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Parameter Number

Aim for few IMPORTING parameters, at best less than three

FUNCTION seo_class_copy
  IMPORTING
    clskey      TYPE seoclskey
    new_clskey  TYPE seoclskey
    config      TYPE class_copy_config
  EXPORTING
    ...

would be much clearer than

" anti-pattern
FUNCTION seo_class_copy
  IMPORTING
    clskey                 TYPE seoclskey
    new_clskey             TYPE seoclskey
    access_permission      TYPE seox_boolean DEFAULT seox_true
    VALUE(save)            TYPE seox_boolean DEFAULT seox_true
    VALUE(suppress_corr)   TYPE seox_boolean DEFAULT seox_false
    VALUE(suppress_dialog) TYPE seox_boolean DEFAULT seox_false
    VALUE(authority_check) TYPE seox_boolean DEFAULT seox_true
    lifecycle_manager      TYPE REF TO if_adt_lifecycle_manager OPTIONAL
    lock_handle            TYPE REF TO if_adt_lock_handle OPTIONAL
    VALUE(suppress_commit) TYPE seox_boolean DEFAULT seox_false
  EXPORTING
    ...

Too many input parameters let the complexity of a method explode because it needs to handle an exponential number of combinations. Many parameters are an indicator that the method may do more than one thing.

You can reduce the number of parameters by combining them into meaningful sets with structures and objects.

From SAP/styleguides under CC BY 3.0 — more details
Last updated on
Split methods instead of adding OPTIONAL parameters