changing-the-content-of-existing-data-elements-074667b.md

Changing the Content of Existing Data Elements

Using PATCH operations, it's possible to change the content of an existing data element. The following changes can be specified:

• Changes to header-level properties, such as the data type or the field labels

The code sample below illustrates how the following changes can be performed with a single PATCH operation:

• Update the short description
• Update the data type
• Update the short field label

Sample Code:

DATA(lv_transport) = CONV sxco_transport( '...' ).
DATA(lv_data_element_name) = CONV sxco_ad_object_name( 'MY_DATA_ELEMENT' ).
 
DATA(lo_patch_operation) = xco_cp_generation=>environment->dev_system( lv_transport
  )->for-dtel->create_patch_operation( ).
 
DATA(lo_change_specification) = lo_patch_operation->add_object( lv_data_element_name
  )->create_change_specification( ).
 
" Change header-level properties.
lo_change_specification->for-update->set_short_description( 'My new short description'
  )->set_data_type( xco_cp_abap_dictionary=>built_in_type->int4
  )->field_label-short->set_text( 'Sh. FL' )->set_length( 10 ).
 
lo_patch_operation->execute( ).