SAP NetWeaver ABAP and

Adobe Forms
Franklin Herbas Thomas Jung
SAP NetWeaver Product Management
SAP Labs

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

SAP/Adobe Partnership
SAP/Adobe Strategic Partnership
Solution first 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

Adobe Reader installed on virtually all desktops

Natural look and feel of forms
User-friendly forms design tool lowers cost of operations
Integration of Adobes PDF technology into SAP solutions
Interactive Forms based on Adobe Software (Java - ABAP)
Generation of forms to mass print, email or archive (ABAP)
Linking of processes and Interactive Forms (Java ABAP)

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 4

Where our Integration Starts?

Interactive PDF
Paper-like layout
Self-explanatory
Natural look and feel

User Handling
Save locally
Distribute via email / Portal

Background Services

Apply digital signature

Structured data in XML

Print locally

Pre-filled application values

Pre-filled list boxes, help values,
Automatic data extraction
and integration in application

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 5

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

Full Integration into SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver
PEOPLE INTEGRATION

Portal

Collaboration

INFORMATION INTEGRATION
Bus. Intelligence

Knowledge Man.

Master Data Management

PROCESS INTEGRATION
Integration
Broker

Business
Process Mgmt

APPLICATION SERVER
Java

ABAP

DB and OS Abstraction

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 7

Life Cycle Management

Composite Application Framework

Multi-Channel Access

APPLICATION SERVER

J2EE

ABAP

Adobe LiveCycle
Designer

Adobe LiveCycle
Designer

Adobe Document Services

DB and OS Abstraction

Interactive Forms Design Time and Runtime

NetWeaver Developer Studio

ABAP Workbench

SAP NetWeaver Application Server

Java PDF Object

ABAP PDF Object

Adobe Document Services

SAP J2EE Engine

Adobe Document Services

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 8

Interactive Forms Run-Time Architecture

Application Server
J2EE

ABAP

Adobe LiveCycle
Designer

Adobe LiveCycle
Designer

Adobe Document Services

DB and OS Abstraction

SAP NetWeaver Application Server

J2EE Stack

ABAP Stack

Application Code (Java)

Application Code (ABAP)

PDF Object (Java)

PDF Object (ABAP)

Web Services

Web Services

SOAP
Web Services
Document Service
EJB
Adobe Document Services
Core Components

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 9

SOAP

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

How Interactive Forms Works

Generate & view

Deploy

SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio

ABAP Workbench

ABAP

Java

Adobe LiveCycle
Designer

Import forms (.doc, .pdf)

Define form layout
Bind forms to SAP data
model
Define validations and
calculations
Define business logic
Define usage model (print
or interactive)

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 11

Fill & submit

SAP NetWeaver
Application Server

Java
Adobe document
services

ADS run as a SAP

NetWeaver shared
service

Use Adobe Reader or

Acrobat

Generate PDF forms with

SAP data

Save for offline use

Enable PDF forms for use

in Adobe Reader

Print or submit form

Extract data from

returned PDF forms

Enter forms data

Sign digitally

Linking Processes with Interactive Forms

Lead through the workflow and enable tracking of the process

Interactive Forms: Steps can be completed offline

1
Find form

Add data

Approve

Create
Master
Data

Enterprise
Services
Architecture
Requestor

Specialist

Notifications triggered

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 12

Manager

Forms Output Technical Process

mySAP Business Suite
SAP NetWeaver
Application Server
3. Document services
render data into form
and returns data (PDF,
PS, PCL or ZPL)

4. PPF submits data to

spool or Business
Communication
Service (BCS).

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 13

Adobe document services

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

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

Forms Scenarios Technical View

Online Interactive Form Scenario
SAP system access needed
Full integration with Web Dynpro Java & ABAP
Browser with
Adobe Reader

Offline Interactive Form Scenario

Download -Upload

No SAP system access needed

Self-contained PDF (XML data +layout)
Browser with
Adobe Reader

Email - Http

Interactive Forms with Workflow

Online and offline scenarios
Enable tracking of processes

Form Printing Scenario

Browser with
Adobe Reader

Classic form processing, not interactive

Forms printed, e-mailed, archived or faxed

Archive
Print
E-mail

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 14

Real Scenario: Stiftung Leibenau

@
Workshop supervisor

Send back
by e-mail

RM File
Evaluation form
Create passive PDF and file form
in Records Management

Pre-fill with
patient data

IS-H / RM
Extract data

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 15

XML

Update data

Z table

SAP/Adobe Partnership Future Steps

SAP NetWeaver 2004s - ABAP

Interactive Forms with Web Dynpro ABAP

Interactive Forms with Guided Procedures
Enablement of solution for high volume print scenarios
Shipment of more print forms with mySAP ERP 2005

Interactive Forms and ESA

Interactive Forms as client for Enterprise Services
Adobe document services accessed through SAP web
service technology

Continue support of Interactive Forms in SAP

Internet Service Request in mySAP ERP 2004
Enterprise reporting for BI tables
Web Dynpro Java

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 16

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

Tools Involved at Design Time

Form Template

Form Builder
Context
Context

Interface

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 18

LayoutLayout

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

What Happens at Run Time

PDF-based
form template
activate

Application
program

ABAP
function
module
(generated)
Output
= Form
= Document

Database

Data retrieval

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 19

Form description

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

Introduction
Technology
Integrated Solutions
Adobe Print Forms - Demo
Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software - Demo
Q&A

Further Information

Public Web
NetWeaver Developers Guide: www.sdn.sap.com/sdn/developersguide.sdn
SAP Developer Network: www.sdn.sap.com
Web Application Server Quick Link Interactive Forms: Featured Content

Adobe: www.adobe.com/sap
www.sap.com: Solution Brief SAP Manager Self-Service: Tools for Smart
Decisions and Lower Costs

SAP Service Marketplace

http://service.sap.com/adobe

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 22

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

Thank You !

SAP Labs 2006, SDN, Franklin Herbas, 23