Reading Worksheet Data into an ABAP Table

convert_to_table is the upload counterpart to bind_table. Where bind_table writes an ABAP internal table into a worksheet, convert_to_table reads cell data back out of a worksheet into an ABAP internal table. It is defined on zcl_excel_worksheet.

Signature

METHODS convert_to_table
  IMPORTING
    it_field_catalog TYPE zexcel_t_fieldcatalog OPTIONAL
    iv_begin_row     TYPE int4 DEFAULT 2
    iv_end_row       TYPE int4 DEFAULT 0
  EXPORTING
    et_data          TYPE STANDARD TABLE
    er_data          TYPE REF TO data
  RAISING
    zcx_excel.

Parameters

Parameter	Direction	Default	Purpose
it_field_catalog	Importing	—	Field catalog describing target columns and types
iv_begin_row	Importing	2	First data row to read (default skips a header row)
iv_end_row	Importing	0 (all)	Last row to read; 0 means read to the last populated row
et_data	Exporting	—	Typed ABAP internal table — values are converted to the declared ABAP types
er_data	Exporting	—	REF TO data pointing to a string-column table — raw cell text, no conversion losses

Choosing between et_data and er_data

Scenario	Use
You have a matching ABAP Dictionary structure and want typed output	et_data with it_field_catalog
Cell values contain leading zeros, special formatting, or precision you cannot afford to lose	er_data
You need to map only selected columns	it_field_catalog with et_data
Quick prototyping / unknown sheet structure	er_data — no catalog needed

et_data and er_data can be used simultaneously in the same call.

Basic example — typed read with field catalog

DATA: lo_excel     TYPE REF TO zcl_excel,
      lo_reader    TYPE REF TO zif_excel_reader,
      lo_worksheet TYPE REF TO zcl_excel_worksheet,
      lt_catalog   TYPE zexcel_t_fieldcatalog,
      ls_catalog   TYPE zexcel_s_fieldcatalog,
      lt_materials TYPE TABLE OF zmy_material_s.

" Read workbook
CREATE OBJECT lo_reader TYPE zcl_excel_reader_2007.
lo_excel = lo_reader->load_file( lv_xstring ).
lo_worksheet = lo_excel->get_active_worksheet( ).

" Define field catalog matching column order in the sheet
ls_catalog-col_pos   = 1.  ls_catalog-fieldname = 'MATNR'.  APPEND ls_catalog TO lt_catalog.
ls_catalog-col_pos   = 2.  ls_catalog-fieldname = 'MAKTX'.  APPEND ls_catalog TO lt_catalog.
ls_catalog-col_pos   = 3.  ls_catalog-fieldname = 'MEINS'.  APPEND ls_catalog TO lt_catalog.

" Convert — row 1 is the header, data starts at row 2
lo_worksheet->convert_to_table(
  EXPORTING
    it_field_catalog = lt_catalog
    iv_begin_row     = 2
  IMPORTING
    et_data          = lt_materials ).

Basic example — lossless string read

Use er_data when you need the raw cell text exactly as it appears in the sheet:

DATA: lr_data    TYPE REF TO data,
      lt_strings TYPE TABLE OF string.  " illustrative — actual type is dynamic

lo_worksheet->convert_to_table(
  EXPORTING
    iv_begin_row = 2
  IMPORTING
    er_data      = lr_data ).

" Dereference to access rows
ASSIGN lr_data->* TO FIELD-SYMBOL(<lt_raw>).

The table behind er_data has one string column per spreadsheet column, preserving leading zeros, date formats, and long decimals without rounding.

Limiting the row range

" Read only rows 5 through 25
lo_worksheet->convert_to_table(
  EXPORTING
    iv_begin_row = 5
    iv_end_row   = 25
  IMPORTING
    et_data      = lt_result ).

Setting iv_end_row = 0 (the default) reads all rows from iv_begin_row to get_highest_row( ).

Field catalog for convert_to_table

The same zexcel_t_fieldcatalog / zexcel_s_fieldcatalog type used by bind_table controls the conversion:

• col_pos — 1-based column position in the sheet (required)
• fieldname — name of the target ABAP structure field
• inttype — ABAP type kind (optional; inferred from the target structure if omitted)
• ref_table / ref_field — dictionary reference for currency/quantity fields

When no catalog is supplied, all columns are read as strings into er_data.

Relationship to bind_table and get_table

Method	Direction	Catalog	Use case
bind_table	ABAP → sheet	Supported	Write typed ABAP data to a worksheet
convert_to_table	Sheet → ABAP	Supported	Read sheet data back into typed ABAP table
get_table	Sheet → ABAP	Not supported	Quick untyped extraction by row/column range

get_table (parameters: iv_skipped_rows, iv_skipped_cols, iv_max_col, iv_max_row, iv_skip_bottom_empty_rows) is a simpler alternative for quick reads where type conversion is not needed.

Round-trip pattern

A common integration pattern uses bind_table to produce a template and convert_to_table to ingest user-edited returns:

" 1. Export: ABAP → Excel (distribute to user)
lo_ws->bind_table( ip_table = lt_orders it_field_catalog = lt_catalog ).

" 2. User edits the Excel file and returns it
" 3. Import: Excel → ABAP
lo_ws_returned->convert_to_table(
  EXPORTING it_field_catalog = lt_catalog
  IMPORTING et_data          = lt_orders_updated ).

See also

• bind_table and Field Catalog
• Reading Excel Files
• Template Filling