SAP IFDEFINE Interface structure for data format definition Table data and field list

IFDEFINE 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 "Interface structure for data format 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_IFDEFINE TYPE IFDEFINE.

The IFDEFINE table consists of various fields, each holding specific information or linking keys about Interface structure for data format definition data available in SAP. These include METHOD (Method), ATTRIBUTE (Attributes), LENGTH (Length of an attribute in the interface structure), POSIT (Position of an attribute in the interface structure)... 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. .

IFDEFINE structure Technical Details:

Delivery Class:
Display/Maintenance via tcode SM30: Display/Maintenance Allowed but with Restrictions
SAP enhancement categories: Not classified

SAP IFDEFINE 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 IFDEFINE 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
OBJECTTYPE	Object type	OBJ_TYP	CHAR	32			SWC_EDITEL
METHOD	Method	SWO_METHOD	CHAR	32			SWC_ELEM
ATTRIBUTE	Attributes	SWO_ATTRIB	CHAR	32			SWC_ELEM
LENGTH	Length of an attribute in the interface structure	IFATTRLEN	NUMC	4			NUMC4
POSIT	Position of an attribute in the interface structure	IFATTRPOS	NUMC	4			NUMC4

Key field

Non-key field

< IFATTRIBUT - Interface structure for transferring one attribute IFDNAME - Structure for ORDER-BY clause under SELECT >

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

As IFDEFINE 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 IFDEFINE as there is no data to select.

How to access SAP table IFDEFINE

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

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