Move over, SAPscript. SAP Smart Forms is far more convenient. This book shows you how to use this key tool, released in 4.6C, and gives you all the basic knowledge for the production, functions, and handling of Smart Forms. Learn the ins and outs of integrating text, graphics, and data into your forms, plus discover the printing, e-mail, and Web options that are available. In addition, numerous practice exercises enable you to hit the ground running with form production procedures. An extensive appendix offers volumes of highly-detailed information. This book is an indispensable technical reference.

Highlights

• Essential tools for creating forms
• Expert advice on form layout
• Elementary knot types
• What you need to know about form data
• Data output and logical sequence
• ABAP programming with forms
• Implementing and using a support program
• Special output procedures
• Migration of SAPscript forms
• New developments in Basis Release 6.10
  
  Plus much more!

About the Author(s)

Werner Hertleif, a long-time SAPConsultant focused largely on logistics, specifically SD, works at anTloop Technologie AG. He is responsible for leading regular training classes on the subjects of SAP Smart Forms and SAPscript.

Christoph Wachter has many years of experience as a Technical Editor and Information Developer at SAP. His primary focus over the last three years has been form production in SAPscript and SAP Smart Forms.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 13

1.1 Create Forms with Style 13
1.2 Using This Book 14

1.2.1 Book Structure 14
1.2.2 Where to Start 17
1.2.3 General Information 17

2 Getting Started 19

2.1 General Information on Form Development 19

2.1.1 Overview 19
2.1.2 Form Layout 20
2.1.3 Form Flow Logic 21
2.1.4 Form Data 22
2.1.5 Output 23
2.1.6 Tools 23

2.2 Sample Exercise 24

2.2.1 Requirements 24
2.2.2 Preparation: Creating the Standard Text 26
2.2.3 Outputting the Sample Form 29
2.2.4 Creating Your Own Form as a Working Copy 34
2.2.5 Changing Your Form 36
2.2.6 Creating a Custom Main Program 44

2.3 Overview of Node Types 47

3 Tools 51

3.1 Overview 51
3.2 Style Builder 53

3.2.1 Overview 53
3.2.2 Functions of the Style Builder 54
3.2.3 Creating Your Own Style as a Copy 55
3.2.4 Header Data of a Style 57
3.2.5 Maintaining Paragraph Formats 57
3.2.6 Sample Exercise: Outlines 61
3.2.7 Character Formats 63
3.2.8 Sample Exercises: Style Content 65

3.3 Form Builder 66

3.3.1 Editing Functions 66
3.3.2 Form Painter 73
3.3.3 Table Painter 75

3.4 Checking, Testing, and Activating Forms 77

3.4.1 Activating the Form 78
3.4.2 Testing the Form 80
3.4.3 Generating the Form 80

3.5 Form Documentation 81

4 Form Layout 83

4.1 Overview 83
4.2 General Layout Definitions 84

4.2.1 Global Settings 84
4.2.2 Boxes and Shading 86

4.3 Page Node 87

4.3.1 Creating a New Draft Page 88

4.4 Window Nodes 90

4.4.1 Creating a New Window 91
4.4.2 Sample Exercise: Creating Windows 93

4.5 Templates and Output Tables 94

4.5.1 Overview 94
4.5.2 Sample Exercise: Configuring Template Nodes 96
4.5.3 Combining Several Templates 102
4.5.4 Output Table Without Direct Data Access 103

5 Elementary Node Types 105

5.1 Text Nodes 105

5.1.1 General Attributes 105
5.1.2 Text Element 108
5.1.3 Sample Exercise: Creating Text Nodes 110
5.1.4 Include Text (SAPscript Texts) 110
5.1.5 Including Text Modules 114
5.1.6 Sample Exercise: Including Text Modules 115
5.1.7 Creating and Maintaining Text Modules 117
5.1.8 Sample Exercise: Creating a Text Module 119

5.2 Address Node 119

5.2.1 Creating Address Nodes 120

5.3 Graphics and Background Graphics 123

5.3.1 Integration in the Form 123
5.3.2 Graphics in a Window, Template, or Output Table 125
5.3.3 Background Graphic for Page 126
5.3.4 Optimizing Print Output 127

5.4 Folder Node 127

5.4.1 Sample Exercise: Creating a Folder 129

5.5 Language in a Form 129

5.5.1 Language for Form Output 130

6 Form Data 131

6.1 Overview 131
6.2 Fields as Placeholders 132

6.2.1 Field List 132
6.2.2 Fields in a Text Node 133
6.2.3 Fields as Node Attributes 135
6.2.4 Fields with Formatting Options 136

6.3 Data Structures and Data Definitions 139

6.3.1 Procedure 139
6.3.2 Overview of Data Structures 140
6.3.3 Data Definition 145
6.3.4 Using ABAP Data Types 146
6.3.5 Reference to the ABAP Dictionary 147
6.3.6 Reference to Internal Data 151
6.3.7 Individual Data Types in the Form 152
6.3.8 Field Syntax 153

6.4 Data Sources 154

6.4.1 Form Interface 154
6.4.2 Global Definitions 160
6.4.3 System Fields 162

7 Form Flow L ogic 165

7.1 Overview 165
7.2 Dynamic Data Output 168

7.2.1 Overview 168
7.2.2 Node Types for Outputting Internal Tables 169
7.2.3 Loop 171
7.2.4 Reading a Single Data Record in a Loop 176
7.2.5 Sample Exercise: Loop 178
7.2.6 Output Table 179
7.2.7 Events (Event Nodes) 182
7.2.8 Sample Exercise: Revising the Flight Invoice 183

7.3 Logical Queries 187

7.3.1 Conditions 188
7.3.2 Branching with Alternative Nodes 190

7.4 Page Sequence and Numbering 191
7.5 Command Node 193

7.5.1 Overview 193
7.5.2 Print Controls 195
7.5.3 Attributes for the Spool Request 197

7.6 Complex Section 198
7.7 Postprocessing 198
7.8 Summary of Form Processing 200

8 ABAP Programs in Forms 203

8.1 Why Use Program Coding in a Form? 203
8.2 Editing Functions in the Program Node 206
8.3 Special Features in the Program Node 210
8.4 ABAP Basics 211

8.4.1 Overview 211
8.4.2 Data Definition 213
8.4.3 Value Assignments 214
8.4.4 Querying Database Tables 215
8.4.5 Loops 217
8.4.6 Control Structures (Using Conditions) 218
8.4.7 Subroutines 219
8.4.8 Test Function 220

8.5 Example: Including an Address with a Function Module 221

8.5.1 Overview 221
8.5.2 Using an Address Number from CAM 222
8.5.3 Integration with Direct Transfer of Address Information 224
8.5.4 Sample Exercise 226

8.6 Example: Calculating Totals in the Flight Invoice 226

8.6.1 Sample Exercise: Output in the Local Currency 229

9 Main Program 231

9.1 Overview 231
9.2 Defining the Properties for Data Retrieval 233

9.2.1 Flight Invoice: Selection Screen for Data Entry 233
9.2.2 Processing with Output Control 235

9.3 Data Retrieval 240

9.3.1 Flight Invoice: Reading the Database Tables 240
9.3.2 Delivery Combining Data 241

9.4 Calling the Function Module for the Form 242

9.4.1 Determining the Name of the Function Module 242
9.4.2 Calling the Function Module for the Form 243

9.5 Sample Exercise: Flight Invoices for Multiple Customers 245
9.6 Which Data Does the Form Use? 250

9.6.1 Overview 250
9.6.2 Example: Transferring Connections on Demand 252
9.6.3 Reduced Data Retrieval for the Delivery Note 253
9.6.4 Example: Flagging Carbon Copies 256

9.7 Standard P arameters of the Form I nterface 259

9.7.1 Overview 259
9.7.2 Standard Import Parameters 261
9.7.3 Sample Exercise: Standard Import Parameters 266
9.7.4 Standard Export Parameters 269
9.7.5 Sample Exercise: Standard Export Parameters 271

9.8 Runtime Errors/Exceptions 272

9.8.1 Overview 272
9.8.2 Error Handling in the Main Program 275
9.8.3 Individual Error Handling in the Form 278
9.8.4 Monitoring Form Execution with TRACE 283

10 Special Output Processes 285

10.1 Sending Forms via E-Mail or Fax 285

10.1.1 Overview 285
10.1.2 Sample Exercise: E-mail Dispatch 288
10.1.3 Additional Features with DEVICE='MAIL' 291
10.1.4 Application Case: mySAP CRM 292

10.2 Sending by Fax 293
10.3 XSF Output 294

10.3.1 Overview 294
10.3.2 Transfer Methods for the XSF Output 295
10.3.3 Statically Activating XSF Output 296
10.3.4 Specifying XSF Dynamically via the Form Interface 297
10.3.5 Sample Exercise: Download XSF Output 298

10.4 Archiving 301

11 Migrating SAPscript Forms 303

11.1 Overview 303
11.2 Migrating Styles 305
11.3 Migrating Forms 306

11.3.1 Automatic Migration Function 306
11.3.2 Manual Postprocessing 308
11.3.3 Enabling the Form Tests 308
11.3.4 Converting SAPscript Commands 311
11.3.5 Enabling Output with the Main Program 315
11.3.6 Higher-Level Flow Logic 316
11.3.7 Standard Interface Parameters 320

12 New Features in Basis Release 6.10 325

12.1 Web Application Server 6.10 325

12.1.1 New Features in the Form Builder, Form Painter, and Table Painter 325
12.1.2 New Table Output 327
12.1.3 Copies Window 329
12.1.4 Final Window 329
12.1.5 New System Fields 330

12.2 Web Forms for Internet Applications 330

12.2.1 HTML Output 332
12.2.2 Using a Web Form 332
12.2.3 Input Elements 333
12.2.4 More Details on HTML Forms 335
12.2.5 Calling a Web Form with a BSP Application 336
12.2.6 Evaluating Form Input 339
12.2.7 Maintaining Web Attributes in the Form Builder 340
12.2.8 Using Simple Input Types 341
12.2.9 Using Group Input Types 342
12.3 Web Application Server 6.20 343
12.3.1 Page Protection for Table Lines 343
12.3.2 Uploading and Downloading Text Modules and Smart Styles 343
12.3.3 Web Forms 343

13 Form Development Environment 345

13.1 Overview 345
13.2 Transport and Translation 345

13.2.1 Transport 346
13.2.2 Translating Texts 347

13.3 Text Editing and Storage 350

13.3.1 Overview 350
13.3.2 Inline Editor 351
13.3.3 SAPscript Editor (Page Layout) 354
13.3.4 Text Administration 356

13.4 Graphics Administration 361
13.5 Output Determination and Control 364

13.5.1 Overview 364
13.5.2 Output Determination by Condition Technique 365
13.5.3 Integrating Financials Forms 374
13.5.4 Integrating QM Forms 375

13.6 Print and Spool System 376

13.6.1 Overview 376
13.6.2 Information in the Spool Dialog Box 379
13.6.3 Spool Control (Output Control) 380
13.6.4 Spool Administration 384
13.6.5 Device Types (Print Controls) 387
13.6.6 Fonts and Bar Codes in the SAP System 390

13.7 Development Tools 395

13.7.1 Overview (Object Navigator) 395
13.7.2 ABAP Editor 397
13.7.3 Function Builder 401
13.7.4 ABAP Debugger 407
13.7.5 ABAP Dictionary 417

A Appendix 423

A.1 Notes in SAPNet (SAP Notes) 423
A.2 The SAP Flight Data Model 423
A.3 Example Forms for the Flight Invoice 427

A.3.1 Supplied Sample Forms 427
A.3.2 Sample Printout for the Flight Invoice (SF_EXAMPLE_01) 428
A.3.3 Source Texts for the Main Program (Original) 429
A.3.4 Sample Printout of Flight Invoice After Changes 430
A.3.5 Source Text for the Flight Invoice After the Examples 432

A.4 Example of E-mail Dispatch via Smart Forms 435

A.4.1 Source Text 435
A.4.2 Creating Programs 441

A.5 Sample Forms for Automotive 443

A.5.1 Overview 443
A.5.2 Material Tag in Accordance with VDA 4902 (ChLT Label) 444
A.5.3 Delivery Note in Accordance with DIN 4994/4992 444
A.5.4 Freight Order in Accordance with VDA 4992 446

Index 447