This blog post discusses the importance of SAP ABAP on HANA interview questions for IT professionals working with the latest SAP technologies.

It provides common interview questions related to SAP ABAP development on the HANA platform, aiming to help prepare for interviews and demonstrate understanding of the technology, the goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

1. What is SAP, and what are its main features?

SAP is a business development company founded in 1972 a German software company, it improves business processes, integrates all business processes into one software repository, and offers various modules to cater to specific business processes and functional areas.

2. How does SAP benefit organisations with business processes?

SAP integrates all business processes into one software repository, streamlining operations for organisations with SAP business processes.

3. What is the role of ABAP in SAP?

ABAP is the most crucial and essential module in SAP for any company, it is the minimum or basic SAP module available throughout every company, and it is always in demand due to its higher hiring requirements and fewer responsibilities.

ABAP works in the background to develop reports and show data, integrating various business processes in SAP.

4. What kind of RAM does SAP HANA use for processing and storing data?

SAP HANA uses non-volatile RAM, which is different from traditional volatile RAM, to process and store data faster than older database systems.

5. What are the two storage types used in SAP HANA, and what is the advantage of using a column store?

SAP HANA uses both row stores and column stores; the advantage of using a column store is that it allows for more efficient data compression and query processing, especially for complex analytical queries.

6. What is the role of SAP in integrating business processes?

SAP is used to create or integrate business processes using the ERG or enterprise resource platform modules, it transfers system applications and products, enabling seamless integration of various business processes.

7. Why is SAP ABAP better than other programming languages?

SAP ABAP is a pretty easy coding language integrated with the SAP system, making it easier to switch to other modules within the system, it also offers better job opportunities in the technical area and has a strong community and support system.

8. What are the three layers of the R3 architecture?

The three layers of the R3 architecture are the presentation, Application, and Database layers.

9. How does using SAP’s HANA database differ from other databases like Oracle or DB6?

HANA, SAP promotes performing most calculations and complex tasks at the database rather than the application layer, taking advantage of recent hardware and software innovations.

10. What is the difference between the application layer in ECC and HANA systems?

The application layer in HANA systems uses an in-memory state, while the application layer in ECC systems uses a row store table concept.

11. How does the HANA system handle table creation?

By default, every table in the HANA system is a row-store table, but users can make it a column-store table.

12. What is the role of the server in the most accessible HANA system?

The server in the most accessible HANA system connects to the system and manages the data.

13. What is the difference between the R3 architecture and HANA?

The R3 architecture and HANA are based on the presentation, application, and database layers, still, HANA is a high-performance analytical application or appliance, while the R3 architecture is a conventional database system.

14. What is the role of the application layer in the R3 architecture?

The application layer in the R3 architecture handles all logic processing, ensuring that data is processed efficiently and the load on the database layer is minimised.

15. What is the delivery process in a HANA system?

The delivery process in a HANA system involves invoicing, which is part of the sales order, and accounting, which FIC handles.

16. What is the purpose of the presentation layer in the R3 architecture?

The presentation layer in the R3 architecture is used to give input and see output, remaining the same across different architectures.

17. What is the role of the Database layer in R3 architecture?

The Database layer, which handles data processing from the database layer to the application, is the third layer of the R3 architecture.

18. What are the three phases that R3 architecture handles?

The R3 architecture is designed to handle three phases: data flow, representation, application, and database.

19. How does the Hana system’s application layer differ from the ECC system?

The Hana system uses an inhale state for faster processing, while the ECC system checks for available data before pushing it to the output.

20. What is the difference between “update” and “modify” in SAP?

In SAP, “modify” acts as both an “insert” and “update” statement, while “update” is used to change the existing data, if a user is in an “update” or “insert” state, it will try to modify the existing data.

21. What is a table in a database?

A table is an object or element used to store data in a table or format, it has columns, rows, and columns called fields, while rows or actual data are table entries.

22. What is the concept of post-processing in the R3 architecture?

Post-processing in the R3 architecture includes modifying, adding, or deleting data, which happens again in the application layer after the data is extracted from the

23. What is the role of a server in accessing a SAP system?

A server acts as a medium or channel for accessing an SAP system, connecting the R and SAP systems.

24. What is ABAP, and what is its significance in SAP?

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is an independent coding language that does not require any coding experience prerequisite, making it a fresh language for learning.

It is used in SAP to extract data from the database and display it in a readable format to the end user.

25. What are the different categories of the SAP system?

The SAP system has two categories: technical and functional, technical categories include ABAP basis and DB, which handle database-related activities, maintenance load capacity, and memory capacity.

Functional areas within the SAP include sales and distribution, material management, supply chain management, plan maintenance, and finance and accounting.

26. What is the role of an ABAP developer in managing data?

The role of an ABAP developer is to ensure that data is available in the database and to pull it from the presentation server, the basic commands used in ABAP include select, update, insert, modify, and delete.

27. What is the purpose of the server concept in SAP?

The server concept in SAP establishes a connection between the R desktop and the database layer, creating communication between the R desktop and the database layer.

28. What is a tier in SAP systems, and what is its purpose?

A tier is a unique number list generator that releases or moves objects from one system to another, the development system generates it, essential for moving objects from the development system to the target system.

29. What are the three systems in SAP, and what are their IDs?

The three systems in SAP are development, quality, and production, each system has a separate ID (Initial Design) that can vary depending on the project and company.

30. What is the difference between local and transportable objects in SAP?

Local objects are used for testing or practising in the system and cannot be transported to target systems, while transportable objects can be moved between systems to implement changes.

31. What is the role of the quality system in the SAP development process?

The quality system is where changes made in the development system are tested thoroughly before being released to the production system.

32. What is the role of the object navigator transaction code (SCAD) in SAP?

The object navigator transaction code (SCAD) is used to navigate to any ABAP-related objects in SAP, such as package program tables and development objects.

33. What are standard and custom objects in SAP?

SAP creates standard objects that cannot be changed, while consultants create custom objects that can be modified according to business requirements.

34. What is the role of a database table in SAP?

A database table stores data in a tabular format and is available on top of the database, these tables store information or data related to the organisation in SAP.

35. What is a server, and what is its role in the SAP system?

A server is a channel through which we can connect to the SAP system, it acts as a hub for communication between different parts of the system.

36. What are the functions of SAP’s three systems (development, quality, and production)?

Development systems are used to create new objects, quality systems test objects and tables and ensure that any new object is always made in the development system, and production systems have limited access, mostly given to developers and end users.

37. What is the initial screen of SAP called?

The initial screen of SAP is called the first. It contains many icons and relevant information, the top left has a command field for entering transaction codes and a SCAD object navigator for navigating ABAP-related objects.

38. What is the purpose of the object navigator and command fields in SAP?

The object navigator is used to navigate to workbench objects above a bench object, and the command field is the top left field used to input transaction codes and navigate to applications, shortcuts or extensions to T codes can also be given to any T code using the command field.

39. What is the role of transaction codes in SAP, and why are they important?

Transaction codes are crucial in SAP because they allow users to navigate to different screens and applications and help users access specific functionalities in the system.

40. What types of transaction codes exist in SAP, and what are their differences?

SAP creates standard T codes that cannot be changed, ABAP consultants create customised T codes, which can be modified, it creates standard objects that can only be reused, while consultants create custom objects that can be changed, made, or deleted.

41. What is the difference between primary and secondary keys in a database system?

A primary key is a unique field that allows for unique entries, while a secondary key is a non-unique key field that allows for repetition without any issues, multiple primary keys can be used in a table but differ in functionality.

42. How can users navigate to the data dictionary in SAP?

Users can use the SE11 T code to navigate to the data dictionary.

43. What is the role of a domain in a database system?

A domain is responsible for giving the data declaration to a field in a database system, it is a user-specific name that starts with ‘set’ and defines the data type.

44. What are the most commonly used data types in a database system?

The most commonly used data types in a database system are character, numeric, and string data types.

45. How to create a new field in a table?

To create a new field in a table, first add the field name and choose whether to make it a key or a non-key field, then, please save a new data element with the desired data type.

46. Why is it important to check and activate a database table?

Checking a database table performs syntax checks on the table while activating it saves, checks, and activates it, making it ready to be used in a program or report.

47. What are the steps to create a transparent or database table in SQL Server?

The process of creating a transparent table or database table in SQL Server, including selecting the correct decode, creating the custom object name, filling in the short description, choosing the delivery and main demands tab, selecting the data browser or table viewing property, adding fields, and setting initial values.

48. What is buffering when creating an SQL Server table?

Buffering is an issue that needs to be addressed when creating a table in SQL Server; if you uncheck the ‘log changes button’, the data will not be saved in the database by default.

49. What authorisation groups are used when creating a table maintenance generator (TMG) in SQL Server?

The first authorisation group restricts maintenance activities, and the second authorisation group is usually chosen when creating a table without an authorisation group.

50. How can you delete a TMG?

To delete a TMG, open it from utilities, tables, maintenance, and generator and click on delete, by default, all checkboxes will be checked.

Conclusion

SAP ABAP on Hana is a revolutionary business application software that enhances performance, data processing, and integration with other systems.

Its in-memory technology and advanced analytics provide real-time reporting, enabling better decision-making and efficient business operations, providing a competitive edge in the data-driven economy.