Migrating SAP Smart forms to Adobe Forms

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SAP Smart Forms and Adobe Forms are two popular technologies for designing and generating business documents like invoices, purchase orders, and delivery notes. As organizations modernize their SAP landscapes, there is a growing need to migrate from Smart Forms to Adobe Forms to leverage advanced features, better performance, and an enhanced user experience. This document gives an idea about migration of a smart form to an interactive form. 

Why Migrate to Adobe Forms?

1. Enhanced User Experience:
• Adobe Forms offer dynamic layouts and interactivity (e.g., input fields, drop-downs).
2. Modern Integration:
• Seamless integration with Fiori apps and SAP S/4HANA.
3. Rich Features:
• Advanced graphics, barcodes, and accessibility features.
4. Global Standards:
• Support for PDF/A compliance for archiving and digital signatures.
5. Future-Proof:
• SAP is focusing more on Adobe Forms as a long-term solution in its product roadmap.

Migration Challenges

Migrating from Smart Forms to Adobe Forms involves technical and functional considerations:

• Layout Redesign: Smart Forms and Adobe Forms have different layout tools and paradigms.
• Data Binding: Adobe Forms use context nodes and data connections, requiring re-mapping of data.
• Functional Enhancements: Migrating is an opportunity to enhance existing forms with interactive features.
• Learning Curve: Development in Adobe Forms requires knowledge of Adobe LiveCycle Designer.

Steps to Migrate

Step1: Go to transaction code SMARTFORMS and select the smart form to be converted into print adobe form. 

Here the form name is ZSRS_SF_TEST. 

Step2: Go to the next screen by clicking display button. 

A text element and table are defined in this existing smart form. 

Step3: Output of the smart form ZSRS_SF_TEST is:

Step4: Now go to Utilities-àMigration--àInteractive Form-àExport in the initial screen of the smart form as shown below. 

You will get popup. 

Step5: Provide form name and interface name and click enter. 

Step6: You will get settings window as shown below. 

Select the necessary check boxes. 

Select ‘OK’ button. It asks for package and provides the package. Save it.

Step7: Now go adobe form initial screen Tcode SFP. Provide the interface name as mentioned above.  

Step8: Go to properties tab. You get the default interface type is ‘Smart forms-Compatible Interface’ as shown. 

Activate it.

Activate the interface and come out to initial screen.  

Step9: Now provide the form name mentioned above in the initial screen. 

Step10:  Click on change button and following screen appears. 

Delete the unnecessary empty folder from the context menu.

Now, 

Step11: Go to layout tab, 

Step12: Now go to properties tab, 

When you try to activate the form, it gives some error message as ‘Unknown Layout Type’.

Change the layout type to Standard Layout as shown. 

Activate the form and execute it  

Step13: The output would be