Create CSV Files in ABAP Easily Using CL_CSV_FACTORY (SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud)

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In many SAP applications, we often need to export internal table data into a CSV file for reporting, integration, or data download scenarios.

Typical requirements include:

• Using different field separators such as comma (,) or semicolon (;)
• Adding a header row
• Formatting fields such as date, time, or timestamps
• Customizing column names

All of these requirements can be handled easily using the CL_CSV_FACTORY class in ABAP.

This class provides a simple and flexible way to generate CSV content from internal tables, and it is available in SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and SAP BTP ABAP Environment, making it ideal for cloud-ready developments.

In this example, we will generate a CSV file from Billing Document data, which is a common requirement in S/4HANA Public Cloud reporting or integration scenarios.

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Step 1 – Select the Data

First, we read billing document data into an internal table.

SELECT FROM I_BillingDocument

       FIELDS BillingDocument,

              BillingDocumentDate,

              TotalNetAmount,

              TransactionCurrency

       INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_billing)

       UP TO 10 ROWS.

This retrieves a small dataset that will later be converted into a CSV file.

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Step 2 – Generate a Simple CSV with Header

Next, we use CL_CSV_FACTORY to generate a CSV file using a semicolon delimiter and automatically include the header row.

DATA(lv_xstring_csv) =

  cl_csv_factory=>new_writer(

  )->set_delimiter( ';' )

   ->set_write_header( abap_true )

   ->write( REF #( lt_billing ) ).

What happens here?

• A CSV writer object is created.
• The delimiter is set to semicolon (;).
• The header row is enabled.
• The internal table is passed by reference to generate the CSV.

The output is returned as an XSTRING, which can then be used for:

• File download
• API responses
• Email attachments
• Integration scenarios

Step 3 – CSV with Custom Headers and Field Formatting

Sometimes the default column names are not suitable for business users. We can customize them using a field catalog and also apply formatting rules.

For example, we can rename fields and format the billing date in ISO format.

DATA(lv_xstring_csv_v2) =

  cl_csv_factory=>new_writer(

  )->set_delimiter( ';' )

   ->set_write_header( abap_true )

   ->write(

      itab_ref = REF #( lt_billing )

      fieldcatalog = VALUE if_csv_field_catalog=>ty_t_field(

        ( fieldname = 'BillingDocument'

          header_text = |Billing Document| )

        ( fieldname = 'BillingDocumentDate'

          header_text = |Billing Date|

          format = cl_csv_field_format=>date_iso )

        ( fieldname = 'TotalNetAmount'

          header_text = |Net Amount| )

        ( fieldname = 'TransactionCurrency'

          header_text = |Currency| )

      )

   ).

This allows us to:

• Define business-friendly column headers
• Apply field formatting
• Control how data appears in the CSV output

How It Works

The CSV generation process follows a simple workflow:

• The internal table is passed by reference to the CSV writer.
• The delimiter and header options are configured.
• The field catalog controls column names and formatting.
• The final CSV content is returned as an XSTRING.

This XSTRING can then be converted into a downloadable file or used in integration scenarios.

Benefits of Using CL_CSV_FACTORY

Using this class provides several advantages:

• Simple and clean ABAP syntax
• Built-in support for custom headers
• Easy field formatting
• Works in SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and ABAP Cloud
• Ideal for reports, APIs, and integration scenarios