Read PDF Content vith OCR directly in SAP

[Pier_1973]

Hi there,

I would like to ask if is possible to read the content of a PDF with OCR directly on SAP.

The PDF file is attached to mail in inbound folder (SOIN).

In this PDF is written the purchase number and the position and I must catch these data to create Goods Movement.

Could you help me?

I appreciate if you write code.

Thank you in advance

[matt]

Where is the PDF coming from? Who is sending them?

[Pier_1973]

Hi Matthew,

the PDF comes from an External partner who sends it via mail as attach.

Inside the PDF there are all information I need, such as Purchase Document Number, Position, Date of Creation and so on.

With these information I have to create Goods Receipt and Goods Movement.

Since my final customer don't want to activate IDoc Process I thought to read data from PDF using OCR but I don't know if it is possible.

[matt]

Right next to the "Your Answer" editor, it says:

Before answering

You should only submit an answer when you are proposing a solution to the poster's problem. If you want the poster to clarify the question or provide more information, please leave a comment instead, requesting additional details.

[raymond_giuseppi]

Questions

• Is the pdf a native pdf (born digital, basically text and not bitmap)
• Is there only one format for this pdf (single vendor)

If any answer is no, do you really want to develop such a tool and compete with certain SAP or SAP partner products?

Else look at sample such as Reading PDF attachment from sap inbox through ABAP

[matt]

Hi Matthew,

the PDF comes from an External partner who sends it via mail as attach.

Inside the PDF there are all information I need, such as Purchase Document Number, Position, Date of Creation and so on.

With these information I have to create Goods Receipt and Goods Movement.

Since my final customer don't want to activate IDoc Process I thought to read data from PDF using OCR but I don't know if it is possible.

It's possible, but pdf is a really bad way to send electronic data. Frankly, I'd just tell them to send the information in a text file. Or if they insist on PDF, then use PDF/A-Format, which can have XML attachments.

First, you need a third party PDF/OCR reader.

Then you send the PDF to that reader, and get back the information you need. You could do this by installing such a program on the application server and using system commands, but I'd install it on a separate server and set up a web service.

Alternatively, find someone who offers PDF to text as a cloud service, and use that.

[Pier_1973]

Hello Matthew, thanks for your reply.

If i ask to exernal partner to provide me the pdf in PDF/A- Format how then can I read information inside it?

Is there a transformation in Sap that convert PDF into XML and then Into Internal Table?

If yes, could you post the code to do this?

[matt]

It requires more than just pdf/a - they have to explicitly put the information into the xml attachment.

But really - if they don't want to do IDOCs, why don't they just send the information as a text document, rather than PDF?

I've only done it the other way - created pdf/a invoices with an xml attachment in the ZUGFeRD format mandated by the German government. I've no idea how to process XML attachments within SAP - except by using some third part tool, and proceeding as the last two paragraphs of my answer.

[Pier_1973]

Hello Giuseppi, I tried to use the code but i Have a short dump when i try to connect to ADS

[Sandra_Rossi]

You didn't answer Raymond questions, which were very important.
SAP do propose conversion tools but not as part of SAP ERP.

[Sandra_Rossi]

(I mean "SAP do propose conversion tools" except the very few ones i.e. ABAP List, SAPScript Forms and Smart Forms into PDF, but not the opposite way)

[Pier_1973]

Ah thanks. So the only way is to ask a text file with all information.

Thank you

[raymond_giuseppi]

Without tool, better ask provider for text or xml file.

Some tools

• Document Information Extraction by SAP
• The PDF Extract API (included with the PDF Services API) by Adobe