Type Groups

The name of the type group can contain a maximum of five characters. In the type group, you can use the TYPES statement and the CONSTANTS statement, and you can also use the predefined ABAP types or global dictionary types.

A type group is defined as a piece of ABAP code that you maintain either in the ABAP Dictionary ( SE11 ) or in the ABAP Editor ( SE38 ).

The first statement in a type group is always TYPE-POOL <name> . This is followed by the data type definition with the TYPES statement, as described under local program data types. Moreover, you can declare cross-program constants using the CONSTANTS statement. All names of these data types and constants must begin with the name of the type group and an underscore, for example, zmytp_ .

In releases prior to NW AS 7.02, you have to declare the usage of a type group explicitly in your program. The ABAP statement is TYPE-POOLS <type group name> . This statement enables you to use all types and constants defined in that type group. You can use several type groups in the same program.