SAP Interactive Forms by AdobeFrequently Asked Questions

What is SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe?What is the difference between these names: SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe, IFbA, Interactive Forms, PDF-Based Print Forms, PDFForms, Adobe Forms?Do we need a license?What are the differences between Smart Forms and Adobe Forms?How to migrate a SAPscript or Smart Form to an Adobe Form?What are the steps to develop an Adobe Form on ABAP stack?How to retrieve filled in data from an Interactive Form?What are the technical prerequisites to use Adobe Forms in SAP?Where to find Scripting documentation? (javascript or formcalc)

What is SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe?

Excerpt from SAP library: You can create interactive forms in PDF format that allow users to fill out the form on the screen and save their entries in XML format

in the form. When the SAP system receives the PDF form, it extracts the data saved in the form, and can process it further. You can also merge a form template with current system data to generate a PDF document that can then be printed or sent by e-mail. (in that last case, it is called a PDF-Based Print Form)

What is the difference between these names: SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe, IFbA, InteractiveForms, PDF-Based Print Forms, PDF Forms, Adobe Forms?

IFbA is the abbreviation of SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe, it is not used by SAP, but by the SDN communityIFbA are often referred as and .PDF forms Adobe formsSAP Interactive Forms by Adobe is the name of the technology. This name is sometimes disturbing as forms may be non-interactiveDepending on the context where the name is used, may refer either to all types of forms using IFbA technology (evenInteractive Formnon-interactive forms), or only to forms which have interactive capabilityTo avoid ambiguities, use IFbA (or SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe), or Adobe Forms, or PDF Forms, to refer to the technologyPDF-Based Print Forms is the name used by SAP to distinguish non-interactive forms from interactive forms. Technically, anon-interactive form has the Interactive flag switched off, it does not contain any input field (and thus, programs do not have logic to readthe values of input fields).

Do we need a license?

Interactive forms need a license if you use them productively (see )Note 750784 - SAP Interactive Forms: LicensesIf you use Adobe Reader to display PDF-Based Print Forms via application virtualization (like Citrix Metaframe Server/XenApp), you mayneed an Adobe license too

What are the differences between Smart Forms and Adobe Forms?

For both of them, SAP dynamically creates a function module that must be called from an ABAP program to generate the formIn Smart Forms, it is possible to add ABAP code during generation of the form, that is not possible with Adobe FormsIt is possible to add javascript or FormCalc code in Adobe Forms, which is executed during the generation of the formOther differences are indicated in Note 1009567 Functional differences SAP Interactive Forms/Smart Forms

, by Francois Gendebien, 2007/04/30Smart forms Vs PDF print forms - pros and cons

, by Francois Gendebien, 2007/03/16Use smartforms compatible interfaces with PDF forms

How to migrate a SAPscript or Smart Form to an Adobe Form?SAP provides 2 tools, one to convert from SAPscript to Smart Form, and one from Smart Form to Adobe Form, both can be called fromSMARTFORMS transactionNevertheless, , as smart forms are usually veryin this forum, Markus Meisl said that SAP recommends to analyze and create from scratchcomplexAbout migrating from SAPscript to Smart Form, see Smart Forms FAQ

See also this answer in forum from Matthias Zeller about migrating from SAPscript to Adobe FormSAP library - Smart Forms - Migrating Smart Forms

1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

and SAP library - Smart Forms - Notes About Migrating Smart FormsSee also the answer above about differences between Smart Forms and Adobe Forms

What are the steps to develop an Adobe Form on ABAP stack?

Start transaction code SFP, create an interfaceWith this same transaction, create the Adobe FormFrom your ABAP, call the interactive form as follows (see also SAP Library - PDF-Based Forms - Calling Forms in an Application

, which contains an )Program exampleData retrieval and processing : SELECT ... FROM ... etc.Find out name of generated function module from the Adobe form name : CALL FUNCTION 'FP_FUNCTION_MODULE_NAME'...

Start form processing : CALL FUNCTION 'FP_JOB_OPEN' ...Call function module dynamically: CALL FUNCTION ...End form processing : CALL FUNCTION 'FP_JOB_CLOSE' ...

How to retrieve filled in data from an Interactive Form?

It depends if the interactive form is offline or online (web dynpro)Offline :

The interactive form is either sent to the user by email, or downloaded by the user from a portal on his laptopSo, the user is (usually) not connected to SAP at the time he fills in data using Adobe Reader. Some interaction with theSAP system may still be achieved using Web Services.When he has finished with the Adobe form, he sends it back to the SAP system, or he/any user connects to the SAPsystem and uploads the adobe form. A Java or ABAP program reads the form and extracts filled in data using AdobeDocument Services.

Online :The user displays and fills the interactive form via a Web Dynpro (which itself may be accessed via a portal or WebApplication Server)The Web Dynpro interacts with the Adobe form using the Context nodes and Bindings

What are the technical prerequisites to use Adobe Forms in SAP?

License : see question aboveConfiguration

SAP NetWeaver 6.40Java Stack installedAdobe Document Services (ADS) installed on the Java StackIf using ABAP, RFC communication must be established between ABAP and Java stacks

DevelopersAdobe LiveCycle Designer 7.1 is installed on your machine ( Desktop / Laptop)Adobe Reader 7.* is installedSAP GUI (see )Note 864634

620 Patch level 56 or higher640 Patch level 12 or higher710 any patch level

UsersAdobe Reader 7.*

Where to find Scripting documentation? (javascript or formcalc)

, by Juergen Hauser, 2007/05/30.Useful documentation for developing Interactive Forms

, by Juergen Hauser, 2008/06/02. Which one shouldXML Schema-based and WSDL-based Data Connections in Interactive Formswe use for calling web services from an Interactive Form.

, by Juergen Hauser, 2007/09/03 Juergen explains how to access form fields fromAccessing data nodes in SAP Interactive Formsinside the adobe form (either binding, or javascript or formcalc), and what are xfa.datasets.data, $record, $data, etc.

, by Juergen Hauser, 2007/08/31Some thoughts on validations for SAP Interactive Forms

, by Juergen Hauser, 2007/06/03Dynamically populating the email address of an email button on a SAP Interactive Form

, by Juergen Hauser, 2006/03/01Growing (Rich) Text Fields in Adobe Interactive Forms , by Juergen HauserHow do i play with access and presence script functions for UI elements in Adobe forms?

, by Juergen HauserSome common mistakes that happen using tables in Adobe forms

Adobe Reader Enhanced Security Using ABAP web services with enhanced security

Resources

Interactive Form by Adobe - SDN Home Page (FAQ, forum, etc.) SAP Library - SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe

SAP Interactive FormsPDF-Based Print Forms

BlogsA PDF form or not a PDF form - that is the often the question, by Markus Meisl, 2006/12/22. Discusses when we should use aPDF form.Offline possibilities of Adobe forms, by Francois GendebienHey I have some problems in my Adobe development.., by Dezso PapSome more problems..., by Dezso Paphttps://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/8185, by Dezso Pap, 2008/01/25The most important SAP Notes for SAP Interactive Forms, by Markus Meisl, 2006/11/03Performance of Adobe forms..., by Robert EijpeADS SSL configuration journal I. / ABAP -> JAVA \/, by Dezso Pap, 2008/01/25 (part II made as a wiki, see below)

WikisConfiguring SSL with certificates for the ADS Part II., by Dezso Pap, 2008/09/01 (continuation of blog above)SSL configuration WD JAVA or BI, by Dezso Pap, 2008/09/04Server side digital signature on a document, by Dezso Pap, 2009/04/20Rasterizing fonts in ADS 701 or later , by Dezso Pap, 2012/02/28

SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe