2 Column Array in SAP ABAP A = 1, B = 2... ZZZ = ?

Question

I need to create a 2 column array in ABAP so that a program can look up a record item (defined by the letters A - ZZZ) and then return the number associated with it.

For example:

A = 1
B = 2
C = 3
...
Z = 26
AA = 27
AB = 28
...
AZ =
BA =
...
BZ =
CA =
...
...
ZZZ =

Please can you suggest how I can code this.

Is there a better option than writing an array?

Thanks.

Answer 1

perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but don't you want something like this?

type: begin of t_lookup,
        rec_key type string,
        value type i,
      end of t_lookup.

data: it_lookup type hashed table of t_lookup with unique key rec_key.

then once it's populated, read it back

read table it_lookup with key rec_key = [value] assigning <s>.

if sy-subrc eq 0.
    " got something
else.
   " didn't
endif.

unfortunately, arrays don't exist in ABAP, but a hashed table is designed for this kind of lookup (fast access, unique keys).

Answer 2

you don't need to lookup the value in a table. this can be calculated:

parameters: p_input(3) type c value 'AAA'.

data: len type i value 0,
      multiplier type i value 1,
      result type i value 0,
      idx type i.

* how many characters are there?
len = strlen( p_input ).
idx = len.

* compute the value for every char starting at the end
* in 'ABC' the C is multiplied with 1, the B with 26 and the A with 26^2
do len times.

* p_input+idx(1) should be the actual character and we look it up in sy-abcde
  search p_input+idx(1) in SY-ABCDE.

* if p_input+idx(1) was A then sy-fdpos should now be set to 0 that is s why we add 1
  compute result = result + ( sy-fdpos + 1 ) * multiplier.

  idx = idx - 1.
  multiplier = multiplier * 26.
enddo.

write: / result.

i didn't test the program and it has pretty sure some syntax errors. but the algorithm behind it should work.