Operators in ABAP Objects

The syntax for ABAP Objects contains the following operators:

-

Structure component selector,,,,

Structures are aggregated data types of the ABAP type concept and represent a sequence of components, which can be of any data type. You can access the components of a structure using the expression struct-comp.

->

Object component selector,,,,

You can only access instance components within a class using the expression obj->comp, (where obj is a reference variable and comp is a component of the object to which the object reference in the variables points). Within a class, you can use the self-reference ME-> comp to point to the class's own instance and static components. Using the pseudo-reference SUPER->comp to point to an obscured method within a redefined method. You must call the direct superclass using SUPER->CONSTRUCTOR in instance constructors of subclasses of the constructor.

=>

Class component selector

You can access static components from outside a class using the expression class=>comp (where class is a class and comp is a static component).

->*

Dereferencing operator

You can dereference data references using the dereferencing operator. If a data reference variable is completely typed - that is, has no generic type - you can insert the expression dref->* at any operand position. For all data references, you can assign the field, which a data reference indicates, to a field symbol using ASSIGN dref->* TO <fs>. There is no dereferencing for object references.

->>

Remote call operator

Interfaces can help you when methods are being called remotely. You can call the instance methods of an interface remotely using iref->>meth (where iref is an interface reference and meth is an instance method of that interface).

~

Interface component selector

If an interface intf is implemented in a class, the interface component comp possesses the name intf~comp within the class.

The Casting Assignment

If a static type check cannot take place when you make an assignment between two reference variables, you must use the casting assignment MOVE ... ?TO ... . If you are using the equivalent of this statement, the assignment operator '=', you must change this to '?='. The'?=' expression is not an ABAP Objects operator, but simply a way of writing the casting assignment.