ABAP

Simple ALV (ABAP List Viewer) report using the procedural approach

  • 28 Jan, 2026
  • Com 0

To create a simple ALV (ABAP List Viewer) report using the procedural approach, we typically use the Function Module REUSE_ALV_GRID_DISPLAY. This is the classic way to display structured data in a grid format in SAP.

Below is a complete, ready-to-use example that fetches data from the standard flight table (SFLIGHT) and displays it.

The ABAP Code

REPORT z_simple_alv_report.
* 1. Data Declaration
TABLES: sflight.
DATA: it_sflight TYPE TABLE OF sflight, ” Internal table to hold data
wa_sflight TYPE sflight. ” Work area for the table
* 2. Selection Screen (Optional – filter by Carrier)
SELECT-OPTIONS: s_carrid FOR sflight-carrid.
* 3. Data Retrieval
START-OF-SELECTION.
SELECT * FROM sflight
INTO TABLE it_sflight
WHERE carrid IN s_carrid.
* 4. Display ALV Report
IF it_sflight IS NOT INITIAL.
CALL FUNCTION ‘REUSE_ALV_GRID_DISPLAY’
EXPORTING
i_structure_name = ‘SFLIGHT’ ” Tells ALV the column names/types
TABLES
t_outtab = it_sflight ” The data to be displayed
EXCEPTIONS
program_error = 1
OTHERS = 2.
IF sy-subrc <> 0.
MESSAGE ‘Error displaying ALV’ TYPE ‘I’.
ENDIF.
ELSE.
MESSAGE ‘No data found for the selected criteria.’ TYPE ‘I’.
ENDIF.

Code Explanation

Here is the breakdown of how the program works:

  • DATA & TABLES: We define an internal table (it_sflight) that mimics the structure of the database table SFLIGHT. This acts as the temporary storage for the data while the program is running.
  • SELECT-OPTIONS: This creates a search field on the initial screen, allowing the user to filter the report by Airline Code (e.g., AA, LH).
  • START-OF-SELECTION: This is an event keyword. It tells the system to execute the code following it once the user clicks the Execute (F8) button.
  • SELECT * … INTO TABLE: This SQL query fetches all columns from the database and pours them into our internal table it_sflight.
  • REUSE_ALV_GRID_DISPLAY: This is the “magic” function.
    • i_structure_name: Since SFLIGHT is a standard dictionary table, we pass its name. The ALV uses this to automatically generate column headers (like “Price,” “Currency,” etc.).
    • t_outtab: This is where we pass our internal table containing the fetched data.

Key Benefits of Using ALV

  • Built-in Functionality: Users automatically get buttons to sort, filter, export to Excel, and calculate totals without you writing extra code.
  • Standardized Look: It ensures a consistent user experience across different SAP modules.
The OO ABAP Editable ALV Code