SAP CIF_CHAEXT APO Transfer Structure for Characteristic Definition Table data and field list

CIF_CHAEXT is a standard SAP Structure so does not store data like a database table does. It can be used to define the fields of other actual tables or to process "APO Transfer Structure for Characteristic Definition" Information within sap ABAP programs.

This is done by declaring abap internal tables, work areas or database tables based on this Structure. These can then be used to store and process the required data appropriately.

i.e. DATA: wa_CIF_CHAEXT TYPE CIF_CHAEXT.

The CIF_CHAEXT table consists of various fields, each holding specific information or linking keys about APO Transfer Structure for Characteristic Definition data available in SAP. These include CHAR_NAME (Characteristic Name), DATA_TYPE (Data type of characteristic), CHAR_TYPE (Flag: characteristic type (nominal, ordinal, cardinal) (APO)), FLG_QFIELD (Indicator: Characteristic is Stored Internally as a Figure)... See below for full list along with technical details, documentation, text table, check tables, foreign key relationships, conversion routines, relevant tcodes and example ABAP select code etc. .

CIF_CHAEXT structure Technical Details:

Delivery Class:
Display/Maintenance via tcode SM30: Display/Maintenance Allowed but with Restrictions
SAP enhancement categories: Cannot Be Enhanced

SAP CIF_CHAEXT structure fields - Full list of fields found in SAP data dictionary

Looking for S/4HANA specific information? Click here to explore the details, fields and extensibility available for this table in the SAP S/4HANA version of the CIF_CHAEXT table. Also check whether the table still exists or has been transformed into a CDS view as part of the HANA simplifications.

Field	Description	Data Element	Data Type	length (Dec)	Check table	Conversion Routine	Domain Name	MemoryID	SHLP
CHAR_ID	Internal characteristic	ATINN	NUMC	10	Assigned to domain	ATINN	ATINN
CHAR_NAME	Characteristic Name	ATNAM	CHAR	30			ATNAM	FEA
DATA_TYPE	Data type of characteristic	ATFOR	CHAR	4			ATFOR
CHAR_TYPE	Flag: characteristic type (nominal, ordinal, cardinal) (APO)	APOCHATYPE	CHAR	1			CHAR_TYPE
FLG_QFIELD	Indicator: Characteristic is Stored Internally as a Figure	FLGQUAN	CHAR	1			KREUZ
LENGTH	Number of Characters	ANZST	INT2	5			ANZST
DECIMALS	Number of Decimal Places	ANZDZ	INT2	5			ANZDZ
SMALL_LETT	Case Sensitive	ATKLE	CHAR	1			XFELD
SIGNED	Value with Plus or Minus Sign	ATVOR	CHAR	1			XFELD
SUMABLE	Aggregating characteristic	ATEND	CHAR	1			ATXFE
BASE_UNIT	Unit of Measurement	MSEHI	UNIT	3	Assigned to domain	CUNIT	MEINS
METHOD	Method to be Executed During the Transfer of an Object	CIFMETHOD	CHAR	1			CIFMETHOD

Key field

Non-key field

< CIF_CHACLA - Transfer Structure CIF/APO: Assignments Classes-Characts CIF_CHANN - Table for Locking Channels to Target Systems >

How do I retrieve data from SAP structure CIF_CHAEXT using ABAP code?

As CIF_CHAEXT is a database structure and not a table it does not store any data in the SAP data dictionary. The ABAP SELECT statement is therefore not appropriate and can not be performed on CIF_CHAEXT as there is no data to select.

How to access SAP table CIF_CHAEXT

Within an ECC or HANA version of SAP you can also view further information about CIF_CHAEXT and the data within it using relevant transactions such as

SE11 (ABAP Dictionary Maintenance)
SM30 (Maintain Table Data)
SE80 (Object Navigator)
SE16 (Data Browser).