SAP ABAP CDS (Core Data Services)

Related Skills

• sap-abap: Use for ABAP programming patterns used with CDS or when implementing EML statements in ABAP
• sap-btp-cloud-platform: Use for CDS deployment scenarios on BTP or ABAP Environment configurations
• sap-fiori-tools: Use when building Fiori Elements applications that consume CDS views or working with UI annotations
• sap-cap-capire: Use for comparing CDS syntax between ABAP and CAP or when integrating ABAP CDS with CAP services
• sap-api-style: Use when documenting CDS-based OData services or following API documentation standards

Quick Reference: https://help.sap.com/doc/abapdocu_cp_index_htm/CLOUD/en-US/abencds.html | SAP Cheat Sheets: https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-cheat-sheets/blob/main/15_CDS_View_Entities.md

Version Compatibility

This skill covers CDS features from 7.40 SP8 through ABAP Cloud. Key version boundaries:

DEFINE VIEW

DEFINE TABLE FUNCTION

$session.user/client/system_language

@Environment.systemField

UPPER

LOWER

$session.system_date

ANNOTATE VIEW

DEFINE VIEW ENTITY

to one

to many

On a 7.40 system: Use

DEFINE VIEW

DEFINE VIEW ENTITY

DEFINE ROLE

pfcg_auth

$session.user/client/system_language

templates/

Table of Contents

• 1. CDS View Fundamentals
• 2. Essential Annotations
• 3. Expressions and Operations
• 4. Built-in Functions
• 5. Joins
• 6. Associations
• 7. Input Parameters
• 8. Aggregate Expressions
• 9. Access Control (DCL)
• 10. Data Retrieval from ABAP
• 11. Common Errors and Solutions
• 12. Useful Transactions and Tables
• Bundled Resources
• Source Documentation

1. CDS View Fundamentals

View Types

DEFINE VIEW

DEFINE VIEW ENTITY

Recommendation: Use CDS View Entities for new development.

Basic CDS View Syntax

@AbapCatalog.sqlViewName: 'ZCDS_EXAMPLE_V'
@AbapCatalog.compiler.CompareFilter: true
@AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #NOT_REQUIRED
@EndUserText.label: 'Example CDS View'

define view ZCDS_EXAMPLE
  as select from db_table as t
{
  key t.field1,
      t.field2,
      t.field3 as AliasName
}

CDS View Entity Syntax (7.55+)

@AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #NOT_REQUIRED
@EndUserText.label: 'Example View Entity'

define view entity Z_CDS_EXAMPLE
  as select from db_table as t
{
  key t.field1,
      t.field2,
      t.field3 as AliasName
}

Key Difference: View entities omit

@AbapCatalog.sqlViewName

Eclipse ADT Setup

1. File → New → Other → Core Data Services → Data Definition
2. Enter name, description, and package
3. Select template (view, view entity, etc.)

2. Essential Annotations

Core Annotations

Essential annotations for CDS development:

• @AbapCatalog.sqlViewName

  - SQL view name (max 16 chars)

• @AbapCatalog.compiler.CompareFilter

  - Optimize WHERE clauses

• @AccessControl.authorizationCheck

  - Set to #NOT_REQUIRED, #CHECK, #MANDATORY, or #NOT_ALLOWED

• @EndUserText.label

  - User-facing description

• @Metadata.allowExtensions

  - Allow view extensions

Complete Reference: See

references/annotations-reference.md

Semantics Annotations (Currency/Quantity)

Required for CURR and QUAN data types to avoid error SD_CDS_ENTITY105:

-- Currency fields
@Semantics.currencyCode: true
waers,
@Semantics.amount.currencyCode: 'waers'
amount,

-- Quantity fields
@Semantics.unitOfMeasure: true
meins,
@Semantics.quantity.unitOfMeasure: 'meins'
quantity

UI Annotations (Fiori Elements)

@UI.lineItem: [{ position: 10 }]
@UI.identification: [{ position: 10 }]
@UI.selectionField: [{ position: 10 }]
field1,

@UI.hidden: true
internal_field

Consumption Annotations (Value Help)

@Consumption.valueHelpDefinition: [{
  entity: { name: 'I_Currency', element: 'Currency' }
}]
waers

For complete annotation reference, see

references/annotations-reference.md

3. Expressions and Operations

CASE Expressions

Simple CASE (single variable comparison):

case status
  when 'A' then 'Active'
  when 'I' then 'Inactive'
  else 'Unknown'
end as StatusText

Searched CASE (multiple conditions):

case
  when amount > 1000 then 'High'
  when amount > 100 then 'Medium'
  else 'Low'
end as AmountCategory

Comparison Operators

Standard operators:

=

<>

<

>

<=

>=

BETWEEN x AND y

LIKE

IS NULL

IS NOT NULL

Complete Reference: See

references/expressions-reference.md

Arithmetic Operations

quantity * price as TotalAmount,
amount / 100 as Percentage,
-amount as NegatedAmount

Session Variables

Available system variables (SY fields equivalent):

• $session.user

  (SY-UNAME) - Current user [7.40 SP08+]

• $session.client

  (SY-MANDT) - Client [7.40 SP08+]

• $session.system_language

  (SY-LANGU) - Language [7.40 SP08+]

• $session.system_date

  (SY-DATUM) - Current date [7.51+]

Note:

$session.user/client/system_language

are available from 7.40 SP08.

$session.system_date

requires 7.51+.

@Environment.systemField

requires 7.50+.

Complete Reference: See

references/expressions-reference.md

$session.user as CurrentUser,
$session.system_date as Today

4. Built-in Functions

CDS provides comprehensive built-in functions for string, numeric, and date operations.

Key Function Categories

• String Functions: concat(), length(), substring(), upper(), lower(), replace()
• Numeric Functions: abs(), ceil(), floor(), round(), division()
• Date Functions: dats_add_days(), dats_add_months(), dats_days_between()
• CAST Expression: Convert between ABAP data types

Note:

upper()

and

lower()

in CDS require 7.51+. On 7.40/7.50, case conversion must be performed in ABAP after selecting (there is no CDS equivalent).

Complete Reference: See

references/functions-reference.md

Quick Examples

-- String operations
concat(first_name, last_name) as FullName,
upper(name) as UpperName,
substring(description, 1, 10) as ShortDesc

-- Numeric operations  
abs(amount) as AbsoluteAmount,
round(value, 2) as RoundedValue,
division(10, 3, 2) as PreciseDivision

-- Date operations
dats_add_days(current_date, 7) as NextWeek,
dats_days_between(start_date, end_date) as Duration

-- Type conversion
cast(field as abap.char(10)) as TextField,
cast(amount as abap.curr(15,2)) as CurrencyField

**ABAP Types**: `abap.char()`, `abap.numc()`, `abap.int4`, `abap.dats`, `abap.tims`, `abap.curr()`, `abap.cuky`, `abap.quan()`, `abap.unit()`

---

## 5. Joins

### Join Types
```sql
-- INNER JOIN (matching rows only)
inner join makt as t on m.matnr = t.matnr

-- LEFT OUTER JOIN (all from left, matching from right)
left outer join marc as c on m.matnr = c.matnr

-- RIGHT OUTER JOIN (all from right, matching from left)  -- [7.51+]
right outer join mvke as v on m.matnr = v.matnr

-- CROSS JOIN (cartesian product)                         -- [7.51+]
cross join t001 as co

6. Associations

Associations define relationships between entities (join-on-demand):

Defining Associations

define view Z_ASSOC_EXAMPLE as select from scarr as c
  association [1..*] to spfli as _Flights
    on $projection.carrid = _Flights.carrid
  association [0..1] to sairport as _Airport
    on $projection.hub = _Airport.id
{
  key c.carrid,
      c.carrname,
      c.hub,

      // Expose associations
      _Flights,
      _Airport
}

Cardinality Notation

Syntax mapping:

• [0..1]

  or

  [1]

  →

  association to one

  (LEFT OUTER MANY TO ONE)

• [1..1]

  →

  association to one

  (exact match)

• [0..*]

  or

  [*]

  →

  association to many

  (LEFT OUTER MANY TO MANY)

• [1..*]

  →

  association to many

  (one or more)

Complete Reference: See

references/associations-reference.md

New Cardinality Syntax (Release 2302+)

association to one _Customer on ...   -- [0..1]
association to many _Items on ...      -- [0..*]

Using Associations

-- Expose for consumer use
_Customer,

-- Ad-hoc field access (triggers join)
_Customer.name as CustomerName

Path Expressions with Filter

-- Filter with cardinality indicator
_Items[1: Status = 'A'].ItemNo

For complete association reference, see

references/associations-reference.md

7. Input Parameters

Defining Parameters

define view Z_PARAM_EXAMPLE
  with parameters
    p_date_from : dats,
    p_date_to   : dats,
    @Environment.systemField: #SYSTEM_LANGUAGE
    p_langu     : spras
  as select from vbak as v
{
  key v.vbeln,
      v.erdat,
      v.erzet
}
where v.erdat between :p_date_from and :p_date_to

Parameter Reference

Use colon notation

:p_date_from

$parameters.p_date_from

Calling from ABAP:

SELECT * FROM z_param_example(
  p_date_from = '20240101',
  p_date_to   = '20241231',
  p_langu     = @sy-langu
) INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_result).

8. Aggregate Expressions

Aggregate Functions

define view Z_AGG_EXAMPLE as select from vbap as i
{
  i.vbeln,
  sum(i.netwr) as TotalAmount,
  avg(i.netwr) as AvgAmount,
  max(i.netwr) as MaxAmount,
  min(i.netwr) as MinAmount,
  count(*) as ItemCount
}
group by i.vbeln
having sum(i.netwr) > 1000

9. Access Control (DCL)

Basic DCL Structure

@MappingRole: true
define role Z_CDS_EXAMPLE_DCL {
  grant select on Z_CDS_EXAMPLE
    where (bukrs) = aspect pfcg_auth(F_BKPF_BUK, BUKRS, ACTVT = '03');
}

Authorization Check Options

Available values:

• #NOT_REQUIRED

  - No authorization check

• #CHECK

  - Warning if no DCL exists

• #MANDATORY

  - Error if no DCL exists

• #NOT_ALLOWED

  - DCL ignored if exists

Complete Reference: See

references/access-control-reference.md

Condition Types

PFCG Authorization:

where (field) = aspect pfcg_auth(AUTH_OBJECT, AUTH_FIELD, ACTVT = '03')

Literal Condition:

where status <> 'DELETED'

User Aspect:

where created_by ?= aspect user

Combined:

where (bukrs) = aspect pfcg_auth(...) and status = 'ACTIVE'

For complete access control reference, see

references/access-control-reference.md

10. Data Retrieval from ABAP

Standard SELECT

SELECT * FROM zcds_example
  WHERE field1 = @lv_value
  INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_result).

SALV IDA (Integrated Data Access)

cl_salv_gui_table_ida=>create_for_cds_view(
  CONV #( 'ZCDS_EXAMPLE' )
)->fullscreen( )->display( ).

11. Common Errors and Solutions

SD_CDS_ENTITY105: Missing Reference Information

Problem: CURR/QUAN fields without reference

Solution: Add semantics annotations

@Semantics.currencyCode: true
waers,
@Semantics.amount.currencyCode: 'waers'
netwr

Or import currency from related table:

inner join t001 as c on ...
{
  c.waers,
  @Semantics.amount.currencyCode: 'waers'
  v.amount
}

Cardinality Warnings

Problem: Cardinality doesn't match actual data

Solution: Define cardinality matching data model

association [0..1] to ...  -- Use for optional relationships
association [1..*] to ...  -- Use for required one-to-many

For complete troubleshooting guide, see

references/troubleshooting.md

12. Useful Transactions and Tables

Key Transactions

• SDDLAR - Display/repair DDL structures
• RSRTS_ODP_DIS - TransientProvider preview
• RSRTS_QUERY_CHECK - CDS query metadata validation
• SE63 - Translation (EndUserText)
• SE11 - ABAP Dictionary
• SU21 - Authorization objects

Important Tables

• DDHEADANNO - Header-level annotations
• CDSVIEWANNOPOS - CDS view header annotations
• CDS_FIELD_ANNOTATION - Field-level annotations
• ABDOC_CDS_ANNOS - SAP annotation definitions

API Class

CL_DD_DDL_ANNOTATION_SERVICE

• get_annos()

  - Get all annotations

• get_label_4_element()

  - Get @EndUserText.label

Bundled Resources

Reference Documentation

For detailed guidance, see the reference files in

references/

• annotations-reference.md

  - Complete annotation catalog

• functions-reference.md

  - All built-in functions with examples

• associations-reference.md

  - Associations and cardinality guide

• access-control-reference.md

  - DCL and authorization patterns

• expressions-reference.md

  - Expressions and operators

• troubleshooting.md

  - Common errors and solutions

Templates

For templates, see

templates/

• basic-view.md

  - Standard CDS view template

• parameterized-view.md

  - View with input parameters

• dcl-template.md

  - Access control definition

Source Documentation

Update this skill by checking:

• https://help.sap.com/doc/abapdocu_cp_index_htm/CLOUD/en-US/abencds.html (ABAP Cloud)
• https://help.sap.com/doc/abapdocu_740_index_htm/7.40/en-US/index.htm (7.40 Reference)
• https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_NETWEAVER_AS_ABAP_752/f2e545608079437ab165c105649b89db/7c078765ec6d4e6b88b71bdaf8a2bd9f.html (NetWeaver 7.52 User Guide)
• https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-cheat-sheets
• https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-cheat-sheets/blob/main/33_ABAP_Release_News.md (Release News)

Last Verified: 2026-04-02