Use XSDBOOL to set Boolean variables

DATA(has_entries) = xsdbool( line IS NOT INITIAL ).

The equivalent IF-THEN-ELSE is much longer for nothing:

" anti-pattern
IF line IS INITIAL.
  has_entries = abap_false.
ELSE.
  has_entries = abap_true.
ENDIF.

xsdbool is the best method for our purpose, as it directly produces a char1, which fits our boolean type abap_bool best. The equivalent functions boolc and boolx produce different types and add an unnecessary implicit type conversion.

We agree that the name xsdbool is unlucky and misleading; after all, we’re not at all interested in the “XML Schema Definition” parts that the “xsd” prefix suggests.

A possible alternative to xsdbool is the COND ternary form. Its syntax is intuitive, but a little longer because it needlessly repeats the THEN abap_true segment, and requires knowledge of the implicit default value abap_false - which is why we suggest it only as secondary solution.

DATA(has_entries) = COND abap_bool( WHEN line IS NOT INITIAL THEN abap_true ).