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ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP − Reference → Processing Internal Data → Assignments → Assigning References → Setting Reference Variables →REF - Reference Operator
Syntax
... REF type( dobj | table_exp ) ...
Alternatives:
1. ... REF type( dobj )
2. ... REF type( table_exp )
Effect
A constru tor expression with the reference operator REF creates either a data reference variable that points to the argument dobj or controls a table expression table_exp.
Existing data objects and table expressions can be specified as an argument, but no further expressions or function calls.
... REF type( dobj )
Effect
If a data object dobj is specified as an argument, the operator REF functions like the statement GET REFERENCE and creates a data reference variable as a result. This variable points to the specified data object dobj. type determines the static type of the result. The following can be specified for type:
The parentheses must contain precisely one unnamed argument dobj. If offsets/lengths (+off(len)) are specified, the data type dobj here cannot be string or xstring.
Notes
Example
Fills an internal table with the value operator VALUE, where the component dref is given a value using REF. This is an excerpt from the example for the class CL_ABAP_BROWSER. Other uses can be found in examples of ADBC, where parameter bindings are used.
TYPES pict_line(1022) TYPE x.
DATA pict TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF pict_line WITH EMPTY KEY.
DATA ext_data TYPE cl_abap_browser=>load_tab.
ext_data = VALUE #( ( name = 'PICT.GIF'
type = 'image'
dref = REF #( pict ) ) ).
... REF type( tab_exp )
Effect
If a table expression table_exp is specified as an argument, the operator REF controls the category of its result, as described in the related section.