How To Fix OO031 - Visibility can be either 'Public', 'Protected' or 'Private'

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: OO - Class Builder/API

• Message number: 031

• Message text: Visibility can be either 'Public', 'Protected' or 'Private'

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message OO031 - Visibility can be either 'Public', 'Protected' or 'Private' ?

  The SAP error message OO031 indicates that there is an issue with the visibility modifier of a class or method in ABAP Object-Oriented programming. This error occurs when the visibility of a class, method, or attribute is not set correctly. In ABAP, visibility can be defined as 'Public', 'Protected', or 'Private', and it is essential to specify one of these options to control access to the class members.
  Cause:
  The error OO031 typically arises in the following scenarios:
  
  Missing Visibility Modifier: You may have declared a class or method without specifying any visibility modifier.
  Incorrect Syntax: There might be a syntax error in the declaration of the class or method that prevents the visibility modifier from being recognized.
  Typographical Errors: A typo in the visibility keywords (e.g., writing "Pubic" instead of "Public") can also trigger this error.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the OO031 error, you should:
  
  Add a Visibility Modifier: Ensure that every class, method, or attribute declaration includes a visibility modifier. For example:
  CLASS my_class DEFINITION.
    PUBLIC SECTION.
      METHODS: my_method.
    PROTECTED SECTION.
      DATA: my_data TYPE i.
    PRIVATE SECTION.
      DATA: my_private_data TYPE string.
  ENDCLASS.
  
  Check Syntax: Review the syntax of your class or method declaration to ensure it adheres to ABAP standards.
  Correct Typos: Verify that the visibility keywords are spelled correctly and are in the correct case (they are case-sensitive).
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Visibility Modifiers:
  
  Public: Members declared as public can be accessed from anywhere in the program.
  Protected: Members declared as protected can only be accessed within the class itself and by subclasses.
  Private: Members declared as private can only be accessed within the class itself.
  
  
  
  Best Practices: It is a good practice to use visibility modifiers to encapsulate the data and methods of your classes, promoting better design and maintainability.
  
  
  Documentation: For more detailed information, refer to the official SAP documentation on ABAP Object-Oriented programming, which provides guidelines on class definitions, visibility, and encapsulation.
  
  
  By following these steps and understanding the visibility modifiers, you should be able to resolve the OO031 error effectively.