SAP ABAP: How to Delete CDS Views Safely

How to Delete a CDS View in SAP ABAP

Deleting a Core Data Services (CDS) view in SAP ABAP is straightforward, but it is essential to follow proper procedures to avoid unintentional impacts on other objects or applications. CDS views are defined in the ABAP Dictionary and can be deleted using ABAP Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse.

Here are the steps to delete a CDS view:

Steps to Delete a CDS View in SAP ABAP

Step 1: Open ADT in Eclipse

1. Launch Eclipse and switch to the ABAP Perspective.

• Go to Window > Perspective > Open Perspective > Other... and select ABAP.

2. Connect to your SAP system using the appropriate credentials and ensure you are connected to the relevant ABAP project.

Step 2: Locate the CDS View to Delete

1. In Eclipse, open the Project Explorer or ABAP Repository.
2. Navigate to the package that contains the CDS view you want to delete.
3. Search for the CDS view by its name in the project or browse through the structure.

Step 3: Right-click and Delete the CDS View

1. Once you find the CDS view, right-click on it.
2. In the context menu, select Delete.

Step 4: Confirm Deletion

1. A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you are sure about deleting the object.
2. Confirm the deletion by clicking OK.

Step 5: Handle Transport Request (Optional)

1. If the CDS view was included in a transport request, you may be asked to either keep it in the transport or remove it.
2. You can select Keep in Transport if you want to delete the view from the system but keep the changes in the transport request.

Step 6: Activate and Save Changes

• After deletion, you may want to save and activate any remaining objects in the package to reflect changes in the system.

Considerations When Deleting a CDS View

• Dependencies: Ensure the CDS view is not being used by other views, programs, or OData services. Deleting it may break any dependent objects.
• Use SE11 (ABAP Dictionary) or the “Where Used” function to check for dependencies.
• Transport Requests: If the CDS view is part of a transport request, consider whether you want to include the deletion in the transport.
• Standard CDS Views: Avoid deleting standard CDS views if they are part of a standard SAP application. Custom views (those starting with Z or Y) can generally be safely deleted.

How to Delete CDS Views via SE11 (ABAP Dictionary)

1. Go to Transaction SE11.
2. Enter the name of the CDS view in the View Name field.
3. Click Display to open the view.
4. From the menu, go to Utilities > Delete.
5. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Alternative: Deleting a CDS View via the Command Line

You can also delete a CDS view using the ABAP command line (within SE80 or ADT), though this is less common.

DELETE VIEW <view_name>.

However, this method is often used for temporary or system-generated views, and it might require additional permissions.

🔹 Summary

To delete a CDS view in SAP ABAP:

1. Open Eclipse with ABAP Development Tools (ADT).
2. Find the CDS view in your ABAP repository.
3. Right-click and select Delete.
4. Confirm the deletion and handle any transport requests.
5. Make sure no other objects depend on the view.

By following the correct process, you can safely delete CDS views and ensure that your system remains intact.

Would you like more details on how to handle dependencies or how to safely delete a custom CDS view in a transportable system? Let me know! 🚀