Microsoft
Visual Studio Code (Code) is popular programmer’s IDE these days. First, it is a
free, open source, cross-platform code editor. It includes support for
debugging, syntax highlighting, IntelliSense code completion, and embedded Git.
The Code also includes built-in tools for web development such as IntelliSense,
code snippets, and refactoring. It can be used for both small and large
projects, and is a great choice for developers who want to quickly create
applications without having to learn a complex language. It is a lightweight
code editor that can be used to write, debug, and test code across many
different programming languages, including JavaScript, CSS, Node.js, and HTML.
Wait
a bit, what about ABAP? Can I use the VS Code to code in the ABAP? It turns out
yes you can! It is possible due to “ABAP
remote filesystem for visual studio code” (ABAP FS) plugin to the Code written
by Marcello Urbani. Let us have a look how to install this extension to develop
in ABAP in MS Visual Studio Code.
Install
the Code (e.g. from here).
I choose a version for MS Windows OS. Notice that you can even installed in MS
Windows machines where you do not have an administrator rights granted. Once it
is installed open the extension part of it from left side. Here type ABAP
remote filesystem for visual studio code to search for this plug. Once it is
found click on little blue Install button to get it installed.
There are few
more plugins to be installed as they are dependencies to the ABAP one. Thus
also install following ones:
·
ABAP
by Lars Hvam
·
ABAP
CDS language Support by Frederik Hudak
·
Winregistry
by Marcello Urbani
Another
requirement is to have installed ABAP
Development tools for eclipse (ADT) installed in SAP
HANA Studio on a machine where you installed the MS Code. You can install
the ADT from here https://tools.hana.ondemand.com/#abap.
One more prerequisite is to enable ADT specific
service at SAP ABAP server. Once you log in there via SAP GUI run SICF t-code. Navigate
to the service: default_host -> sap
-> bc -> adt. If the service is not active just activate it via right
click: Activate service.
Now
you need to setup the ABAP plugin in the Code. In the Code, navigate to ABAP FS
extension and click on little Manage
icon and then choose Extension Settings.
Here
choose Edit in settings.json.
In
the JSON file, provide an input into following fields:
·
SID
of ABAP NetWeaver system (3 characters abbreviations)
·
url
of ABAP NetWeaver system
·
username
in the ABAP NetWeaver system
·
password
of above user
· client of ABAP NetWeaver system
Once
this is done press F1 and enter following command:
ABAPfs Connect to an
ABAP system
Afterwards,
there should be a new icon appearing in left part of yoru CODE IDE called ABAP
FS.
Now
you can go to Explorer part of the Code and here you can access ABAP repository
objects e.g. under $TMP development class that belong to yoru user. From here,
you just click on the ABAP object e.g. program and it gets opened in the
Editor.
I
faced following issues while setting the plugin up:
·
No ABAP filesystem mounted in current
workspace – I forgot
to update url part of configuration JSON file for the plugin.
·
Unable to get local issuer certificate - I forgot to put SID of my ABAP
system in configuration JSON file for the plugin.
More information:
