How to Create a Type Group in SAP

Open the ABAP Dictionary with transaction SE11

1. On the SAP Easy Access screen, enter the transaction code SE11 in the command field.
2. Press Enter to open the ABAP Dictionary.

If you enter an incorrect transaction code, such as SE1, a message appears at the bottom of the screen: "Transaction SE1 does not exist." Re-enter the code correctly to continue.

Select Type Group and enter a name

To create a type group in SAP ABAP, start from the initial screen of the ABAP Dictionary.

1. On the ABAP Dictionary: Initial Screen, select the Type Group radio button.
2. Enter the type group name in the input field. For this example, enter Ztyp1.
3. Click Create.

Enter a description and save as a local object

1. In the Create Type Group dialog, enter a short description. For this example, enter "Type group".
2. When the Create Object Directory Entry dialog appears, click Local Object to save the type group locally.

Define the types in the type group editor

The Dictionary: Change Type Group editor opens with a template that contains TYPE-POOL ZTYP1 .. Define your custom types under the SourceCde tab.

TYPE-POOL ZTYP1 .
TYPES: ZTYP1_NAME(30) TYPE C,
       ZTYP1_AGE(3) TYPE I.

• ZTYP1_NAME is a character type of length 30.
• ZTYP1_AGE is an integer type of length 3.

Both type names start with the type group name followed by an underscore, as the naming rules require.

Save, check, and activate the type group

After you enter the type definitions, complete these actions in order:

1. Click Save to store your changes.
2. Click Check (the checkmark icon) to validate the type group for syntax errors.
3. Click Activate (the yellow circle icon) to make the type group available for use in ABAP programs.

Verify the type group definitions

1. Open the Dictionary: Display Type Group screen.
2. Confirm that these definitions exist:
   • TYPES: ZTYP1_NAME(30) TYPE C,
   • ZTYP1_AGE(3) TYPE I.
3. Make sure the type group is active.

Start a new ABAP report to use the type group

Now use the type group in a report.

1. Go to the ABAP Editor: Initial Screen.
2. Enter a program name in the Program field. For this example, enter ZREPORTTYPE1.
3. Click Create to start a new report.

A dropdown list may appear showing similar program names and their descriptions.

Set the program attributes

1. In the ABAP: Program Attributes dialog, enter these values:
   • Title: Report for Type group
   • Original language: EN English
   • Type: Executable program (select it from the dropdown list)
2. Leave the Status, Application, and Authorization Group fields at their defaults, or fill them in as required.
3. Make sure Unicode Checks Active is selected.
4. Click Save to confirm the attributes.

Reference the type group in the report

In the ABAP Editor, begin your report with these lines:

REPORT ZREPORTTYPE1.
TYPE-POOLS ZTYP1.

The TYPE-POOLS statement makes the type definitions from your type group available in the report. The program status stays Inactive until you activate it.

Declare data with the type group types

Declare both fields in a single DATA statement. Separate the fields with a comma and end the statement with a period.

DATA: NAME TYPE ZTYP1_NAME,
      AGE TYPE ZTYP1_AGE.

This declares both variables with the types from your type group.