Entering ! (exclamation sign) in the OBLIGATORY parameter doesn't work as input. Why?

Question

Suppose we have following selection screen:

PARAMETERS: d_char OBLIGATORY.

WRITE d_char.

When the user enters ! in this field of selection-screen and runs the program, it still prompts for required entry in this field.

Why?

Answer 1

You can find the answer in the documentation for Dynpro Fields.

When dynpro fields are received from input fields on the screen, input fields are templates that expect a certain format depending on the data type of the underlying dynpro field. When passed to the dynpro field, the input is converted to a value of the appropriate type. This also means that some characters function as special characters by default.

The "!" character in the initial position of an input field on the screen deletes all characters in the field before the data transport.

The "=" character in the initial position of an input field on the screen initiates a search using search helps.

If an input field contains only blanks and "_" characters, the latter are transported as blanks.

To deactivate the template and also the modifying effect of special characters, the attribute Without Template can be activated in Screen Painter. However, the template cannot be deactivated for selection screens.

Answer 2

Define the parameter as TYPE STRING and you will receive the ! as well as the = or even a space.