Enhancement to a Standard Class

Sometimes we come across a requirement which cannot be solved using available standard methods. In
such cases we can either enhance the existing method or go for our custom development. This document
explains how to add a custom method to a standard global class and how to enhance an existing method
using exits. Below are three different exits available to enhance a standard method:
1. Pre-Method Exit: Implement this exit if we want to execute our custom logic before standard method
gets executed.
2. Post-Method Exit: Implement this exit if we want to execute our custom logic after the standard
method gets executed.
3. Overwrite-Method Exit: If we want to completely replace the standard logic then this exit should be
implemented.
Steps
1) Go to transaction SE24 and open up a standard class (CL_SALV_TABLE) in our case.

2) Now select the option class->Enhance to create an enhancement implementation.

3) A pop up screen will appear where we need to pass enhancement implementation name and
description.

4) Once the implementation gets created successfully a message will appear at the bottom of the screen
and standard interface screen opens up in change mode.

5) Now add a public method as shown below and implement the logic inside this method.

6) We are going to display an information message inside this method.

7) Now our next task is to add/modify the logic of existing standard method. For this put your cursor on
the method name (DISPLAY in our case) and select the option Edit->Enhancement Operations>Insert Pre-Method / Insert Post-Method/Add Overwrite Method. Pre-Method gets called before the
standard method and Post-Method gets called after the standard method. But if we want to
completely replace the standard method logic with our won logic we can go for Over write method
which gets called (if implementation is active) in place of standard method.

8) We are going to implement the pre method first. So once we select the Insert Pre-Method option,
source code button
starts appearing on the Pre-Exit column. Press this button to implement
the pre-method of display.

9) In pre-method of display add logic to display an information message.

10) Repeat steps 7 & 8 to implement Post-Exit method of display.

11) Implement the post-exit method to display an information message.

12) It should be noted that, if at this point we try to implement the over write exit, it will give a
compilation error. This happens because we cannot have over write exit along with Pre/Post
exit.

13) Now create a report with the below logic to display an ALV output using DISPLAY method of class
CL_SALV_TABLE.

14) When we execute the report with above logic, a pop up window gets displayed. This information message
appears because of new method (MY_METHOD) which we have added to class CL_SALV_TABLE. Press
enter to process further.

15) New pop up will appear due to logic that has been implemented in Pre-Exit method of display. Press enter
to process further.

16) Now ALV output will get displayed. This is the normal case when we call DISPLAY method of class
CL_SALV_TABLE. Now press back button present at the top of the ALV screen.

17) When we press the back button from ALV screen another pop up will appear and this comes due to logic
we have implemented in post-exit method.

18) In next step delete the pre/post exit implementations. This is required to implement the over write exit for
display method.

19) Now add over write exit for display method and implement its logic.

20) Add logic to display an information message in over write exit method of display. It should be noted here
that code in the upper part of the below screen shot got generated automatically. We just added the
message logic in it.

21) Now execute the below logic and see the results.

22) Only a pop up window will appear and there will not be any ALV display. This happened because when we
called the display( ) method from our report it calls the implemented over write exit method in place of
standard display method.
Summary
To enhance logic of a standard method of a global class we can opt for the available exit:

Pre-Method exit: Called before the standard method.

Post-Method exit: Called after the standard method.

Overwrite Method exit: Replaces the standard method.

Source Code
Create a report with below logic:
DATA: lt_sflight TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF sflight.
SELECT * FROM sflight INTO TABLE lt_sflight UP TO 10 ROWS.
DATA: l_or_alv TYPE REF TO cl_salv_table.
TRY.
CALL METHOD CL_SALV_TABLE=>FACTORY
IMPORTING
R_SALV_TABLE = l_or_alv
CHANGING
T_TABLE
= lt_sflight.
CATCH CX_SALV_MSG .
ENDTRY.
l_or_alv->display( ).