Debugging ATP with print statements

I sure did my share of debugging using print statements (in basic, pascal, fortran, C, python, etc). But actually with ABAP that was not a common pattern, mainly because the debugger is so convenient and also because it is not so easy to print. But today I found myself debugging with print statement in global ATP programs and it turns out it can be simple using the ATP log. A short recipe bellow.

1) Activate the ATP log



2) Report to write to the bound ATP log object a generic message

report ylog.

form print using m2 m3 m4.
  data: l_msgv2 type symsgv,
        l_msgv3 type symsgv,
        l_msgv4 type symsgv.
  l_msgv2 = m2.
  l_msgv3 = m3.
  l_msgv4 = m4.
  if /sapapo/cl_log_atp=>the_log is bound.
    call method /sapapo/cl_log_atp=>the_log->add_msg
      exporting
        im_msgty     = 'E'
        im_msgid     = '/SAPAPO/AMON'
        im_msgno     = '000'
        im_msgv1     = 'DEBUG>>>'
        im_msgv2     = l_msgv2
        im_msgv3     = l_msgv3
        im_msgv4     = l_msgv4
        im_probclass = 'X'
        im_applclass = 'X'
        im_repid     = sy-repid.
  endif.
endform.

3) This report allows the writing of print-like statements in the code


perform print(ylog) using 'some text' some_variable other_variable.


4) It will show in the ATP log screen that opens in the end of the ATP process



It was a quite effective tool for the job. I think I will use this again.