Introduction to ABAP Workbench

The ABAP Workbench is the integrated development environment available in SAP which allows for users to maintain ABAP objects such as Programs, Screens, Menus, Dictionary Objects (such as Tables, Views, Structures, etc.), Messages, and other objects which aid in the development and enhancement of the SAP environment.
abap workbench

What is the ABAP Workbench

Graphical programming environment

Use it to create ABAP Applications
Enhance and change existing SAP Applications

Use it to to do the following:

Write ABAP Code
Design dialogs or Screens
Create Menus with the Menu Painter
Maintain Database objects
Debug an Application
Do performance Analyses
Manage Conflicts and Versions

The ABAP workbench is a highly sophisticated language environment which can be used to develop applications in the ABAP programming languages. Whether it be to develop report programs, module pools (dialog programs), function modules or to make enhancements to existing SAP programs, the Workbench provides an excellent Language Environment which can be effectively utilized to build ABAP applications

The tight integration between the different components of the Workbench, the easy navigation provided within and between the different tools, the context-sensitive help provided to pull up information about any field, ABAP statement, Table, Structure etc. makes it probably one of the best Language environments available in the market.

ABAP Workbench Menus Layout

Overview
Provides tools that help you survey the objects in your system. You use the functions in this menu to locate objects by application, type, or development class.
Application Hierarchy, Object Navigator (Repository Browser), Business Object Browser, Data Browser, Transport Organizer are some of the tools accessible from this menu.

Development
Contains tools that you use for creating SAP applications. The tools that appear in the toolbar also appear in this menu.
ABAP Dictionary, ABAP Editor, Function Builder, Class Builder, Screen Painter, and Menu Painter are some of the tools accessible from this menu

Test
Contains tools that let you test a completed program.
Runtime Analysis, SQL Trace, Dump Analysis, Extended Check, and the Computer-Aided Test Tool (CATT) are some of the tools accessible from this menu.

Utilities
Contains tools related to but not directly required by the development process.
Documentation Maintenance, Support Packages (SPAM), Upgrade Utilities, SAP Query, Enhancements (SMOD and CMOD) are some of the tools available in this menu.

Note: In the SAP System, remember that the â€œSystemâ€ and â€œHelpâ€ menus are always part of the Menu bar no matter where you navigate.

ABAP Workbench Tools