Diff-Tool: Work Areas

Diff-Tool
Use
Summary
The Diff Tool is used for comparing any two ABAP data structures.
For example, you can compare two internal tables, structures, object instances, or even strings.
Here, differences in type (for example, different table types) as well as differences in contents are displayed in
table form.
In addition, there is the option of displaying the two variables to be compared in the respective detailed views.
These detailed views are linked and synchronized with the Diff Tool. This means that when you double-click an
entry in the Diff Tool, the detailed display will be updated automatically. This update then displays the
difference.
Detailed Description and Hints on Use
The Diff Tool is an absolutely standard Debugger tool. It can be displayed on all desktops ( Work Areas). (To
be found under Special Tools)
There are, however, certain special aspects to be noted:

 Only one instance of the Diff Tool can be displayed per desktop.
 A dedicated "Diff Desktop" is available for executing variable comparisons with the Diff tool.
The tool comprises two transactions:
 "History": Here you will find all the variable pairs that have been compared so far. If you double-click
one of these pairs, a new comparison will be started.
 "Compare ABAP Variables": This is the actual work interface for comparing variables
Variable Compare - Procedure and Description
In the area Compare ABAP Variables, you will find two fields ready for input: variable1 and variable2. Here you
enter the description of the two variables to be compared.
After you have confirmed the input, the current contents of the variables are presented to the right of the input
fields.
if both variables do not exist or they are not suitable for a comparison transaction, a corresponding message
will be issued and an icon that displays the type differences will appear beside the variables.
The following variable types can be compared:
 Simple data type (C,N,D, T, I P,F) with simple data type
 Simple data type with String, XString
 Structure with structure
 Internal table with internal table (watch out for header line !)
 Object reference with object reference
 Data reference with data reference
If both variables exist and are suitable for a comparison, the following pushbuttons / input fields appear under
the variables after you have confirmed your entries:
 The pushbutton Start Comparison ( ) for starting the type and value comparison.
 The pushbutton (icon) Display Variable ( ) opens the appropriate detail views for both variables
and synchronizes them.

 The input field Max. No. of Hits enables you to limit the number of hits displayed. If there is already a
results list, any change in the maximum number of hits will automatically restart the comparison with
the new settings.
After you have started the comparison, the differences will be presented in table form.
Note the following here:
 For value comparison, the semantics of the ABAP command "IF" are used. This means that two
variables are taken as having the same value if the IF command would also determine equality
 To limit the runtime, no deep comparison is executed for subcomponents of the types table, object
reference, data reference. In such cases, the system only checks whether the two elements are
different, without supplying details on the differences. In the results list, you will find the pushbutton
Start Comparison ( ) for these subelements so that you can restart the Diff Run and get details
of the differences in question. Through the History button, you can return to the original results list.
Setup of the results list (columns):
 Index
 Diff: For interrupted deep comparisons (subcomponents with the types table, object references, data
references), there is a pushbutton here called Start Comparison ( ) so that you can get details on
the differences by restarting the Diff Run.
 General Difference: Type differences are marked with an exclamation symbol ( ).
 Description: Explanatory text
 Found Location: Naming of the exact component of the variable, including offset and length
specification where the difference was found
 <Variable1> and <Variable2>: In the column headings, you will find the two original variable names. In
the respective hit lines, you will see the value of the found location displayed.
Display of Hits in Detailed Views
For the different ABAP data types, specialized detail views are available in the new ABAP Debugger (for
example, for internal tables you have the Table Display).

In the Diff tool, you can display the two variables to be compared in the respective detail views at any time. (->
pushbutton Display Variables ).
These detailed views are linked and synchronized with the Diff tool.
Synchronized in this connection means that scrolling in detailed display 1 automatically triggers scrolling in
detailed display 2.
Being synchronized and linked with the DIFF tool in the detailed views is displayed with the icon Linked with
Diff Tool ( ).
As soon as a detailed view is closed or a different variable is displayed by the user in the detailed view, the link
to the Diff Tool is interrupted and the detailed views are again completely independent.
This separation from the Diff tool can also be achieved through the service function Separate Detail Displays in
the Diff tool.

Double-clicking a hit means that this found location is presented in the appropriate detailed views. Using the
scroll icon ( ), you can navigate to the next hit.
In the services ( Tools Services) for the Diff Tool, you will find the standard functions for searching in the hit list
as well as saving the hit list in a local file.

Diff-Tool: Work Areas

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Diff-Tool

Detailed Description and Hints on Use

be found under Special Tools)

There are, however, certain special aspects to be noted:

The tool comprises two transactions:

one of these pairs, a new comparison will be started.

Variable Compare - Procedure and Description

enter the description of the two variables to be compared.

The following variable types can be compared:

 Simple data type (C,N,D, T, I P,F) with simple data type

 Simple data type with String, XString

 Structure with structure

 Object reference with object reference

 Data reference with data reference

the variables after you have confirmed your entries:

and synchronizes them.

the new settings.

Note the following here:

Setup of the results list (columns):

the differences by restarting the Diff Run.

 General Difference: Type differences are marked with an exclamation symbol ( ).

 Description: Explanatory text

specification where the difference was found

Display of Hits in Detailed Views

example, for internal tables you have the Table Display).

pushbutton Display Variables ).

the Diff tool.

scroll icon ( ), you can navigate to the next hit.

as well as saving the hit list in a local file.

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