Exploring New ABAP Syntax in ABAP 7.5 and Beyond – A Fresh Perspective for Freshers and Pros
ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming), SAP’s proprietary programming language, has evolved significantly over the years. With the release of ABAP 7.5 and its later versions, SAP introduced modern, streamlined syntax that aligns better with current programming standards and makes coding faster, cleaner, and more readable.
Whether you’re a fresher just starting your SAP journey or an experienced developer used to classic ABAP, understanding these enhancements will make your development work more efficient and aligned with SAP’s future direction, especially in the context of S/4HANA and cloud-ready development.
In today’s SAP landscape, modern ABAP skills are more important than ever. With the release of ABAP 7.5 and higher, SAP introduced powerful, simplified, and cleaner syntax that aligns with the future of S/4HANA and cloud-ready applications. From inline declarations and expression-based operations to advanced loop handling and functional-style coding, ABAP has evolved significantly.
Learning these new concepts can feel overwhelming if you’re relying on outdated materials or traditional teaching styles. That’s where igrowsoft SAP ABAP training, led by the highly respected Sanjay Sir, stands out.
Sanjay Sir brings over a decade of real-time SAP experience into the classroom, simplifying even the most complex ABAP 7.5+ syntax with practical, hands-on examples. Whether you’re a fresher aiming to build strong fundamentals or an experienced consultant looking to upgrade your skills, his teaching style is easy to understand and immediately applicable in real-world scenarios.
Here’s what you’ll master:
- Inline DATA declarations and constructor expressions
- Powerful operators like VALUE, REDUCE, and FOR
- Conditional expressions using COND and SWITCH
- Advanced internal table handling using line exists and FILTER
- Clean object creation with NEW and class-based enhancements
Why the New Syntax?
Classic ABAP, although powerful, was often verbose and less readable compared to modern programming languages. The new syntax in ABAP 7.5+ was introduced to:
Enhance code readability and maintainability
Reduce boilerplate code
Support object-oriented and functional programming styles
Align with modern development practices (like CDS, AMDP, RAP)
Let’s walk through some of the most powerful and practical changes, with examples and explanations tailored to both beginners and pros.
Inline Declarations
Old Way:
New Way:
Explanation:
Now, you can declare and initialize variables in one line. It reduces clutter and improves code flow. Freshers can grasp this easily, and pros save time.
Looping Made Easier with VALUE and FOR
Old Way:
New Way:
Explanation:
This expression creates a table with numbers from 1 to 5 using a single line. The FOR operator mimics list comprehensions in languages like Python.
Filtering and Mapping with VALUE and REDUCE
Example – Sum of Even Numbers:
Explanation:
This powerful syntax helps in functional-style programming. It’s useful for building analytical apps or reports with complex data processing.
Cleaner Internal Table Operations
Old Way:
New Way:
Even better:
Explanation:line_exists checks if a row exists. Inline reading simplifies variable management and avoids unnecessary declarations.
Declaring Constants and Structures Dynamically
Old Way:
New Way:
Explanation:
Structures can be filled inline without explicitly declaring a type beforehand if the structure already exists
String Templates and Expressions
Old Way:
New Way:
Explanation:
String templates (|...|) make it much easier and more readable to embed variables into strings, just like modern scripting languages.
Conditional Expressions with COND and SWITCH
Using COND:
Using SWITCH:
Explanation:
These expressions eliminate the need for multiple IF-ELSE blocks, resulting in cleaner, logic-focused code.
Working with NEW for Objects
Old Way:
New Way: (same as old, but emphasizes readability and inline usage)
Explanation:
Constructing objects with parameters becomes more intuitive and allows inline assignments, particularly useful in factory patterns.
Best Practices to Adopt
Use Inline Declarations where possible cleaner and avoids reuse issues.
Embrace Expressions (VALUE, COND, SWITCH) they improve readability.
Avoid sy-subrc Checks when better alternatives exist (e.g., line_exists, TRY-CATCH).
Leverage Functional Patterns they’re not only modern but often more efficient.
Final Thoughts
The modern ABAP syntax introduced in 7.5 and later is not just a cosmetic change; it’s a strategic shift toward clean code and maintainability. For freshers, it’s a great way to learn good coding habits from the start. For experienced developers, it’s a chance to modernize their toolkit and align with future-proof standards.
With SAP S/4HANA and the ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP) becoming the norm, mastering these enhancements is more relevant than ever.
With igrowsoft, you don’t just learn ABAP you learn how to code like a modern SAP developer. Hundreds of students have successfully transitioned into high-paying roles after completing this training.
Upgrade your skills. Future-proof your SAP career. Join igrowsoft’s SAP ABAP course in Ameerpet Hyderabad today and learn from the best — Sanjay Sir.
