SAP provides a set of ALV (ABAP List Viewer) function modules which can be used to enhance the output of a Report. An ALV is a tool which enables the display of data in a grid, combining a better readability along with greater functionality, like sorting, filter, searching, exporting to Excel, etc. The included sample code is for a simple ALV which will display materials based on a selection screen “From…To”.

Steps to get this ALV running

1. Enter transaction code SE38

2. Create a new Report (in the example called ZHR_MYALV)

3. Copy and paste the code below:

REPORT ZHR_MYALV.
*******************************************************************
*Simple example to use ALV and to define the ALV data in an internal
*table
********************************************************************
*data definition

tables:
marav. "Table MARA and table MAKT

*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
* Data to be displayed in ALV
* Using the following syntax, REUSE_ALV_FIELDCATALOG_MERGE can auto-
* matically determine the fieldstructure from this source program
Data:
begin of imat occurs 100,
matnr like marav-matnr, "Material number
maktx like marav-maktx, "Material short text
matkl like marav-matkl, "Material group (so you can test to make
                        " intermediate sums)
ntgew like marav-ntgew, "Net weight, numeric field (so you can test to
                        "make sums)
gewei like marav-gewei, "weight unit (just to be complete)
end of imat.

*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
* Other data needed
* field to store report name
data i_repid like sy-repid.
* field to check table length
data i_lines like sy-tabix.

*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
* Data for ALV display
TYPE-POOLS: SLIS.
data int_fcat type SLIS_T_FIELDCAT_ALV.

*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
select-options:
s_matnr for marav-matnr matchcode object MAT1.

*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
start-of-selection.

* read data into table imat
  select * from marav
  into corresponding fields of table imat
  where
  matnr in s_matnr.

* Check if material was found
  clear i_lines.
  describe table imat lines i_lines.
  if i_lines lt 1.
*   Using hardcoded write here for easy upload
    write: /
    'No materials found.'.
    exit.
  endif.

end-of-selection.

* To use ALV, we need either a reference to a structure defined in
* the SAP Data Dictionary (DDIC) or an in-program structure called
* the Field Catalog.
* The Field Catalog can be declared explicitly or generated by FUNCTION
* 'REUSE_ALV_FIELDCATALOG_MERGE' from an internal table from any
* report source, including this report.
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*

* Store report name
  i_repid = sy-repid.

* Create Fieldcatalogue from internal table
  CALL FUNCTION 'REUSE_ALV_FIELDCATALOG_MERGE'
    EXPORTING
      I_PROGRAM_NAME         = i_repid
      I_INTERNAL_TABNAME     = 'IMAT'  "capital letters!
      I_INCLNAME             = i_repid
    CHANGING
      CT_FIELDCAT            = int_fcat
    EXCEPTIONS
      INCONSISTENT_INTERFACE = 1
      PROGRAM_ERROR          = 2
      OTHERS                 = 3.
*explanations:
*    I_PROGRAM_NAME is the program which calls this function
*
*    I_INTERNAL_TABNAME is the name of the internal table which you want
*                       to display in ALV
*
*    I_INCLNAME is the ABAP-source where the internal table is defined
*               (DATA....)
*      CT_FIELDCAT contains the Fieldcatalouge that we need later for
*      ALV display

  IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
    write: /
    'Returncode',
    sy-subrc,
    'from FUNCTION REUSE_ALV_FIELDCATALOG_MERGE'.
  ENDIF.

*This was the field catalog
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
*

* Call for ALV list display
  CALL FUNCTION 'REUSE_ALV_LIST_DISPLAY'
    EXPORTING
      I_CALLBACK_PROGRAM = i_repid
      IT_FIELDCAT        = int_fcat
    TABLES
      T_OUTTAB           = imat
    EXCEPTIONS
      PROGRAM_ERROR      = 1
      OTHERS             = 2.

*explanations:
*    I_CALLBACK_PROGRAM is the program which calls this function
*
*    IT_FIELDCAT (just made by REUSE_ALV_FIELDCATALOG_MERGE) contains
*                 now the data definition needed for display
*
*    I_SAVE allows the user to save his own layouts
*
*      T_OUTTAB contains the data to be displayed in ALV

  IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
    write: /
    'Returncode',
    sy-subrc,
    'from FUNCTION REUSE_ALV_LIST_DISPLAY'.
  ENDIF.

4. Activate the report and click on “Direct Processing (F8)”

5. The selection screen will appear:

6. Fill in some data parameters and click on “Execute (F8)” to display the result.

This is an example that you can use and adapt to build your own ALV reports.