With the newly released AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 we have further enhanced the features relevant for Code-Push-Down and DB-Near Programming. The focus has been further strengthen the ABAP Platform as the Sole-Master for all optimized development for HANA. Regarding all the new features introduced in the last release AS ABAP 7.4 SP5 take a look at this blog: New ABAP for HANA features in SAP NW 7.4 SP5

So what is inside this release for ABAP on HANA developers?

Advanced Open SQL

Open SQL is a DB abstraction layer in ABAP that defines a common semantic for all SAP supported databases.

Several limitations concerning the Open SQK in terms of support standard SQL features (SQL92) have been removed starting with ABAP 7.4 SP05 in such a way that Open SQL can be used with the new advanced features for access to SAP HANA and as well as other database platforms.

The key idea here is that the Code Push-Down for HANA can start with ABAP Open SQL with the advanced features of Open SQL.

With NW AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 there are several new features in addition to what was made available in NW AS ABAP 7.4 SP5.

Just name few of the features that have been introduced,

• New column specification data_source~* after SELECT statement
• Inline declarations for target range of SELECT statement
• New SQL expressions
• Consumption of parameterized CDS views

You could also use the Brand new Open SQL Console to play around with the new features of Open SQL.An overview about the new Open SQL features introduced in AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 byHorst Kellercan be found hereABAP News for 7.40, SP08 - Open SQL

New Features in CDS

Alongside the advances in the Open SQL CDS was also offered starting AS ABAP 7.4 SP5 as the next generation model for database access with the goal simplifying and harmonizing the way how data models are defined and consumed independent of the consumption technologies. This is yet another avenue for optimized database access and code-push down to the database.

A nice introduction to the new data modeling capabilities supported by ABAP CDS by Christiaan Edward Swanepoelis available in this blog: New Data Modeling Features in SAP NW ABAP 7.4 SP5

An overview about the new CDS features introduced in AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 byHorst Kellercan be found hereABAP News for 7.40, SP08 - ABAP Core Data Services (CDS)

Advanced Open SQL vs CDS – When to use What?

The advanced Open SQL and CDS are meant  to complement each other not  compete

Here is short guideline on when to choose which technology

Choose Open SQL when,

• There is no re-use need for the query
• There is a need to access system fields, e.g., sy-mandt
• There is a need for features only available in Open SQL, such as FOR ALL ENTRIES

Choose ABAP CDS when,

• There are re-use possibilities of the defined view
• Scope for use of DDL features not available in Open SQL currently
  
  

Enhancements to AMDP

Just a recap of ABAP Managed Database Procedures (AMDP)   another amazing feature for code push down introduced in AS ABAP 7.4 SP5.

AMDP allows you to do code-push down to HANA and is ideal in cases where there is  scope for making use of HANA specific features during code push down. AMDPs enable you to create database procedures directly in ABAP using e.g. SQL Script and to seamlessly integrate it in modern ABAP development. An AMDP can be implemented using an ABAP method.

More details about AMDP can be found in this document ABAP Managed Database Procedures - Introduction and the video tutorials in our YouTube Channel: ABAP for SAP HANA - YouTube.

The beauty of using AMDP is that fact that ABAP remains the sole master for managing the entities for code push down but at the same time the application can take advantage of consuming HANA specific features using AMDP.

With the AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 release AMDPs have further been enriched with the following features,

• AMDP methods can now be enhanced using BAdIs
• Catchable and handleable exceptions provided for AMDP methods
• AMDP methods can now access the secondary databases
• AMDP methods now support tabular changing parameters

An overview about the new AMDP features introduced in AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 byHorst Kellercan be found here ABAP News for 7.40, SP08 - ABAP Managed Database Procedures (AMDP)

ABAP Development Tools in Eclipse

With the latest release of ADT the ABAP Development on HANA becomes even more exciting. The new version the tool has several features that make the developer’s experience more fun filled and productive

Just to name a few,

• Better integration of ATC into AiE for different lifecycle stages of development
• Support for incremental development
• Better assistance for fixing errors during development using quick-fixes

An overview of the new IDE features available with the latest version of the ADT tool byThomas Fiedler  can be found hereADT 2.31 - New version of ABAP Development Tools available now

I hope the news about the latest features introduced with AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 excites you. The new AS ABAP 7.4 SP8 Developer Edition is already available since 25^th September 2014 - See here for more details Developer & Trial Editions: SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP and SAP Business Warehouse powered by SAP HANA for more details. Please check back on this ABAP for SAP HANA for detailed information of the new features and how-to use them.