How To Fix OO615 - References must be declared using 'TYPE REF TO'

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: OO - Class Builder/API

• Message number: 615

• Message text: References must be declared using 'TYPE REF TO'

What causes this issue?

In the Class Builder references for types of attributes and parameters
are entered as follows:
Type assignment method = 'TYPE REF TO '
Type = class name.

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

System Response

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message OO615 - References must be declared using 'TYPE REF TO' ?

  The SAP error message OO615 ("References must be declared using 'TYPE REF TO'") typically occurs in ABAP when you are trying to declare a reference variable incorrectly. This error is related to object-oriented programming in ABAP, where you need to use the correct syntax for declaring references to objects.
  Cause:
  The error arises when you attempt to declare a reference variable without using the correct syntax. In ABAP, when you want to create a reference to an object, you must use the TYPE REF TO syntax. If you try to declare a reference variable without this syntax, the system will raise the OO615 error.
  Example of the Error:
  DATA: my_object TYPE my_class.  " Incorrect declaration
  Correct Declaration:
  To fix the error, you should declare the reference variable using TYPE REF TO as follows:
  DATA: my_object TYPE REF TO my_class.  " Correct declaration
  Solution:
  
  Check the Declaration: Review the line of code where the error occurs and ensure that you are declaring the reference variable correctly.
  Use TYPE REF TO: Always use TYPE REF TO when declaring a reference to an object in ABAP.
  Instantiate the Object: After declaring the reference, you will typically need to instantiate the object using the CREATE OBJECT statement:
  CREATE OBJECT my_object.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Object-Oriented ABAP: Familiarize yourself with the principles of object-oriented programming in ABAP, including classes, methods, and object references.
  ABAP Documentation: Refer to the official SAP documentation for more details on object-oriented programming in ABAP and the correct syntax for declaring references.
  Debugging: If you encounter this error during runtime, use the ABAP debugger to trace back to the point of failure and inspect the variable declarations.
  
  By following these guidelines, you should be able to resolve the OO615 error and correctly declare object references in your ABAP programs.