RAP Deep Insert/Update - Saving Nested Entities

The Problem: Multiple Requests

Without deep operations, you must create parent and children separately:

" ❌ Without Deep Insert: Multiple requests needed
" 1. Create parent
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    CREATE FIELDS ( AgencyId CustomerId )
    WITH VALUE #( ( %cid = 'TRAVEL_1' AgencyId = '000001' CustomerId = '000042' ) )
  MAPPED DATA(mapped_travel).

COMMIT ENTITIES.

" 2. Wait for generated TravelId
DATA(lv_travel_id) = mapped_travel-travel[ %cid = 'TRAVEL_1' ]-TravelId.

" 3. Create children separately
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Booking
    CREATE FIELDS ( CarrierId FlightDate )
    WITH VALUE #(
      ( TravelId = lv_travel_id BookingId = '0001' CarrierId = 'LH' FlightDate = '20260301' )
      ( TravelId = lv_travel_id BookingId = '0002' CarrierId = 'AA' FlightDate = '20260308' )
    ).

COMMIT ENTITIES.
" → 2 round-trips, no transaction safety across both steps

The Solution: Deep Insert

With Deep Insert, you create parent and children in one operation:

" ✅ Deep Insert: One request for everything
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    CREATE FIELDS ( AgencyId CustomerId BeginDate EndDate Description )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid        = 'TRAVEL_1'
      AgencyId    = '000001'
      CustomerId  = '000042'
      BeginDate   = '20260301'
      EndDate     = '20260315'
      Description = 'Business trip with flights'
    ) )

  " Create children via association
  ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    FIELDS ( CarrierId FlightDate FlightPrice CurrencyCode )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid_ref = 'TRAVEL_1'              " Reference to parent %cid
      %target  = VALUE #(
        ( %cid         = 'BOOKING_1'
          CarrierId    = 'LH'
          FlightDate   = '20260301'
          FlightPrice  = '599.00'
          CurrencyCode = 'EUR' )
        ( %cid         = 'BOOKING_2'
          CarrierId    = 'AA'
          FlightDate   = '20260315'
          FlightPrice  = '749.00'
          CurrencyCode = 'EUR' )
      )
    ) )

  MAPPED DATA(mapped)
  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

COMMIT ENTITIES
  RESPONSE OF zi_travel
  FAILED DATA(commit_failed)
  REPORTED DATA(commit_reported).

" Retrieve all generated keys:
DATA(lv_travel_id)   = mapped-travel[ %cid = 'TRAVEL_1' ]-TravelId.
DATA(lv_booking1_id) = mapped-booking[ %cid = 'BOOKING_1' ]-BookingId.
DATA(lv_booking2_id) = mapped-booking[ %cid = 'BOOKING_2' ]-BookingId.

Composition Relationships in CDS Views

Deep operations only work with Composition relationships. These define a strong parent-child relationship with lifecycle dependency.

Root Entity (Parent)

@AbapCatalog.viewEnhancementCategory: [#NONE]
@AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #CHECK
@EndUserText.label: 'Travel - Root Entity'

define root view entity ZI_Travel
  as select from ztravel
  composition [0..*] of ZI_Booking as _Bookings    -- Composition!
{
  key travel_id       as TravelId,
      agency_id       as AgencyId,
      customer_id     as CustomerId,
      begin_date      as BeginDate,
      end_date        as EndDate,
      @Semantics.amount.currencyCode: 'CurrencyCode'
      total_price     as TotalPrice,
      @Semantics.currencyCode: true
      currency_code   as CurrencyCode,
      description     as Description,
      status          as Status,

      @Semantics.systemDateTime.lastChangedAt: true
      last_changed_at as LastChangedAt,

      _Bookings                                    -- Expose association
}

Child Entity

@AbapCatalog.viewEnhancementCategory: [#NONE]
@AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #CHECK
@EndUserText.label: 'Booking - Child Entity'

define view entity ZI_Booking
  as select from zbooking
  association to parent ZI_Travel as _Travel       -- Parent association
    on $projection.TravelId = _Travel.TravelId
{
  key travel_id       as TravelId,
  key booking_id      as BookingId,
      carrier_id      as CarrierId,
      flight_date     as FlightDate,
      @Semantics.amount.currencyCode: 'CurrencyCode'
      flight_price    as FlightPrice,
      @Semantics.currencyCode: true
      currency_code   as CurrencyCode,
      booking_status  as BookingStatus,

      @Semantics.systemDateTime.lastChangedAt: true
      last_changed_at as LastChangedAt,

      _Travel                                      -- Expose parent association
}

Behavior Definition

managed implementation in class zbp_i_travel unique;
strict ( 2 );

define behavior for ZI_Travel alias Travel
persistent table ztravel
lock master
authorization master ( instance )
etag master LastChangedAt
{
  create;
  update;
  delete;

  field ( readonly ) TravelId;
  field ( numbering : managed ) TravelId;

  association _Bookings { create; }               -- Enable deep create!
}

define behavior for ZI_Booking alias Booking
persistent table zbooking
lock dependent by _Travel
authorization dependent by _Travel
etag master LastChangedAt
{
  update;
  delete;

  field ( readonly ) TravelId, BookingId;
  field ( numbering : managed ) BookingId;

  association _Travel;
}

Important: association _Bookings { create; } enables Deep Insert for the composition.

Composition vs. Association

Aspect	Composition	Association
Relationship	Strong dependency (part-whole)	Loose reference
Lifecycle	Child deleted with parent	Independent
Deep Operations	Supported	Not supported
Lock	`lock dependent by`	Own lock
CDS Syntax	`composition [0..*] of`	`association [0..*] to`
Example	Order → Items	Order → Customer

Deep Update with %control

With Deep Update, you update parent and children together. The %control structure controls which fields are actually updated.

Simple Deep Update

" Deep Update: Change parent and children together
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  " Update parent
  ENTITY Travel
    UPDATE FIELDS ( Description Status )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      TravelId    = '00000001'
      Description = 'Updated description'
      Status      = 'A'
    ) )

  " Update children
  ENTITY Booking
    UPDATE FIELDS ( FlightPrice )
    WITH VALUE #(
      ( TravelId   = '00000001'
        BookingId  = '0001'
        FlightPrice = '549.00' )
      ( TravelId   = '00000001'
        BookingId  = '0002'
        FlightPrice = '699.00' )
    )

  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

COMMIT ENTITIES.

Update with %control Structure

The %control structure explicitly specifies which fields should be updated:

" Precise control with %control
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    UPDATE
    WITH VALUE #( (
      TravelId    = '00000001'
      Description = 'New description'
      Status      = 'A'
      TotalPrice  = '1500.00'       " Will NOT be updated (see below)

      " Only these fields will be changed:
      %control = VALUE #(
        Description = if_abap_behv=>mk-on
        Status      = if_abap_behv=>mk-on
        " TotalPrice = if_abap_behv=>mk-off  " implicit
      )
    ) )

  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

COMMIT ENTITIES.
" → TotalPrice remains unchanged, even though a value was passed

UPDATE SET FIELDS vs. UPDATE FIELDS

" UPDATE FIELDS: Explicit field list
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    UPDATE FIELDS ( Description Status )  -- Only these fields
    WITH VALUE #( ( TravelId = '00000001' Description = 'Text' Status = 'A' ) ).

" UPDATE SET FIELDS: Automatically all non-initial fields
DATA(ls_update) = VALUE zi_travel(
  TravelId    = '00000001'
  Description = 'Text'
  Status      = 'A'
  " BeginDate is initial → will NOT be updated
).

MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    UPDATE SET FIELDS
    WITH VALUE #( ( CORRESPONDING #( ls_update ) ) ).

Deep Update with Creating New Children

" Update existing parent AND add new children
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  " Update parent
  ENTITY Travel
    UPDATE FIELDS ( Status )
    WITH VALUE #( ( TravelId = '00000001' Status = 'P' ) )

  " Add NEW bookings to existing travel
  ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    FIELDS ( CarrierId FlightDate FlightPrice CurrencyCode )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      TravelId = '00000001'            " Existing parent
      %target  = VALUE #(
        ( %cid         = 'NEW_BOOK_1'
          CarrierId    = 'UA'
          FlightDate   = '20260320'
          FlightPrice  = '899.00'
          CurrencyCode = 'EUR' )
      )
    ) )

  MAPPED DATA(mapped)
  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

COMMIT ENTITIES.

" New BookingId:
DATA(lv_new_booking) = mapped-booking[ %cid = 'NEW_BOOK_1' ]-BookingId.

Error Scenarios and Rollback

Validation with Deep Insert

CLASS lhc_booking DEFINITION INHERITING FROM cl_abap_behavior_handler.
  PRIVATE SECTION.
    METHODS validateFlightDate FOR VALIDATE ON SAVE
      IMPORTING keys FOR Booking~validateFlightDate.
ENDCLASS.

CLASS lhc_booking IMPLEMENTATION.
  METHOD validateFlightDate.
    " Read data
    READ ENTITIES OF zi_travel IN LOCAL MODE
      ENTITY Booking
        FIELDS ( TravelId BookingId FlightDate )
        WITH CORRESPONDING #( keys )
      RESULT DATA(lt_bookings).

    " Load parent data for validation
    READ ENTITIES OF zi_travel IN LOCAL MODE
      ENTITY Booking BY \_Travel
        FIELDS ( BeginDate EndDate )
        WITH CORRESPONDING #( lt_bookings )
      RESULT DATA(lt_travels).

    LOOP AT lt_bookings INTO DATA(ls_booking).
      " FlightDate must be within travel dates
      DATA(ls_travel) = VALUE #( lt_travels[ TravelId = ls_booking-TravelId ] OPTIONAL ).

      IF ls_travel IS NOT INITIAL.
        IF ls_booking-FlightDate < ls_travel-BeginDate OR
           ls_booking-FlightDate > ls_travel-EndDate.

          APPEND VALUE #(
            TravelId  = ls_booking-TravelId
            BookingId = ls_booking-BookingId
            %fail-cause = if_abap_behv=>cause-unspecific
          ) TO failed-booking.

          APPEND VALUE #(
            TravelId  = ls_booking-TravelId
            BookingId = ls_booking-BookingId
            %msg = new_message_with_text(
              severity = if_abap_behv_message=>severity-error
              text     = |Flight date must be between { ls_travel-BeginDate } and { ls_travel-EndDate }|
            )
            %element-FlightDate = if_abap_behv=>mk-on
          ) TO reported-booking.
        ENDIF.
      ENDIF.
    ENDLOOP.
  ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

Error Handling with Deep Operations

MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    CREATE FIELDS ( AgencyId CustomerId BeginDate EndDate )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid       = 'TRAVEL_1'
      AgencyId   = '000001'
      CustomerId = '000042'
      BeginDate  = '20260301'
      EndDate    = '20260315'
    ) )

  ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    FIELDS ( CarrierId FlightDate )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid_ref = 'TRAVEL_1'
      %target  = VALUE #(
        ( %cid = 'BOOK_1' CarrierId = 'LH' FlightDate = '20260401' )  " Outside!
      )
    ) )

  MAPPED DATA(mapped)
  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

" Check if children failed
IF failed-booking IS NOT INITIAL.
  WRITE: / 'Errors in bookings:'.
  LOOP AT reported-booking INTO DATA(ls_book_msg).
    WRITE: / ls_book_msg-%msg->if_message~get_text( ).
  ENDLOOP.
ENDIF.

" Check if parent failed
IF failed-travel IS NOT INITIAL.
  WRITE: / 'Errors in travel:'.
  LOOP AT reported-travel INTO DATA(ls_travel_msg).
    WRITE: / ls_travel_msg-%msg->if_message~get_text( ).
  ENDLOOP.
ENDIF.

" COMMIT only on success
IF failed-travel IS INITIAL AND failed-booking IS INITIAL.
  COMMIT ENTITIES
    RESPONSE OF zi_travel
    FAILED DATA(commit_failed)
    REPORTED DATA(commit_reported).

  IF commit_failed-travel IS INITIAL AND commit_failed-booking IS INITIAL.
    WRITE: / 'Successfully saved'.
  ELSE.
    WRITE: / 'Commit failed - transaction rolled back'.
  ENDIF.
ELSE.
  WRITE: / 'Validation failed - no commit'.
ENDIF.

Automatic Rollback

With deep operations: All or nothing. If one part of the operation fails, the entire transaction is rolled back.

" Scenario: Travel OK, but one booking invalid
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel
    CREATE FIELDS ( AgencyId CustomerId BeginDate EndDate )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid       = 'T1'
      AgencyId   = '000001'
      CustomerId = '000042'
      BeginDate  = '20260301'
      EndDate    = '20260310'
    ) )

  ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid_ref = 'T1'
      %target  = VALUE #(
        ( %cid = 'B1' CarrierId = 'LH' FlightDate = '20260305' )  " OK
        ( %cid = 'B2' CarrierId = 'AA' FlightDate = '20260401' )  " Validation Error!
      )
    ) )

  MAPPED DATA(mapped)
  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

COMMIT ENTITIES
  RESPONSE OF zi_travel
  FAILED DATA(commit_failed).

" On error: NOTHING was saved!
" → Travel T1 was NOT created
" → Booking B1 was NOT created
" → Booking B2 was NOT created
" The entire transaction is rolled back.

Multi-Level Deep Insert

Deep operations also work across multiple levels:

" Travel → Booking → BookingSupplement (3 levels)
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  " Level 1: Travel
  ENTITY Travel
    CREATE FIELDS ( AgencyId CustomerId BeginDate EndDate )
    WITH VALUE #( ( %cid = 'T1' AgencyId = '000001' CustomerId = '000042'
                    BeginDate = '20260301' EndDate = '20260315' ) )

  " Level 2: Bookings
  ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    FIELDS ( CarrierId FlightDate FlightPrice CurrencyCode )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid_ref = 'T1'
      %target  = VALUE #(
        ( %cid = 'B1' CarrierId = 'LH' FlightDate = '20260301'
          FlightPrice = '599.00' CurrencyCode = 'EUR' )
      )
    ) )

  " Level 3: Booking Supplements
  ENTITY Booking CREATE BY \_BookingSupplements
    FIELDS ( SupplementId Price CurrencyCode )
    WITH VALUE #( (
      %cid_ref = 'B1'
      %target  = VALUE #(
        ( %cid = 'S1' SupplementId = 'ML01' Price = '29.00' CurrencyCode = 'EUR' )
        ( %cid = 'S2' SupplementId = 'BG01' Price = '49.00' CurrencyCode = 'EUR' )
      )
    ) )

  MAPPED DATA(mapped)
  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

COMMIT ENTITIES.

Best Practices

1. Use %cid and %cid_ref Consistently

" ✅ Unique, meaningful CIDs
%cid = 'ORDER_001'
%cid = 'ITEM_001_001'
%cid = 'ITEM_001_002'

" ❌ Avoid: Generic names
%cid = 'CID1'
%cid = 'X'

2. Always Implement Error Handling

" ✅ Always evaluate FAILED and REPORTED
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel ...
  FAILED DATA(failed)
  REPORTED DATA(reported).

IF failed-travel IS NOT INITIAL OR failed-booking IS NOT INITIAL.
  " Error handling
ENDIF.

3. Validations at All Levels

" In BDEF: Validations for parent AND children
define behavior for ZI_Travel ...
{
  validation validateDates on save { field BeginDate, EndDate; }
}

define behavior for ZI_Booking ...
{
  validation validateFlightDate on save { field FlightDate; }
  validation validateCarrier on save { field CarrierId; }
}

4. Performance with Large Data Volumes

" ✅ Bulk insert in one operation
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
  ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    WITH VALUE #(
      FOR i = 1 UNTIL i > 100
      ( TravelId = '00000001'
        %target = VALUE #(
          ( %cid = |BOOK_{ i }| CarrierId = 'LH' FlightDate = '20260301' + i )
        )
      )
    ).

" ❌ Avoid: Loop with individual inserts
LOOP AT lt_bookings INTO DATA(ls_booking).
  MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel
    ENTITY Travel CREATE BY \_Bookings
    WITH VALUE #( ( TravelId = '00000001' %target = VALUE #( ( ls_booking ) ) ) ).
ENDLOOP.

Additional Resources

EML Basics: Entity Manipulation Language
RAP Basics: RAP Basics
Managed vs Unmanaged: RAP Managed vs. Unmanaged
Validations: RAP Validations
Draft Handling: RAP Draft Handling