to the referenced documentation and must be adapted appropriately.

View Maintenance

Parts of the view maintenance generated in older releases are not Unicode-compatible. The relevant parts can be regenerated with a service report.

UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD

The function modules UPLOAD, DOWNLOAD or WS_UPLOAD and WS_DOWNLOAD are obsolete and cannot run under Unicode. Refer to the documentation for these modules to find out which routines serve as replacements.

Reward points if useful.

Former Member
0 Kudos

Hi Santo

hope it will help you,

The Link will be helpful to you.

Very good document:

http://www.doag.org/pub/docs/sig/sap/2004-03/Buhlinger_Maxi_Version.pdf

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/d37d1ad9-0b01-0010-ed9f-bc322231...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/589d18d9-0b01-0010-ac8a-8a228520...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/f8e316d9-0b01-0010-8e95-829a58c1...

You need to use the transaction UCCHECK.

The report documentation is here

ABAP Unicode Scan Tool UCCHECK

You can use transaction UCCHECK to examine a Unicode program set for syntax errors without having to set the program attribute "Unicode checks active" for every individual program. From the list of Unicode syntax errors, you can go directly to the affected programs and remove the errors. It is also possible to automatically create transport requests and set the Unicode program attribute for a program set.

Some application-specific checks, which draw your attention to program points that are not Unicode-compatible, are also integrated.

Selection of Objects:

The program objects can be selected according to object name, object type, author (TADIR), package, and original system. For the Unicode syntax check, only object types for which an independent syntax check can be carried out are appropriate. The following object types are possibilities:

PROG Report

CLAS Class

FUGR Function groups

FUGX Function group (with customer include, customer area)

FUGS Function group (with customer include, SAP area)

LDBA Logical Database

CNTX Context

TYPE Type pool

INTF Interface

Only Examine Programs with Non-Activated Unicode Flag

By default, the system only displays program objects that have not yet set the Unicode attribute. If you want to use UCCHECK to process program objects that have already set the attribute, you can deactivate this option.

Only Objects with TADIR Entry

By default, the system only displays program objects with a TADIR entry. If you want to examine programs that don't have a TADIR entry, for example locally generated programs without a package, you can deactivate this option.

Exclude Packages $*

By default, the system does not display program objects that are in a local, non-transportable package. If you want to examine programs that are in such a package, you can deactivate this option.

Display Modified SAP Programs Also

By default, SAP programs are not checked in customer systems. If you also want to check SAP programs that were modified in a customer system (see transaction SE95), you can activate this option.

Maximum Number of Programs:

To avoid timeouts or unexpectedly long waiting times, the maximum number of program objects is preset to 50. If you want to examine more objects, you must increase the maximum number or run a SAMT scan (general program set processing). The latter also has the advantage that the data is stored persistently. Proceed as follows:

- Call transaction SAMT

- Create task with program RSUNISCAN_FINAL, subroutine SAMT_SEARCH

For further information refer to documentation for transaction SAMT.

Displaying Points that Cannot Be Analyzed Statically

If you choose this option, you get an overview of the program points, where a static check for Unicode syntax errors is not possible. This can be the case if, for example, parameters or field symbols are not typed or you are accessing a field or structure with variable length/offset. At these points the system only tests at runtime whether the code is sufficient for the stricter Unicode tests. If possible, you should assign types to the variables used, otherwise you must check runtime behavior after the Unicode attribute has been set.

To be able to differentiate between your own and foreign code (for example when using standard includes or generated includes), there is a selection option for the includes to be displayed. By default, the system excludes the standard includes of the view maintenance LSVIM* from the display, because they cause a large number of messages that are not relevant for the Unicode conversion. It is recommended that you also exclude the generated function group-specific includes of the view maintenance (usually L<function group name>F00 and L<function group name>I00) from the display.

Similarly to the process in the extended syntax check, you can hide the warning using the pseudo comment ("#EC *).

Applikation-Specific Checks

These checks indicate program points that represent a public interface but are not Unicode-compatible. Under Unicode, the corresponding interfaces change according to the referenced documentation and must be adapted appropriately.

View Maintenance

Parts of the view maintenance generated in older releases are not Unicode-compatible. The relevant parts can be regenerated with a service report.

UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD

The function modules UPLOAD, DOWNLOAD or WS_UPLOAD and WS_DOWNLOAD are obsolete and cannot run under Unicode. Refer to the documentation for these modules to find out which routines serve as replacements.

reward pts if help.

Former Member
0 Kudos

Tx