SAP SQL Guide: Mastering Open SQL & Native SQL for Efficient Database Access

SAP applications rely heavily on database access to process business transactions efficiently. SAP provides two main ways to interact with the database: Open SQL and Native SQL. Understanding the differences, advantages, and best practices of these methods is crucial for SAP developers and database administrators.

This blog explores both Open SQL and Native SQL in detail, highlighting their use cases, advantages, and limitations.

Understanding Open SQL

What is Open SQL?

Open SQL is a standardized database-independent interface provided by SAP that allows developers to perform operations on the database without worrying about the underlying database system. Open SQL statements are converted into database-specific SQL commands by the SAP database interface.

Key Features of Open SQL

1. Database Independence – Open SQL can run on any database supported by SAP, making applications portable.
2. Automatic Client Handling – Open SQL automatically filters data based on client data separation in multi-client environments.
3. Buffering Support – Frequently accessed data is cached in SAP table buffers, reducing database load.
4. Security and Performance Optimization – This query includes built-in security features and optimizations.

Basic Open SQL Statements

Open SQL statements include:

• SELECT – Fetch data from tables
• INSERT – Insert new records
• UPDATE – Modify existing records
• DELETE – Remove records

Commonly Used SAP SQL Commands

Below are some essential SQL commands used in SAP environments:

1. SELECT – Retrieving Data

SELECT * FROM MARA WHERE MATNR = '1000001';

This query retrieves all data from the MARA (Material Master) table where the material number (MATNR) is 1000001.

2. JOIN – Combining Data from Multiple Tables

SELECT A.MATNR, A.MTART, B.WERKS, B.LGORT
FROM MARA A
INNER JOIN MARD B ON A.MATNR = B.MATNR
WHERE B.WERKS = '1000';

This query joins MARA (Material Master) with MARD (Storage Location Data) based on the material number (MATNR) and filters data for plant 1000.

3. INSERT – Adding New Records

INSERT INTO ZCUSTOMER (CUST_ID, CUST_NAME, CITY)
VALUES ('C1001', 'John Doe', 'New York');

This command inserts a new record into the ZCUSTOMER table.

4. UPDATE – Modifying Existing Data

UPDATE MARA
SET MTART = 'ROH'
WHERE MATNR = '1000001';

This query updates the material type (MTART) of material 1000001 to ROH (Raw Material).

5. DELETE – Removing Records

DELETE FROM ZCUSTOMER WHERE CUST_ID = 'C1001';

This command deletes the record from ZCUSTOMER where the customer ID is C1001.

Optimizing SAP SQL Queries

Efficient SQL queries improve performance and system response times. Here are some best practices:

Optimize Subqueries: Replace subqueries with joins where applicable to improve performance.

Use Indexes: Indexing key columns can speed up query execution.

Avoid SELECT *: Retrieve only necessary fields to reduce system load.

Use WHERE Clauses: Filter data to minimize dataset size and improve performance.

Use INNER JOINS Instead of LEFT JOINS: If possible, inner joins are faster as they return only matching records.

Advantages of Open SQL

1. Cross-Database Compatibility – The same code works on any supported database.
2. Automatic Optimizations – SAP automatically optimizes queries for performance.
3. Security – Protects against SQL injection and unauthorized access.

Limitations of Open SQL

1. Limited SQL Features – Open SQL does not support advanced SQL operations like joins with external tables, complex subqueries, or database-specific functions.
2. Performance Overhead – Due to its abstraction layer, Open SQL may introduce performance overhead.
3. Restricted Access – Not all database tables can be accessed using Open SQL.

Understanding Native SQL

What is Native SQL?

Native SQL allows developers to write database-specific SQL commands directly within an ABAP program. Unlike Open SQL, Native SQL bypasses the SAP database interface and interacts directly with the database.

Key Features of Native SQL

1. Full Database Control – Developers can use advanced SQL features like stored procedures, functions, and complex joins.
2. Performance Optimization – Since it is executed directly by the database, it can be more efficient for complex queries.
3. Flexibility – Developers can use database-specific syntax and optimizations.

Basic Native SQL Statements

Native SQL statements use the EXEC SQL command in ABAP.

Example of Native SQL

DATA: lt_data TYPE TABLE OF ztable.
EXEC SQL.
  SELECT * FROM ztable WHERE status = 'Active'
ENDEXEC.

Alternatively, using ADBC (ABAP Database Connectivity), you can write:

DATA: lv_sql TYPE string,
      lo_stmt TYPE REF TO cl_sql_statement,
      lo_result TYPE REF TO cl_sql_result_set.

lv_sql = 'SELECT * FROM ztable WHERE status = ''Active'''.
CREATE OBJECT lo_stmt.
lo_stmt->execute_query( lv_sql ).

Advantages of Native SQL

1. Advanced SQL Features – Supports database-specific functions, joins, and stored procedures.
2. Performance – Can be optimized for specific databases for faster execution.
3. Extended Functionality – Provides access to features unavailable in Open SQL.

Limitations of Native SQL

1. Database Dependency – Queries must be rewritten when switching databases.
2. Manual Security Handling – Developers must handle security risks like SQL injection manually.
3. No Automatic Client Handling – Developers need to explicitly include the client column when working in multi-client environments.

Comparison of Open SQL and Native SQL

Feature	Open SQL	Native SQL
Database Independence	Yes	No
Client Handling	Automatic	Manual
SQL Injection Protection	Built-in	Developer’s Responsibility
Performance	Optimized but limited	High for complex queries
Support for Advanced SQL Features	No	Yes
Ease of Use	Easy	Requires SQL knowledge

When to Use Open SQL vs. Native SQL?

Use Open SQL When:

• The application needs to support multiple databases.
• Security and client handling should be managed automatically.
• Queries are simple and do not require advanced database features.
• Performance optimizations through table buffering are needed.

Use Native SQL When:

• Database-specific optimizations and advanced SQL features are required.
• Performance is critical, and complex joins or stored procedures need to be executed.
• A specific database is being used, and compatibility is not a concern.

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