SAP ABAP Date Validation: Handling Empty and Invalid Dates

How to Check and Handle Initial Values for Date Fields in SAP ABAP

In SAP ABAP, a date field (DATS type) has an initial (empty) value of ‘00000000’ if it’s not assigned a value. Here’s how you can check and handle it.

1. Check if a Date Field is Initial

You can use the IS INITIAL condition:

DATA: lv_date TYPE sy-datum.

IF lv_date IS INITIAL.
  WRITE: 'The date field is initial (empty).'.
ELSE.
  WRITE: 'The date field has a value:', lv_date.
ENDIF.

✅ Works for any DATS type variable ✅ Initial date value is 00000000

2. Assign an Initial Value to a Date Field

If you want to explicitly set a date field to its initial state:

DATA: lv_date TYPE sy-datum.

CLEAR lv_date.  " Sets it to '00000000'
WRITE: 'Date after clearing:', lv_date.

✅ Ensures the field is empty (initial)

3. Setting a Default Date Instead of Initial Value

If you want to replace the initial value with a default date:

IF lv_date IS INITIAL.
  lv_date = sy-datum.  " Assigns current date if empty
ENDIF.

WRITE: 'Final date:', lv_date.

✅ Prevents processing errors when working with empty dates

4. Checking if a Date is Valid (Not 00000000)

DATA: lv_date TYPE sy-datum.

lv_date = '20240230'.  " Invalid date

CALL FUNCTION 'DATE_CHECK_PLAUSIBILITY'
  EXPORTING
    date   = lv_date
  IMPORTING
    result = DATA(lv_valid).

IF lv_valid = abap_true.
  WRITE: 'Valid date:', lv_date.
ELSE.
  WRITE: 'Invalid or initial date!'.
ENDIF.

✅ Ensures that the date is both set and valid

Best Practices