Table of Contents

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Introduction
17
Structure of This Book
18
Reading Paths
20
Information Boxes
21
System Requirements and Sample Files
21
Acknowledgments
21
1 Using SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe
23
1.1 PDF, PDF-Based Print Forms, and Interactive PDF Forms
23
1.1.1 PDF File Format
23
1.1.2 PDF-Based Print Forms
24
1.1.3 Interactive PDF Forms
28
1.1.4 PDF Form Accessibility
29
1.2 Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Acrobat Pro
29
1.2.1 Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Acrobat Pro Comparison
30
1.2.2 Choosing the Correct Adobe Acrobat Reader Version
32
1.2.3 Useful Settings in Adobe Acrobat Reader
32
1.3 Examples of PDF-Based Print Forms and Interactive PDF Forms
33
1.3.1 Print Output Example
33
1.3.2 Creating an Interactive PDF Form
36
1.4 Using Interactive Forms in Business Processes
39
1.4.1 Online Scenarios
39
1.4.2 Offline Scenarios
40
1.4.3 Combining Online and Offline Scenarios
41
1.4.4 When Are Online and Offline Scenarios Used?
41
1.4.5 Notes on Using Interactive Forms
43
1.5 Software Components and Architecture
44
1.5.1 Adobe LiveCycle Designer
45
1.5.2 Adobe Document Services
49
1.5.3 Interaction between the Components
54
1.6 Form Templates in SAP S/4HANA
57
1.6.1 Master and Content Form Templates
57
1.6.2 Data Connection for Form Templates
59
1.7 Summary
59
2 System Preparation
61
2.1 Installing Adobe LiveCycle Designer
61
2.2 Install Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
64
2.3 Summary
65
3 Installing and Configuring Adobe Document Services
67
3.1 Automatic Configuration
67
3.2 Basic Configuration
69
3.2.1 Creating a Technical User
69
3.2.2 Web Service Test
72
3.3 Scenario-Dependent Configuration
75
3.3.1 Setting Up the RFC Destination
76
3.3.2 Setting Up the Destination and Internet Communication Framework Service
77
3.3.3 Configuring the Web Service Proxy
84
3.3.4 Configuring the ReaderRights Credential
86
3.3.5 Additional Settings for the Remote Function Call Connection
90
3.4 Parallelization Configuration
91
3.4.1 Configure Web Services
92
3.4.2 Testing the Connection between Two Web Services
97
3.4.3 Assigning the Logical Port to the Remote Function Call Connection ADS
97
3.5 Optional Configuration
98
3.5.1 Licensing
98
3.5.2 Document Security: Credentials, Trusted Anchors, and Certificate Revocation Lists
99
3.5.3 Service Characteristics
102
3.5.4 Number of Parallel Print Jobs
103
3.5.5 Fonts
104
3.5.6 Providing XDC Files for Print Output
105
3.6 Operating Adobe Document Services
105
3.6.1 Performance Monitoring and Log Configuration
105
3.6.2 Error Analysis
107
3.7 Hub Concept
108
3.8 Summary
111
4 Interface and Form Context
113
4.1 Form Structure
113
4.2 Form Interface
114
4.2.1 Creating the Interface
114
4.2.2 ABAP Dictionary-Based Interface
116
4.2.3 XML Schema-Based Interface
125
4.2.4 Smart Forms-Compatible Interface
127
4.2.5 Documentation of a Form Interface
128
4.3 Context of a Form
129
4.3.1 Creating a Form
130
4.3.2 Form Structure
132
4.3.3 Structures
135
4.3.4 Data Nodes
137
4.3.5 Text Nodes
139
4.3.6 Graphic Nodes
144
4.3.7 Address Node
147
4.3.8 Alternatives
150
4.3.9 Tables or Loops
152
4.3.10 Single Record Node
156
4.3.11 Conditions
159
4.3.12 Folder
160
4.4 Documentation of a Form
161
4.5 Summary
161
5 Creating Form Templates
163
5.1 Adobe LiveCycle Designer Structure
163
5.1.1 Menu and Toolbar
164
5.1.2 Script Editor
165
5.1.3 Hierarchy and Data View
165
5.1.4 Object Library Palette and Object Palette
167
5.1.5 Layout Editor
169
5.2 Basics of Form Template Creation
170
5.2.1 First Steps
170
5.2.2 Using Text Fields
174
5.2.3 Using the Preview PDF
180
5.2.4 Formatting Texts
181
5.3 Data Bindings for Form Fields
182
5.3.1 Determination of the Data Binding
183
5.3.2 Using Preview Data
184
5.4 Structuring Form Templates by Subforms
186
5.4.1 Adding a Subform
187
5.4.2 Extending the Form Template
189
5.5 Using Master Pages and Rich Text Fields
196
5.5.1 Customizing the Master Page
196
5.5.2 Rich Text Fields
197
5.5.3 Form Template Activation
200
5.6 Reusing Form Objects
200
5.6.1 Creating Your Own Libraries
200
5.6.2 Adding Form Objects
202
5.6.3 Using Form Objects
203
5.7 Implicit Data Binding
203
5.7.1 Creating Form Copies
203
5.7.2 Determining the Implicit Data Binding
205
5.8 Tips for Working with Adobe LiveCycle Designer
208
5.8.1 Adapting the Working Environment
208
5.8.2 Spell Check and Hyphenation
211
5.8.3 Settings for Form Fields and Data Bindings
213
5.8.4 Target Version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for a Form Template
213
5.8.5 Keyboard Shortcuts
214
5.9 Summary
215
6 Form Output
217
6.1 Print Program
217
6.1.1 Data Selection
218
6.1.2 Determining the Generated Function Module
221
6.1.3 Opening the Print Job
222
6.1.4 Calling the Generated Function Module
225
6.1.5 Finishing the Print Job
227
6.1.6 Executing the Run Print Program
228
6.2 Spool System
232
6.3 Device Types for Output
234
6.4 Additional Printing Options
237
6.4.1 Setting Print Options in the Print Dialog Box
238
6.4.2 Setting Print Options via Print Tickets
239
6.5 Special Output Scenarios
242
6.5.1 Archiving
243
6.5.2 Returning the PDF Documents
246
6.6 Error Analysis
251
6.6.1 Trace and PDF Document with Additional Information
251
6.6.2 Internet Communication Framework Recorder
255
6.7 Performance Optimization through Bundling
259
6.7.1 Bundling Forms
260
6.7.2 Activating Bundling
261
6.7.3 Disabling Bundling
261
6.7.4 Bundling Example
262
6.7.5 Bundling a PDF Return
266
6.8 Parallelization of Print Jobs
267
6.8.1 Activating Parallelization in the Print Program
268
6.8.2 Monitoring Print Jobs
269
6.8.3 Cleaning Up Obsolete Print Jobs
272
6.8.4 Tracing with the SOA Manager
272
6.9 XPF Data Streams
276
6.10 Summary
278
7 Advanced Form Template Creation
279
7.1 Advanced Techniques for Print Forms
279
7.1.1 Preparations
279
7.1.2 Fields in Body Text
280
7.1.3 Using Tables
282
7.1.4 Page Breaks
286
7.1.5 Subform Set
290
7.1.6 Using Patterns for Display Formatting
293
7.1.7 Conditional Page Breaks
297
7.1.8 Form Output in Duplex Printing
298
7.1.9 Finished Form Template Output
300
7.2 Interactive PDF Forms
301
7.2.1 Preparations
302
7.2.2 From PDF-Based Print Forms to Interactive PDF Forms
307
7.2.3 Form Fields of Interactive PDF Forms
317
7.2.4 Dynamic Properties
327
7.3 Using Script Programs
330
7.3.1 First Script Program
330
7.3.2 Tips for Debugging Script Programs
334
7.3.3 Calculations by Script Programs
335
7.3.4 Input Validation by Script Programs
336
7.3.5 Controlling Input Readiness and Visibility of Form Fields
338
7.3.6 Creating Simple Script Programs with the Action Builder
339
7.3.7 Determining the Receiving Address for an Email Message at Runtime
342
7.3.8 Querying Reader Version Information
343
7.3.9 Access to Data Nodes and Form Fields
345
7.3.10 Dynamic Tables
347
7.4 Using Barcodes
350
7.5 Using Label Printers
352
7.6 Tips for Improving Performance
353
7.7 Introduction to Accessible PDF Forms
354
7.8 Further Information
357
7.9 Summary
359
8 ABAP Offline Infrastructure
361
8.1 Example Scenario: Address Update in the Flight Booking Model
361
8.2 Configuring the Email Inbound
363
8.3 Using the ABAP Offline Infrastructure
364
8.3.1 Creating the Offline Handler
364
8.3.2 Interface and Context
366
8.3.3 Creating the Form Template
368
8.3.4 Generating and Sending the Form
373
8.3.5 Processing Received Forms
378
8.4 Testing the Offline Scenario
383
8.5 Summary
387
9 ABAP PDF Object
389
9.1 Instantiating the PDF object
390
9.2 Creating a PDF Document
392
9.2.1 Obtaining a Form
393
9.2.2 Creating an Interactive PDF Document
397
9.2.3 Rights of Use
401
9.3 Processing an Interactive PDF Document
403
9.3.1 Filling Out an Interactive PDF Document
404
9.3.2 Extracting Data
407
9.3.3 Validating a Digital Signature
410
9.4 PDF Document Certification
412
9.4.1 Manually Requested Certification
413
9.4.2 Validating a Certification
414
9.4.3 Automated Certification
416
9.5 Further Methods of the PDF Object
421
9.6 Summary
421
10 Offline Scenarios Using Web Services
423
10.1 Using Web Service Definition Language Data Connections
424
10.1.1 Creating a Web Service Based on a Business Application Programming Interface
424
10.1.2 Configuring Runtime Release in SOA Manager
427
10.1.3 Creating the Form Template
432
10.1.4 Testing the Form Template
437
10.2 Using the Simple Object Access Protocol Object in JavaScript
441
10.2.1 Creating a Web Service Based on a Function Module
441
10.2.2 Creating the Form Template
446
10.2.3 Implementing the Web Service Calls
446
10.2.4 Testing the Form Template
451
10.3 Tips for Using Web Services
452
10.4 Summary
453
11 Form Templates in SAP S/4HANA
455
11.1 Adobe LiveCycle Designer for SAP as a Standalone Application
455
11.2 Fragment-Based and Standalone Form Templates
457
11.3 Downloading Form Templates and Uploading Them to the Design Environment
460
11.3.1 Downloading Form Templates in the Maintain Form Templates App
460
11.3.2 Opening a Form Template in Adobe LiveCycle Designer
463
11.4 Editing Form Templates in Adobe LiveCycle Designer
464
11.4.1 Editing Standalone Form Templates
464
11.4.2 Editing Master Form Template Editing
466
11.4.3 Fragments
467
11.4.4 Fragment Integration
469
11.4.5 Master Pages
471
11.4.6 Editing Content Form Templates
480
11.4.7 Converting a Fragment-Based Form Template to a Standalone Form Template
487
11.5 Uploading Form Templates in the Maintain Form Templates App
488
11.5.1 Upload a New Custom Form Template
488
11.5.2 Customization of Existing Custom Templates
492
11.6 Transport Connection
495
11.6.1 Register Transport Form Templates
495
11.6.2 Filter in the Register Extensions for Transport App
500
11.6.3 Configure Software Packages
503
11.7 Summary
506
12 Translating Form Templates
507
12.1 Translating Classic Form Templates
507
12.1.1 Manual Translation of a Form
508
12.1.2 Output of a Translated Form
512
12.1.3 Form Layout Mirroring
514
12.1.4 Disable Automatic Mirroring of the Form Layout
516
12.1.5 Translation Editor
517
12.2 Translating SAP S/4HANA Form Templates
518
12.2.1 Translation within the Maintain Form Templates App
519
12.2.2 Downloading a Form Template for Translation in Adobe LiveCycle Designer
524
12.2.3 Translating Text and Other Form Fields in Adobe LiveCycle Designer
527
12.2.4 Testing the Translations
530
12.2.5 Uploading the Form Template
532
12.2.6 Locales
534
12.3 Dealing with Problems in Translations
537
12.4 Customizing Solutions for Translation Maintenance
538
12.5 Origin of a Translation
541
12.6 Summary
544
13 Setting Up SAP Gateway Services
545
13.1 Data Supply for Form Templates in SAP S/4HANA
545
13.2 SAP Gateway
546
13.2.1 SAP Gateway Service Builder
547
13.2.2 Determining the Relevant SAP Gateway Service
548
13.2.3 Determining the Project for the SAP Gateway Service
550
13.2.4 Activating and Managing SAP Gateway Services
552
13.2.5 SAP Gateway Service Entity Types
559
13.2.6 Extending SAP Gateway Services
561
13.3 Custom Fields and Logic App
562
13.3.1 Overview
562
13.3.2 Custom Fields
563
13.3.3 Custom Logic
569
13.3.4 Extending the Data Source
579
13.3.5 Activating Custom Fields
585
13.3.6 Transport Connection via the Register Extensions for Transport App
586
13.4 Summary
587
14 Configure Output Control in SAP S/4HANA
589
14.1 Basic Settings
589
14.1.1 Enable HTTP Services for Business Rules Framework Plus
590
14.1.2 Activation of Transaction OPD
593
14.2 Configure Background Remote Function Call
603
14.3 Set Up Filing System and Filing Category
604
14.3.1 Content Repository
605
14.3.2 Category Assignment
606
14.4 Output Management Activation
606
14.4.1 Manage Activation of Application Object Types
607
14.4.2 Other Ways to Activate Output Control
610
14.5 Customizing the Output Types
611
14.5.1 Define Output Types
612
14.5.2 Further Setting Options for Output Types
617
14.6 Define Business Rules for Output Parameter Determination
618
14.6.1 Functionality of Output Parameters and Business Rules
619
14.6.2 Structure of Transaction OPD
620
14.6.3 Perform Simulation of an Output Parameter Determination
625
14.6.4 Edit Table Content
627
14.7 Assign Output Channels
641
14.8 Define Determination Rules for Master Form Template
642
14.9 Assign Form Templates
649
14.10 Assign Email Templates
654
14.11 Customizing and Data Maintenance in the Productive Systems
655
14.12 Troubleshooting and Error Handling
656
14.12.1 Separation of the Transports
656
14.12.2 Error Message during Transport Release
658
14.12.3 Mass Check in BRFplus Transport Orders
663
14.13 Summary
664
Appendices
667
A SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe
669
A.1 Architecture of SAP Forms by Adobe
670
A.2 Configuration of SAP Forms by Adobe
671
A.3 SAP Forms by Adobe REST Application Programming Interface
694
A.4 Advanced Configuration of SAP Forms by Adobe
695
A.5 Deploying SAP Forms by Adobe
699
A.6 Summary
700
B Important SAP Notes
701
C Further Information and Sources
705
D The Author
709
Index
711