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Using Field Symbols for variable parts of fields 

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DATA: EXTERNAL_RECORD(4000),
      POSITION TYPE I,
      LENGTH TYPE N.
FIELD-SYMBOLS <ENTRY>.
EXTERNAL_RECORD = '0005Smith0007Edwards0005Young'.
DO.
  LENGTH = EXTERNAL_RECORD+POSITION(4).
  IF LENGTH = 0.
    EXIT.
  ENDIF.
  ADD 4 TO POSITION.
  ASSIGN EXTERNAL_RECORD+POSITION(LENGTH) TO <ENTRY>.
  WRITE <ENTRY>.
  ADD LENGTH TO POSITION.
  IF POSITION >= 4000.
    EXIT.
  ENDIF.
ENDDO.

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Using Field Symbols for components of a structure

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* Table work area for later use
TABLES CUSTOMERS.
* Defining a Field Symbol
FIELD-SYMBOLS <OUTPUT>.
* Displaying all fields of all table entries
SELECT * FROM CUSTOMERS.
  NEW-LINE.
  DO.
    ASSIGN COMPONENT SY-INDEX OF STRUCTURE CUSTOMERS TO <OUTPUT>.
    IF SY-SUBRC <> 0.
      EXIT.
    ENDIF.
    WRITE <OUTPUT>.
  ENDDO.

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