In the modern landscape of digital business operations, the efficient and flexible management of documents plays a critical role in ensuring success. SAP Adobe Document Services (ADS) emerges as an essential part of the SAP ecosystem, facilitating the seamless generation and manipulation of PDF documents.
From customized form creation to streamlined report generation, SAP ADS offers a powerful tool that enables users to enhance the efficiency and quality of their document management, empowering them to meet the ever-evolving demands of the digital era. These documents, often the lifeblood of efficient business communication and transactions, require precision, personalization, and compliance with established industry standards.
This article discusses the core elements and capabilities of SAP ADS, how it enables more robust document and form management across business units, and where our team of senior-level SAP consultants can come in to help.
What is ADS in SAP?
Adobe Document Services (ADS) are designed to allow SAP applications based on either ABAP or Java services to access the full range of capabilities in the Adobe system, including Adobe Acrobat (Standard and Professional), Adobe Reader, Adobe Forms, and more.
Adobe Document Service functionality enables form-based processing for critical business data triggered by both ABAP and Java-based applications. The basic configuration for SAP Adobe forms is dependent on the individual development environment and designed based on the system’s needs to communicate with ADS.
Intelligent document handling capabilities in SAP ADS enable organizations to:
- Annotate and collaborate on PDF documents and document reviews
- Create and view SAP interactive forms that mimic existing print forms
- Review and sign PDF documents in a digital landscape
- Embed file formats as attachments inside PDF documents
- Leverage forms to capture and input data directly into the SAP system
- Access interactive forms in online and offline scenarios
Key Elements of the SAP ADS Integration
SAP ADS provides capabilities for creating, editing, and formatting PDF files and adding dynamic content from SAP systems to these documents to enable more robust management functionality for PDF forms, invoices, and other business-critical documents.
It allows users to incorporate data from SAP systems into different document formats, enabling organizations to create customized and data-rich PDF files and share interactive forms quickly and efficiently across business units.
Here are the main components included in SAP ADS connection:
XDP
The Adobe architecture supports standard XML, allowing users to combine business data and business logic within XML formats with presentation capabilities in Adobe PDF forms.
By allowing users to leverage existing industry-standard schemas to deploy forms as either a PDF file or an XML Data Package (XDP) and process them in XML format.
XDP templates designed with Adobe LiveCycle Designer platform and used for barcode, label, and other document printing, enable users to accurately package a PDF file, XML format, and template data in one location and upload the documents in real time.
XDC
An XDC file is a printer description formatted according to standard XML format. Adobe Document Services requires XDC files to create print files, enabling users to print PDF-based forms if their SAP device type has an XDC file in the system.
Job Profiles
Job profiles within Adobe Document Services contain all role-specific configuration settings in XML format, making it easier for users to call ADS functionality based on specific job profiles.
This way, SAP customers can search, view, and access job profiles that are configured for each Adobe Document Service for existing jobs.
Navigating Connections Between SAP ABAP and ADS
Adobe Document Services acts as an extension of the SAP NetWeaver solution included in the Application Server (AS) Java, enabling business users to process critical documents and forms in an ABAP environment and generate new forms based on data in existing SAP applications.
Web Dynpro ABAP applications or ABAP transaction dynpros allow users to call the ADS and process forms within their existing ABAP environment. Users can also leverage the Adobe LiveCycle Designer to generate forms based on standard form templates and facilitate communication between the ABAP AS and ADS.
The ADS can either run on a separate server or the same server as the ABAP applications and be installed as a central component on the AS Java, facilitating robust interactions with different ABAP systems and enabling more efficient communication paths between the components of AS ABAP and AS Java.
Procedure for Configuring ADS for Form Processing
While ADS can be installed on both the AS ABAP and the AS Java, the configuration process for ADS on both platforms remains the same across the different application servers.
Here are the main steps to configure ADS for form processing:
1) Automate basic ADS configuration with the pre-built configuration tool or manually change settings.
2) Perform optional ADS configuration steps and change settings as needed.
3) Establish secure ADS configuration settings to ensure communication and data security.
4) Leverage advanced data monitoring functions to assess the status of core configuration tasks.
5) Assess the functionality of all relevant ADS services across the SAP system landscape.
6) Analyze and fix ADS connection errors to maintain proper functionality.
How Can We Help?
Whether you need help creating your own interactive forms with Forms by Adobe, additional support navigating complex integrations between SAP and Java system environments, or just an extra hand getting started on your SAP journey, Surety Systems is here to help.
Our senior-level, US-based SAP consultant team has the knowledge, skills, and experience to handle all your most critical project needs. With our extensive experience across the entire SAP landscape and our proven track record of success, we guarantee your needs will be met, no matter what.
Getting Started with Us
Interested in learning how Adobe SAP Forms Service can help your organization create and leverage print and interactive forms in one unified cloud solution? Ready to start a project with our team of expert SAP consultants?
Contact us today for more information!
