Sorted Internal Table

Sorted table is another kind of index table which has unique / non unique key. It also can be accessed via index or key. For sorted table the key must be specified. The declaration is as follows:

DATA: it_mat TYPE SORTED TABLE OF ty_mat WITH UNIQUE KEY matnr,

it_mat TYPE SORTED TABLE OF ty_mat WITH NON-UNIQUE KEY matnr.

Unique key means the MATNR (material no) will must be unique. If same material number is inserted then a run time error will happen. However we can declare the sorted table with non unique key also. In this case same material number can be entered but it will be sorted after entering the number. Here the sorted table behaves similar to sorted standard table. We use INSERT statement to enter any records to the sorted table.

INSERT wa_mat INTO TABLE it_mat.

Here is an example of sorted table by using unique key concept.

REPORT  zabap_gui.

* Declaring the local structure of internal table
TYPES:
      BEGIN OF ty_tab,
        item     TYPE char10,
        quantity TYPE i,
        price    TYPE i,
      END OF ty_tab.

* Declaring the Sorted internal table with non unique key
DATA:
      itab TYPE SORTED TABLE OF ty_tab WITH UNIQUE KEY item,
      wtab TYPE ty_tab.

* Entering records to each field
wtab-item = 'Rice'. wtab-quantity = 2. wtab-price = 80.

* Now one single row has been fulfilled with data
* Next inserting one single row data into the table
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Suger'. wtab-quantity = 1. wtab-price = 90.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Tea'. wtab-quantity = 1. wtab-price = 100.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Rice'. wtab-quantity = 3. wtab-price = 150.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Horlicks'. wtab-quantity = 1. wtab-price = 200.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Suger'. wtab-quantity = 2. wtab-price = 70.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

WRITE:  /3 'Item',
        13 'Quantity (KG)',
        28 'Price (Rs)'.
WRITE / '=========================================='.
SKIP. " Skipping one single line

LOOP AT itab INTO wtab.

  WRITE:  /3 wtab-item,
          12 wtab-quantity,
          25 wtab-price.
ENDLOOP.

SKIP.
WRITE '=========================================='.

Since the key is unique the similar entries are ignored by the system.

Here is an example of sorted table by using non unique key concept.

REPORT  zabap_gui.

* Declaring the local structure of internal table
TYPES:
      BEGIN OF ty_tab,
        item     TYPE char10,
        quantity TYPE i,
        price    TYPE i,
      END OF ty_tab.

* Declaring the Standard internal table with non unique key
DATA:
      itab TYPE SORTED TABLE OF ty_tab WITH NON-UNIQUE KEY item,
      wtab TYPE ty_tab.

* Entering records to each field
wtab-item = 'Rice'. wtab-quantity = 2. wtab-price = 80.

* Now one single row has been fulfilled with data
* Next inserting one single row data into the table
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Suger'. wtab-quantity = 1. wtab-price = 90.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Tea'. wtab-quantity = 1. wtab-price = 100.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Rice'. wtab-quantity = 3. wtab-price = 150.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Horlicks'. wtab-quantity = 1. wtab-price = 200.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

wtab-item = 'Suger'. wtab-quantity = 2. wtab-price = 70.
INSERT wtab INTO TABLE itab.

WRITE:  /3 'Item',
        13 'Quantity(KG)',
        28 'Price(Rs)'.
WRITE / '=========================================='.
SKIP. " Skipping one single line

LOOP AT itab INTO wtab.

  WRITE:  /3 wtab-item,
          12 wtab-quantity,
          25 wtab-price.
ENDLOOP.

SKIP.
WRITE '=========================================='.