The complexity of the introduction of this new technology is often underestimated, making a timely completion of the project is at risk from the outset.
Even without a proper consultation even encouraging progress can be made at the project start. This often means that is entirely dispensed with specialists.
But the mistake made early advocate as the project progresses all the more evident and require complex and expensive corrections of work already done. This can lead to sudden inconsistencies in the form layout to be printed just as well in the Far East pleadings. Or the necessary fonts such as OCR-B, which are needed for a payment slip, are not available. Or it is not a targeted control of the feed slot of the printer is possible due to forgetting to make the necessary configurations in the XDC file on the SAP system.
Much layer architecture
The complexity of this new form technology is not only that it has a completely different approach as SAPscript and Smart Forms, but also the fact that is the architectural complex.
So a dedicated SAP server with a Java stack as a platform for the Adobe Document Services (ADS) is required. This is connected via a web service with the Application Server ABAP via HTTP (s) protocol. During the printing process the data for the form layout, the application data and when passing through the form interface even more data, such as headers and footer data now be assembled as an XML file and sent to the ADS via web service.
The ADS are generating now based on the user data and the form layout to PDF file. Depending on what was printed on the printer, be transferred to the additional device-specific data (XDC). From this information, the ADS will generate a printer-specific file format PCL or PS or ZPL Zebra label printers. The generated data are again transmitted via the Destination Service back to the AS ABAP system and sent to the Spool or even the archiving system. Because the PDF file is available at this time already in the set form, it can be further processed, for example, as an email attachment without a new access to the spool.
Current use ADS version
When you install the ADS, it is essential to utilize as a current version of the individual components. The ADS have also been configured correctly and correspond with respect to the version of the development tool Adobe LiveCycle Designer.
Amazingly often one sees that form developers forced to use a completely outdated LiveCycle Designer on the client system and sacrificing important advantages of newer versions during the implementation.
It is the responsibility of the SAP-based customer to select the correct versions of the development tools, which must then be made available by the customer's own IT. The form developer is at this point only the user and has no effect on the instrumental versions of the programs he needs.
A cross-departmental integration manager helps a precise planning and targeted implementation, necessary for the implementation of SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe steps.
When planning the infrastructure fail safe operation should be sought through redundant design of the ADS. Furthermore, to be the appropriate versions of the SAP Adobe Document Services and Adobe LiveCycle selected, installed and set designer. Last but not least are the matching PDF device types of network printers for a successful Go Live critical.
Cornerstones for planning
Effective use of Adobe Forms requires before the start of implementation of at least the following specifications
Definition of a corporate design
Only when an accurate description for the subsequent layout exists, all forms can be aligned with respect to their layouts. Form templates can therefore help to comply with the specified dimensions in the implementation and minimize recurring adjustments to the layout.
Determining the dynamic of the header or footer
Have been the header and footer clearly defined in the definition of the corporate design, so you can read the contents of the form during runtime. This has the advantage that with adaptations, such as changing the company logo must not be interfered with in several forms manually by a developer, but they can be centrally replaced from the SAP repository.
SAP standard texts can also be read without great effort and displayed dynamically in the header and footer. The content of the standard texts also can be easily adapted by an authorized user on the transaction SO10.
Central pressure treatment
What this means is that all forms always run a specified program code. This may be a function module or a class. Thereby, it is possible to affect all of the forms through an adjustment in only one place. An example would be that all copies of a test system XY client 888 Test pressure system show a watermark with a designation as to ensure that no confusion occurs with the printing of the productive system.
Strategy for multilingualism
Anyone who has ever translated a Adobe Forms in SAP, knows that it is very tedious to have to translate individual words in an editor in a very long XML text, which can also serve very poor. This can be circumvented by using wildcards in the form of the translation shifted from the form into the SAP repository. But that is not enough. Currencies and units, for example, not to be found in the form, but come directly from the SAP database. They are also only available when the SAP has been installed with the appropriate language packs. Subsequent installs a language pack means an increased outlay.
Correct SAP device types for printers used
Only when the printer is in the SAP have been defined and configured with the correct device type, a pressure with the Adobe Forms on the printers is possible. Otherwise, is displayed on the screen for most users a little error message.
You also must have the paper to be drawn for the printer from different feed trays, so there is no way to adapt the XDC files in SAP passes.
Despite the great effort in preparing the new forms technology is future-oriented and offers advantages over SAPscript and Smart Forms. SAP even delivers mostly only Adobe Forms, so that companies are prepared for the future.
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