1. What is a CDS view and how is it different from a traditional database view?
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A CDS view provides a semantic data model with features such as annotations, associations, and calculated elements. It can support data reuse, application development, and analytical scenarios within modern SAP environments.
2. How would you expose SAP data through an OData service?
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I would define the required data model and service structure, implement the required business logic, configure the service exposure, and test the resulting endpoints. Authentication, authorization, payload structure, and error handling should also be validated.
3. What is the purpose of SAP Gateway in ABAP development?
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SAP Gateway provides technologies for exposing SAP business data and functionality through services such as OData. It supports integration between SAP backend systems and applications including Fiori-based user interfaces.
4. How would you troubleshoot an OData service that returns an unexpected response?
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I would verify the request URL and parameters, inspect service metadata, check backend implementation logic, review authorization settings, and analyze gateway or application logs. I would then reproduce the request and correct the relevant processing layer.
5. What are annotations in CDS development?
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CDS annotations provide metadata that describes how a data model should behave or be consumed. They can support areas such as user interface presentation, analytics, semantics, and service-related behavior.
6. How does RAP support modern ABAP application development?
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The ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model provides a structured approach for developing transactional applications and services. It combines data modeling, behavior definitions, service exposure, and transactional processing within a standardized development model.
7. What is the purpose of behavior definitions in RAP?
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Behavior definitions describe the transactional capabilities and rules of RAP business objects. They can define operations such as create, update, delete, validations, determinations, and actions.
8. How would you secure a custom ABAP application?
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I would apply authorization checks where required, validate user inputs, protect sensitive business information, follow secure coding practices, and ensure that exposed services are configured with appropriate authentication and authorization controls.
9. What is the role of ABAP Development Tools in modern SAP development?
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ABAP Development Tools provide an Eclipse-based environment for working with modern ABAP artifacts such as CDS views, classes, interfaces, and RAP applications. They also provide integrated development, testing, and code analysis capabilities.
10. How would you investigate slow response times in an SAP application?
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I would identify whether the delay originates from database access, ABAP processing, external communication, or another application layer. Runtime analysis and SQL tracing can then help locate expensive operations for targeted optimization.