ABAP Debugger for Functional consultant

Version 1.0
Compiled by : Siddhartha Srivastava
Reviewed by: Venu Gurram
Author email id : siddhartha.srivastava@igate.com
Review date: 27 Jan 2015

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Topics to be covered

Overview
Different types of breakpoints
Flow of Control
Debugger Settings
Debugging various ABAP objects

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Overview - Introduction
For any day to day issue faced in SAP, debugger is the most basic tool that
can be utilized to reach the root cause. It not only lets you trouble shoot
effectively but also helps you visualize what-if scenarios.
The Debugger is a programming tool that you can use to execute ABAP
programs, by line or by section. With this tool, you can display data objects
and check the flow logic of programs.
There are two types of Debugger available:
Classic Debugger for release levels up to and including 6.40
New Debugger, which is available for all releases after 6.40

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Overview - Difference

Classic Debugger

Runs in the same roll area as application to

be debugged

Not all ABAP code can be debugged like

conversion exits and field exits.

No state of the art user interface

The classic Debugger analyzes a roll area

that, when canceled, itself cancels the
classic Debugger. Therefore, all the
existing settings, such as breakpoints or
display of variables in the classic
Debugger, disappear as soon as the limits
of the roll area are exceeded.

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New ABAP Debugger

executed in a separate external

session , while the application to be
analyzed uses a second external
session

a flexible interface that can be

configured as required and has more
than eight desktops

the new Debugger analyzes an

external mode. As long as this
external mode is active, the Debugger
will remain open and control this
mode.

Overview - Switching
Switching from new debugger to classic debugger

Switching from classic debugger to new debugger

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Overview - A first look at the detailed view of new debugger

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Overview - Advanced features of ABAP debugger

Split screen debugging

Searching contents in internal table
Download internal table to excel sheet
Flow of control while debugging

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Different types of breakpoints

1. Debugger Breakpoint

When a breakpoint is set in a debugger, it is set as debugger breakpoint by

default.
It is valid only when the debugger instance, in which it was set, is active.
When the debugger is closed, all breakpoints set in it are deleted, unless saved.

2. Session Breakpoint

A breakpoint set in the ABAP Editor is a session breakpoint.

It remains active independent of existence of the debugger.
It is valid for all external sessions of a logon.

3. User Breakpoint (also known as external break point)

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It is valid for all user logons on the current server of the current system.
It is particularly required ,when debugging BSP applications.
It is valid only for a period of 2 hours.

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Different types of breakpoints

There are different ways to put break points
Hard coded / Static break points: You can put a breakpoint in a program by writing following
statements.
BREAK-POINT : To stop the execution irrespective of who is executing it.
BREAK <userid>: To stop the execution only for specific user mentioned by <userid>.

Dynamic/Session break points: We can put dynamic breakpoints from SE80 or SE38 or
debugger. Dynamic breakpoints are always user-specific, and are deleted when you log off from
the R/3 System. They can be deleted or deactivated during runtime.

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Different types of breakpoints

Debugging without Breakpoint : You can start the Debugger as follows

In SE80: Select a program or transaction and from the top menu choose
Program -> Test -> Debugging.
In SE38: From the top menu choose Program -> Test -> Debugging.
From any other screen: From the top menu choose System -> Utilities -> Debug
ABAP
or Enter /h in the command field and press enter.

Once inside the debugger, breakpoints can be set at statements, subroutines, FM, etc
as shown here.

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Flow of Control

F5 (Single Step)
F6 (Execute)

: Step through the program statement by statement.

: Process Line by Line .Mainly used to execute a Module or
subroutine without entering into it.
F7 (Return)
: Use this option to return back to the calling program.
F8 (Run/Continue) : Use this option when no more step check is required. The
program either executes normally or the debugger stops at the
next breakpoint.
Display Field/List Contents: Double Click on the field or structure required. Its
contents are then displayed. If the program generates a List, then an icon appears as
soon as the list is populated. Click to open the list display.
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Flow of Control - Watchpoints

Watch points help in monitoring the contents of individual variables. By setting a
watch point, the debugger stops as soon as the value of the monitored variable
changes. To set a watchpoint, start the debugger and proceed as follows:

Choose Watchpoint.
Enter the name of the field for which
you want to set the watchpoint. In the
Program field, the name of the program
currently running is always defaulted.
You can use the Additional Condition
option to specify whether the flow
should interrupt after meeting the
specified condition.
Useful in looping conditions where you have
to reach a particular material out of several
iterations. This can be achieved by setting
the variable SY-TABIX = intended iteration.

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Debugger Settings
Debugger settings are accessed in ABAP debugger by navigating to Settings >
Display/Change Debugger settings.

System debugging : In SE38, programs can be set to system program in the

status. The debugger then skips the program if system debugging is turned off. If
there is problem that involve system programs, such as with a function that cant
be accessed in debugger, turn on this setting. System debugging can be turned on
by entering /hs in the command field in the debugger.
Update debugging : To analyze asynchronous updates, we use update debugging.
Asynchronous updates are functions that are called with addition IN UPDATE TASK
as CALL FUNCTION .. IN UPDATE TASK .. The debugger cant follow this update
modules, and we wont see anything for these modules during debugging, if we
dont use update debugging setting.
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Debugging various ABAP objects Sap Script

There are 2 separate kinds of debugging available when you try to debug scripts.
Debugging the print program: This is the normal debugging we do for our
report programs.
Debugging the script itself : You Can debug a SAP Script by activating debugger
in two ways:

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In SE71 (which is the transaction for Sap script), from top menu goto Utilities>Activate Debugger. The debugger will be get activated and when your print program
is executing Script Debugger will be in active state and you can proceed with your
debugging.

Goto SE38-> Give the program name RSTXDBUG ->Execute this same as going
through in se71-> Menu, now debugger will be activated.

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Debugging various ABAP objects Smartforms

The best way to debug the form is to put a breakpoint in the function module
generated by the smartform. For this, open the smartform we want to debug. Goto
Environment -> Function module name.

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Debugging various ABAP objects Smartforms

Open the function module in SE37. From the menu GOTO -> main program. Open the
last include.

This include contains the entire code i.e. the code we have written in initialization
+ form routines + program lines + sap generated code. Put a breakpoint at any
point you want. If we issue any doc which triggers this form, when the control
reaches the break point it will stop. Prefer session break point in the related
function module.
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Debugging various ABAP objects Batch Jobs

Debugging Active Jobs(SM50 OR SM66):
Go to SM50 (Waiting/Running/On hold jobs) : Menu > Program/Session > Program
> Debugging. Now control will go to debug mode.

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Go to SM66(Running/Debugging Objects) : Place cursor on your job and

click on debugging button in tool bar.

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Debugging various ABAP objects

Debugging Completed/Cancelled jobs

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If necessary, place a breakpoint in the program.

Go to transaction SE37 and select our job.
Enter 'jdbg in the command window and press on the enter key.
Now the control goes to the debugger .
Press F8 and control goes to our break point.

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Thank You!

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