CDS Annotations in SAP – 4

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CDS Annotations Semantically rich database views may be declaratively defined on top of database tables using CDS views in ABAP. These views are essential to the SAP S/4HANA data model, and annotations contribute to their increased expressiveness and functionality. Annotations are frequently used to describe how the data is shown in the user interface (UI), provide performance improvements, change the behavior of the views, or denote certain business logic.

The goal of the DefaultAggregation CDS Annotations, its syntax, usage cases, and how it may be used to streamline data modeling and boost SAP S/4HANA application performance will all be covered in this article.

Data Aggregation CDS Annotations

In the context of CDS views, CDS Annotations is the process of compiling or arranging data according to specific fields. For instance, you may like to determine the average order value for a given time period or the total sales amount for every customer in a sales reporting application.

This is usually accomplished in SQL with the GROUP BY clause and aggregation procedures like SUM(), AVG(), COUNT(), etc. These aggregation functions can be used directly in the view definition in ABAP CDS Annotations, giving developers the ability to declaratively describe the aggregate logic.

Syntax of DefaultAggregation Annotation

The DefaultAggregation annotation is applied to fields in a CDS view that are intended to be aggregated by default. The annotation specifies the type of aggregation function (e.g., SUM, AVG, COUNT, etc.) that should be used for the field.

The general syntax for the DefaultAggregation annotation is as follows:

@DefaultAggregation: #AggregationType
define view ZMySalesView as select from sales_data
{
    key sales_order_id,
    customer_id,
    @DefaultAggregation: #SUM
    sales_amount,
    @DefaultAggregation: #AVG
    discount_rate
}

In this example:

  • The sales_amount field is aggregated using the SUM function by default.
  • The discount_rate field is aggregated using the AVG (average) function by default.

Aggregation Types

he DefaultAggregation annotation can be assigned several aggregation types, which determine how the data will be aggregated in queries:

SUM

The values for the field will be summed up. This is typically used for numeric fields like sales amounts, quantities, etc.

@DefaultAggregation: #SUM
sales_amount

AVG

The average of the values for the field will be calculated. This is often used for fields like ratings, scores, or other numerical averages.

@DefaultAggregation: #AVG
discount_rate

COUNT

The number of non-null records will be counted. This is useful for counting entries in a dataset, such as counting the number of orders or customers.

@DefaultAggregation: #COUNT
sales_order_id

MIN

The minimum value for the field will be selected. This is useful for fields like dates, where you might want to find the earliest value.

@DefaultAggregation: #MIN
order_date

MAX

The maximum value for the field will be selected. Similar to #MIN, this is useful for fields like dates or numeric values where you want to find the latest or largest value.

@DefaultAggregation: #MAX
order_date

DISTINCT:

The distinct number of values will be returned, removing duplicates. This is used to count unique records.

@DefaultAggregation: #DISTINCT
customer_id

Benefits of Using DefaultAggregation Annotations

Consistency:
By specifying the default aggregation in the CDS view, you ensure consistent behavior across different queries. Users or applications querying the view will automatically get the expected aggregation without needing to manually define it each time.

Simplified Query Logic:
Developers can create simpler queries and applications since the aggregation logic is already defined in the CDS model, reducing the need for complex aggregation functions in the UI or report layers.

Improved Performance:
Predefined aggregation at the CDS layer helps in optimizing the database queries, improving performance, especially for large datasets and complex reports.

Reduced Redundancy:By applying the aggregation logic at the model level, you avoid redundant aggregation definitions in multiple reports or applications that query the same data.

Easier Maintenance:
If the default aggregation behavior needs to be changed (e.g., from SUM to AVG), you only need to modify the CDS view rather than changing every report or query that uses it.

EndUserText CDS Annotations

In the context of ABAP Core Data Services (CDS), annotations are key components that help define the behavior and semantics of the data models. One important set of annotations is the EndUserText annotations, which play a critical role in enhancing the user experience by providing human-readable descriptions of data fields, views, and elements.

These annotations are particularly useful when a CDS view is intended to be consumed by business users, developers, or tools that require clear labels, descriptions, and metadata. The EndUserText annotations provide essential information for these users, making the data easier to understand, especially in reporting, analytics, and user interface (UI) scenarios.

In this article, we will dive deep into the EndUserText CDS Annotations, explaining their purpose, usage, and how they contribute to improving the clarity and usability of CDS-based applications in SAP S/4HANA.

Types of EndUserText CDS Annotations

The EndUserText CDS Annotations in CDS views can be applied in different ways, depending on the context in which it is used. There are a few key forms of this annotation:

@EndUserText.label

This is the most common type of EndUserText annotation, used to assign a label or title to a field or view. The label provides a human-readable description of the field or view’s role and meaning.

Syntax:
@EndUserText.label: 'Label for Field or View'

Example :

@EndUserText.label: 'Sales Order ID'
sales_order_id

In this example, the field sales_order_id is given the label “Sales Order ID” for better clarity in reports and UI.

@EndUserText.shortLabel

The shortLabel is used when you need to provide a shorter version of the field or view label. This might be useful in cases where space is limited, such as in tables or list views.

Syntax:

@EndUserText.shortLabel: 'Short Label for Field or View'

Example:

@EndUserText.shortLabel: 'Qty'
quantity

In this case, the field quantity is assigned a shorter label “Qty” for compact display purposes.

@EndUserText.description

The description annotation provides a longer, more detailed explanation of the field’s purpose, how it is used, or what it represents. This can be particularly useful for providing additional context in reports or help documentation.

Syntax:

@EndUserText.description: 'Detailed description of the field or view'

Example:

@EndUserText.description: 'The total amount of sales for a given sales order, including taxes and discounts.'
sales_amount

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