DM151: Creating PDF-Based Forms for Printing

Markus Meisl, SAP AG Gerhard Weigelt, SAP AG

Introduction into Interactive Forms Technology Form Builder & Adobe LiveCycle Designer

Learning Objectives

As a result of this workshop, you will be able to:

Understand the background of the SAP/Adobe partnership Know the technological foundation of Interactive Forms Create and adapt forms for print purposes Work with the Form Builder in the ABAP Workbench

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Requirements in Forms-Based Processes

Need to extend business processes to more users
Integrate internal and external users (managers, employees, prospects, customers,) into business processes

Overcome limitations of paper-based forms processes

Paper forms are error-prone and easily outdated. Processes require manual data re-entry. Process status is hard to track. Paper forms produce high costs (e.g. production, storage).

Improve electronic forms-based business processes

Avoid redundancy of HTML, e-mail and fax documents Make creation of electronic forms easier and less timeconsuming Flexibly adjust forms-based business processes Maintain familiar look and feel to enhance usability
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SAP/Adobe Partnership Overview

SAP/Adobe Strategic Partnership
Partnership signed in June 2002 Solution available with SAP NetWeaver 04

Adobe provides
Open technology, de-facto standard for forms Benefits of combination of PDF with XML

Benefits of SAP/Adobe collaboration

Integration of Adobes PDF technology into SAP solutions Adobe Reader delivered 500 million times worldwide User-friendly design tool lowers cost of operations Reuse of existing PDF forms Natural look and feel of forms Close linking of processes and forms (real integration)
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Solution in SAP NetWeaver 2004

Interactive Forms based on Adobe software Generate forms that contain data extracted from core systems Use dynamic or static forms Complete forms online or offline Allow users to print forms Accelerate forms-based business processes Automate paper-based business processes

Technology is already extensively used in mySAP ERP Human Capital Management and Financials (approx. 25 processes).

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Introduction into Interactive Forms Technology Form Builder & Adobe LiveCycle Designer

Full Integration into SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver
PEOPLE INTEGRATION Multi-Channel Access Composite Application Framework Portal Collaboration Life Cycle Management

INFORMATION INTEGRATION Bus. Intelligence Knowledge Man.

Master Data Management PROCESS INTEGRATION Integration Broker Business Process Mgmt

APPLICATION PLATFORM

J2EE
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

ABAP
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

APPLICATION PLATFORM J2EE ABAP

Adobe Document Services

DB and OS Abstraction

DB and OS Abstraction

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Interactive Forms Design Time

SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio

ABAP Workbench

SAP Web Application Server

Java PDF Object

ABAP PDF Object

Adobe Document Services SAP J2EE Engine

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Interactive Forms Run-Time Architecture

Application Platform
J2EE
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

ABAP
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

Adobe Document Services

DB and OS Abstraction

SAP Web Application Server

J2EE Stack
Application Code (Java) PDF Object (Java) Web Services SOAP Web Services Document Service EJB Adobe Document Services Core Components SOAP

ABAP Stack
Application Code (ABAP) PDF Object (ABAP) Web Services

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Forms Output Technical Process

mySAP Business Suite SAP Web Application Server
3. Document services render data into form and returns data (PDF, PS, PCL or ZPL) 1. Business application submits processing request to PPF 2. PPF gets application data (XML) via callback and submits it with form template to document services

Adobe document services

4. PPF submits data to spool or Business Communication Service (BCS).

PS, PCL, ZPL 5. Documents, e.g. Pay stubs or invoices, get printed, emailed, archived or faxed.

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Printing with PDF-Based Forms

Program

Document

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Tools Involved at Design Time

Form Template

FUNCTION /1BCDWB/SM00000001. DATA: %OUTPAR TYPE SFPOUTPAR, %DOCPAR TYPE SFPDOCPAR, ...

Context

Layout

Interface

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What Happens at Run Time

PDF-based form template activate

Application program

ABAP function module (generated) Output = Form = Document

Database

Data retrieval
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Form description

Introduction into Interactive Forms Technology Form Builder & Adobe LiveCycle Designer

Form Builder: Access to Forms Processing

ABAP Workbench (SE80)

Transaction SFP

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Form Interface: Properties

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Form Interface

ABAP types Dictionary types

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Application Program
* (1) Data retrieval and processing SELECT ... FROM ... ... * (2) Find out name of generated function module CALL FUNCTION 'FP_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME'... * (3) Start form processing CALL FUNCTION 'FP_JOB_OPEN'... LOOP AT ... * (4) Call function module dynamically CALL FUNCTION <generated function module> ... ENDLOOP. * (5) End form processing CALL FUNCTION 'FP_JOB_CLOSE'...
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Form Context: Overview

Interface Context

Properties of interface field

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Properties/details/conditions of context element

Creating a Context
New fields (form-specific)

Drag & drop from interface

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Context: Node Types

Text Graphic Address Data Structure Table / Loop Alternative Folder Condition Text module, include text, or dynamic text Graphics Address Elementary data field Structure Dynamic table TRUE/FALSE Condition Groups subnodes for clarity (Not a separate node)

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Adobe LiveCycle Designer: Overview

Script Editor

Palette Window

Layout Editor

Palette Window

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Layout Editor: Adding Form Objects

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Master Pages and Body Pages

Master page
Determines formatting of body pages (incl. background)
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Body page
Pages of a form Contains system data

Data Binding

Association between form template and data source Created automatically through drag & drop Can also be created manually

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Scripting in Adobe LiveCycle Designer

Single-line display

Multi-line display

Supported scripting languages

FormCalc JavaScript

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Demo

Demo

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Summary Interactive Forms based on Adobe software

Is used to create PDF-based forms for printing Is fully integrated into SAP NetWeaver Provides a user-friendly development environment Combines the benefits of the open technology standards XML and PDF

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Further Information
Public Web:
www.sap.com: Solution Brief SAP Manager Self-Service: Tools for Smart Decisions and Lower Costs www.sdn.sap.com Web Application Server Quick Link Interactive Forms: Featured Content Adobe: www.adobe.com/sap

SAP Service Marketplace

http://service.sap.com/adobe

Related SAP Education Training Opportunities

http://www.sap.com/education/ (SAP training courses for Interactive Forms coming in 2005)

Related Workshops/Lectures at SAP TechEd 2004

DM101, Interactive Forms based on Adobe software, Lecture DM152, Creating Interactive Forms in Web Dynpro for Java, Hands-on BPM101, Interactive Form-Based Processes in mySAP ERP 2004, Lecture
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SAP Developer Network

Look for SAP TechEd 04 presentations and videos on the SAP Developer Network. Coming in December. http://www.sdn.sap.com/

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Questions?

Q&A
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Feedback
Please complete your session evaluation. Be courteous deposit your trash, and do not take the handouts for the following session.

Thank You !

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Copyright 2004 SAP AG. All Rights Reserved

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