Display Types

For the ALV output, independent of the ALV tool, you are able to choose
between up to three display types:
 Classic ABAP list
The ALV output takes up the whole screen. This means you are only able
to display one ALV output. The screen is part of ALV.
 Full screen display
The ALV output takes up the whole screen. This means you are only able
to display one ALV output. The screen is part of ALV.
 In a SAP GUI container
You create a container of class CL_GUI_CONTAINER on your screen. The
ALV output is displayed in this container. With this type of display, you are
able, for example, to display more than ALV output on the screen or to mix
the output with other SAP Enjoy controls.
You are also able to display the simple, two-dimensional table and the
hierarchical-sequential list in a separate dialog box, the ALV popup.

The table that follows shows which display types you are able to use in which
ALV tool:

ALV Tools and Their Possible Display Types

Display type Classic ABAP list Fullscreen In the Container

ALV Tool

Simple, two-dimensional table Yes Yes Yes

Hierarchical-sequential list Yes No No

Tree Structure No Yes Yes

Note
Some functions that you are able to apply with the ALV object model are not
available in all display types. In the following chapters of this document, you
will learn which functions you can use where and where you cannot use them.
In places where the functions differ, you will find the following table:
 Display type Classic ABAP List Fullscreen In the Container
ALV Tool

Simple, two-dimensional table Yes Yes Yes

Hierarchical-sequential list No

Tree Structure Yes Yes

 The gray fields here display that this display type is not available in the
corresponding ALV tool.
 The display types designated with Yes are the ones in which you can use
the described function. At the end of each table you will find information on
how you can activate the function. The display types designated
with No are the ones in which the function is not possible.

Difference Between Display Types

Display types have different properties that affect the way the can be used.
The following list shows the most important differences between the display
types:
Managing the Screen
You are able to use the ALV object model to control the entire screen in the
following display types:
 In the classic ABAP list
 In the full-screen display
With ALV object model methods, you the have the option of defining the
screen status and
the header or footer area of the ALV output.
On the other hand, if you use the display in a GUI container, the effect of the
methods on the area within the container is limited. The screen status and
header/footer area of the ALV output cannot be reached from the ALV object
model.
Appearance
Above all, the classic ABAP list looks different from the other two display
types:
 The classic ABAP list looks like a traditional, row-oriented output. You only
have limited options for formatting and using color. Especially in the areas
 above and below the list, you are only able to use one font and very few
text colors.
 The full screen and the output in the container look very similar. Some
elements appear three dimensional (for example, the column header as a
pushbutton), the font and colors are more varied. You are also able to use
lines and other graphic elements.
However, you are only able to change the areas above and below the ALV
output using the ALV object mode only in display types in which ALV has
control over the whole screen.l There, various design options are available to
you:
Pushbutton toolbar
The only area outside of the actual ALV output that you can also influence in
the container as well is the application toolbar. In the Classic ABAP
List and Full Screen display types, if you are using functions, this is located
directly below the screen title. In the container display it is on the upper edge
of the container.
In the container displays, you change the application toolbar with the object
model methods directly. In the other display types, you design the application
toolbar using the screen status.
Methods
The majority of methods in the ALV object model are valid no matter which
display type you use for the ALV output. Nevertheless, there are a number of
differences, especially in the graphical design options, which means that
some methods are not possible in specific display types. Read the system
documentation for the classes and methods.

Set Up Display Type

You use the FACTORY method to determine which display type you want to
use for your ALV tool. This method is available to you in all three main ALV
classes. However, since you are not able to vary the display type in the
hierarchical-sequential list, the following sections only refer to simple, two-
dimensional tables and the tree structure.
Setting Up Display Type in a Simple, Two-Dimensional Table
In the CL_SALV_TABLE class, the FACTORY method gets the following
parameters that are relevant for the display type:
 LIST_DISPLAY
 R_CONTAINER
 CONTAINER_NAME
You determine how the table is displayed with a combination of these
parameters.

Parameter Settings for the Display Type

Parameter LIST_DISPLAY R_CONTAINER CONTAINER_NAME

Display type

Classic ABAP ABAP_TRUE Initial Initial

list

Fullscreen ABAP_FALSE Initial Initial

In the ABAP_FALSE Reference to container; type Name of the

Container CL_GUI_CONTAINER container

Setting Up Display Type in the Tree Structure

In the tree structure, you are able to choose whether you wish to display the
ALV output as full screen or in a container. To do this, use the
R_CONTAINER parameter from the FACTORY method:
 If you transfer a container (Type
CL_GUI_CONTAINER), you display the tree structure in this container.
 If the parameter is initial, you display the tree structure as full screen.