topic Re: PDF forms in Application Development and Automation Discussions

PDF forms

Clemenss — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:06:17 GMT

Hi,

people say that SAP's cooperation with ADOBE will result in the replacement of SAPSCRIPT/SMARTFORMS with PDF foms.

They already provide a lot of PDF forms but little or no information/documentation.

I would like to try but have no idea where to begin.

Say I have an internal table like an ALV list and I want to add some graphics and layout and create a PDF form from this.

(The the PDF created should be sent as mail - SAP or internet)

() will be just a future step.

First I want to know if or what kind of (PDF) software will be needed, what are the steps to set it up (forms up- or download?) and so on.

I couldn't find it on <a href="http://HELP.SAP.COM">sap help portal</a> so I hope one of you guys have a link for a step-by-step-guide for dummies or so.

TIA,

regards,

Clemens

Re: PDF forms

RichHeilman — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:16:19 GMT

Hi.

First, the only software you will need is a Netweaver based system, (either 2004 or 2004s) and a java stack. I understand that the Adobe Interactive Forms relies on a component called Adobe Document Services, which runs on the java side, so you will need a java engine. You do not need any special software or software licensing for using the "Forms" part. I do believe there is addtional licensing if you want to able to email a form to a user, have the user fill it out and send it back to automatically update the system.

I assume that you have seen this help?

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/72/11144265ae5333e10000000a155106/frameset.htm

Regards,

RIch Heilman

Re: PDF forms

amit_khare — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 23:16:24 GMT

Hi,

Fow starting with Adobe Forms , the help provided by SAP is actually one of the best tool.

Its jsut you have to decide which language Java or Abap, you will be choosing to write the user define actions for the form.

You may also look for this blog on SDN for help, there is ample of data available on SDN for reference.

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/interactiveforms">https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/interactiveforms</a>

So, just keep going.

All the best.

Regards,

Amit

Re: PDF forms

Clemenss — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 07:56:53 GMT

Hi Rich and Amit,

I just want to use the ADOBE Form to replace a SAPSCRIPT or SMARTFORM.

This has not to be interactive at all. Nothing to be filled in by user. At the end I want to start my own print program. The program will provide the data for output in the form.

Last night - after some reading of documentation provided here - and extended search of SAP command tree and TSTCT table I finally found transaction SFP (Form Builder for pdf forms). I created a ZTEST form using an existing (how to create my own?) interface.

In ADOBE lifecycle designer I could not understand what the field types

User Entered - Optional

User Entered - Recommended

User Entered - Required

Calculated - Read Only

Calculated - User Can Override

Read Only

mean in SAP terms. I assume 'Read Only' may be used for SAP/ABAP output. But then I could not find out how to link interface structure fields and form fields.

The time may come when I can use "ample of data available" on this subject. For the time beeing I just need a simple step-by-step guide for creating an ABAP program filling one data field into a (how-to-create?) interface creating a form in spool or mail.

Have you done that with success?

What is the best dicumentation to go for?

Regards,

Clemens

Re: PDF forms

Clemenss — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 08:07:49 GMT

Hi,

I tried the link

Creating a Print Form in ABAP

In this SDN TV demo, a form is created in the ABAP environment for print output.

from the blog

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/webcontent/uuid/7c3bc67e-0c01-0010-dbb3-908315896909 [original link is broken] [original link is broken]

But "404

Sorry, we could not find that page.

There are several reasons this may have happened:

1. It could be a fluke.

..."

Can you access this?

Regards,

Clemens

Re: PDF forms

Former Member — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:09:45 GMT

Hallo Clemens.

If you have your own print program a very simple method to create a PDF-Output file is to:

1. Use a sapscript form

2. Close the form using the TABLES parameter to receive an OTF-table

3. Convert OTF to PDF using SX_OBJECT_CONVERT_OTF_PDF

4. Send the object using SO_DOCUMENT_SEND_API1

Works in 4.6C already and might be a shortcut to a more complex procedure.

Regards

Frank

Re: PDF forms

Clemenss — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:46:16 GMT

Hallo Frank Oliver,

thank you very much. I already do what you describe with the small difference that we convert the spool output to pdf and then send this as mail attachment.

My question goes into the (SAP-proposed) future: SAP cooperates with ADOBE and it is planned to do the forms design and creation in SAP intergrating the ADOBE lifecycle designer.

I have not found any documentation including step-bey-step example for the creation and control of a simple pdf form. Obviously there is nobody around who ever did that successfully. I don't know if SAP created anything for test and learning purposes.

Regards,

Clemens

Re: PDF forms

Clemenss — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:37:33 GMT

Thanks for any links - don't know how long pdf will be supported by SAP anyway.

Regards,

Clemens