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CONV - Conversion Operator

Syntax

... CONV type( dobj ) ...

Effect

A constructor expression with the conversion operator CONV converts the argument dobj to the data type specified using type and creates an appropriate result. The following can be specified for type:

The # character as a symbol for the operand type. Can be specified only if the data type required in an operand position is unique and fully identifiable.

The parentheses must contain precisely one unnamed argument dobj that can be converted to the data type type. dobj is a general expression position with the following restrictions:

The content of the result is determined by an assignment of the argument in accordance with the associated conversion rule. If dobj is compatible with the data type type, CONV does not need to be used and a syntax check warning is produced.

Notes

Example

The method CONVERT_TO of the class CL_ABAP_CODEPAGE expects the data type string for the input parameter SOURCE. CONV is used to convert a text field to this data type, directly in the operand position.

DATA file TYPE xstring.
DATA text TYPE c LENGTH 255.

file = cl_abap_codepage=>convert_to(
  source      = CONV string( text )
  codepage    = `UTF-8` ).

Example

Even though the internal table itab in the method meth1 has the same row type as the table type of the parameter para of the method meth2, it cannot be passed directly due to its different table category and key. CONV is used to convert itab to the required table type.

CLASS class DEFINITION.
  PUBLIC SECTION.
    TYPES t_itab TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF i
                 WITH EMPTY KEY.
    METHODS meth1.
  PRIVATE SECTION.
    METHODS meth2 IMPORTING para TYPE t_itab.
ENDCLASS.

CLASS class IMPLEMENTATION.
  METHOD meth1.
    DATA itab TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF i
              WITH NON-UNIQUE DEFAULT KEY.
    ...
    meth2( CONV #( itab ) ).
    ...
  ENDMETHOD.
  METHOD meth2.
    ...
  ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

Example

The two calculations produce different results. In the first case, the calculation type is f and the end result is converted to i. In the second case, CONV converts each interim result to the calculation type i.

DATA int TYPE i.

int = sqrt( 5 ) + sqrt( 6 ).
int = CONV i( sqrt( 5 ) ) + CONV i( sqrt( 6 ) ).

Example

The first logical expression is false, as specified in the comparison rules for character-like data types. CONV is used to alter the comparison type of the second comparison so that the comparison is true.

TYPES c1 TYPE c LENGTH 1.

DATA txt TYPE c1.
DATA str TYPE string.

txt = ' ' .
str = ` `.

IF txt = str.
  ...
ENDIF.

IF txt = CONV c1( str ).
  ...
ENDIF.