SAP Adobe Forms Overview

What is SAP Adobe Forms?

SAP Adobe Forms – Since 2002, SAP AG has had a strategic partnership with Adobe. Starting with SAP NetWeaver 2004 (SAP Web AS 6.40), the new FORM technology SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe is available in addition to SAPScript and Smart Forms. The tool as such is officially called SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe, even if it is partly used in pure print scenarios. This technology was originally intended to replace the SAPScript and SAP Smart Forms technologies. Unlike SAPScript, ADOBE strictly separates data from layout. Although new PDF forms have been delivered with each enhancement package in the Business Suite, these technologies now exist.

SAP Smart Forms vs. SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe

Smart Forms vs. Adobe – The Adobe Form Development approach is based on SAP Smart Forms. This makes it easier for developers to switch. Note 1009567 describes the functional differences between SAP Smart Forms and the SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe. As a prerequisite, we need the JAVA stack. It doesn’t matter if interactive forms are used or not. A web service converts the SOAP call to a PDF document. The call can be made from an ABAP program, POSTMAN or other programs. You can no longer use ABAP nodes in the Adobe form. There is a so-called context for this. The relevant design time tools are interface, context, layout, and form template. This makes the interface (ABAP, XML, or Smart Forms) the only part that still plays out in ABAP. Because there is no abAP in the form anymore. The form refers exactly to an interface. Smart Forms forms have the option of switching to the new technology at run time.

Benefits of Adobe Forms

PDF as standard (note: also works with SAPScript and Smart Forms)
Life Cyle Designer easy to use (Note: matter of taste)
Design forms in accordance with accessibility guidelines
Use TrueType fonts, no upload required (Note: This is very good)
Interactive scenarios possible

When do we take what?

Now we come to the decision between Smart Forms and Adobe Forms. When do we use what? Basically, there are simple rules of thumb. Adobe for graphically demanding things, accessibility or PDF/A-2. When not to use: Mass printing scenario > 100,000 operations (http call and XML data slow slower the system); see also notes on restrictions 894389, 735050, 852235. Adobe is platform-independent. As a result, there is no longer any printer-specific control (shaft control). Converting Smart Forms to Adobe is problematic.

How much does Adobe Forms cost?

Cost – Please read note 750784. In summary, there are no additional licensing costs for the use of the components for design and the mere issuance of the forms. Only for interactive forms we need licenses. Of course, we also need a reader to display the forms. This is what Adobe is all about. The Adobe LiveCycle Designer for form development is free.

SAP Adobe Forms Installation

Requirements ADOBE

To work with SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe, you need Adobe Document Services (ADS) and Adobe LiveCyle Designer. Adobe Document Services are integrated into the Netweaver Java.Application Server. The architecture is more complex than SAPScript and Smart Forms due to the integration of external Adobe services. The central transaction for processing the forms is transaction SFP (transaction SMARTFORMS for Smart Forms and transaction SE71 for SAPScript).

Server – Installation Adobe ADS

Adobe Document Services is like an add-on. It is an application on an SAP JAVA system. THE ADS Services are the server component of the application. Excursus: Originally, SAP had 3 different system types:

ABAP – ERP, BW, Netweaver GRC, IDES, S/4HANA, SRM
JAVA – Portals, SAP PI, SAP PO, SAP Netweaver, ADS
ABAP + JAVA – Solution Managers, CRM – so-called dual stacks

Later, SAP said dual stacks are obsolete from Netweaver 7.4. They are now split and installed separately if necessary. Now there are only ABAP or JAVA systems. Unfortunately, it is not possible to install the ADS on an existing ABAP system. In any case, you need to install your own JAVA system:

own database, data files, logfiles
own SID and instance number, ports
must be stopped/started yourself, have backups
connect to the SAP Netweaver Administrator via the portal: http://hostname:500/nwa

It does not count on which server it is installed. There just needs to be enough memory, CPU and disk space available. You use SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe as the print form and want to use PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b as the output format. For this functionality, you need Adobe Document Services ADS NW750 ADS SP-5 or later. In addition, you and the corresponding Netweaver Base and Support Package version.

SAP BASIS 7.31 SP20 / 7.40 SP16 / 7.50 SP05 / 7.51 SP01

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Client – Installation Adobe LiveCycle Designer

The Adobe LiveCycle Designer is a dedicated tool that the form designers use to create the forms. However, the form structure is similar to the structure of SMART Forms. The essential elements of the forms are static and dynamic building blocks. In addition, there are so-called tables. In any case, the LiveCycle Designer is installed locally. It is a front-end application. This is well integrated into the SAP GUI. It can also be operated standalone. The higher the version of the designer, the more functionalities are available. Therefore, it is recommended that you always install the latest version of Adobe LiveCycle Designer on your PC. You will receive it free of charge on the SAP Market Place service.

The Adobe LiveCycle Designer is operated within transaction SFP. In transaction SFP, he closely interacts with the SAP context and the SAP interface.

Adobe Performance Aspects and Installation Check

Due to the complexity of installing and exchanging XML data streams, special attention needs to be paid to performance. This is, of course, especially true for the use of large amounts of data. Checking the ADS RFC connection via transaction SM59.

SAP Adobe Forms Training

SAP offers the following courses:

BC480 – PDF-Based Print Forms

Create print forms using the SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe Forms tool. Learn how to integrate them with ABAP application programs. This course provides basic knowledge of print scenarios. No application details nor Customizing details handled.

Overview of the architecture of PDF-based print forms
Form interface
Adobe LiveCycle Designer • Integration of forms into ABAP programs
Additional functionality of PDF-based forms
Manage PDF-based forms
Migration of older forms

BC481 – Interactive Forms

You will learn how to create interactive forms. You will deal with both offline form scenarios and online form scenarios. You will learn to implement scripting based on JavaScript.

Use JavaScript as the scripting language in interactive forms
Send and receive forms by e-mail
Download, upload and analyze forms
Extract the XML content of offline forms using the DOM table and inbound handler technique

BC 482 – SAP PDF Forms Workshop

You’ll learn how to find standard print programs and forms. Learn how to analyze, debug, and customize them. In any case, the course covers details about application programs, also known as form printing programs. In addition, you will learn how to handle spool jobs, print bulk data, bundle, parallelize, and send e-mail.

Requirements for form design and possible implementation with scripting (FormCalc and JavaScript)
Find, analyze, and debug standard scenarios
Adaptation of two standard forms with SAP Adobe Forms to customer needs (invoice and packing slip)

Notes ADOBE Forms

Here we have collected some important hints about Adobe Forms. For more information, please refer to the respective notice. You can find them via the SAP portal under service.sap.com.

Notes
Number	Description
750784	SAP Interactive Forms: Licenses
834573	SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe: Acrobat/Reader version
1861606	Adobe Reader XI new features0
1009567	Functional differences SAP Interactive Forms/Smart Forms
894389	Release Restrictions: SAP NW 7.0 – Adobe Document Services
735050	Output of forms (modified)
852235	Release Restrictions for SAP ERP 6.0
2347809	IFbA: Extension of the supported PDF/A formats
2783795	eDocument EU PEPPOL: Installation Overview
894389	Release Restrictions: SAP NW 7.0 – Adobe Document Services