DM101: Interactive Forms Based on Adobe Software: Overview

Markus Meisl, SAP AG Matthias Zeller, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this workshop, you will be able to:

Understand the requirements in forms-based processes Explain the background of the SAP/Adobe partnership Identify business scenarios using Interactive Forms Know the technological foundation of Interactive Forms

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 3

Introduction into Forms Requirements Business Scenarios Technology Demo

Requirements in Forms-Based Processes

Need to extend business processes to more users
Integrate internal and external users (managers, employees, prospects, customers,) into business processes

Overcome limitations of paper-based forms processes

Paper forms are error-prone and easily outdated. Processes require manual data re-entry. Process status is hard to track. Paper forms produce high costs (e.g. production, storage).

Improve electronic forms-based business processes

Avoid redundancy of HTML, e-mail and fax documents
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 5

Make creation of electronic forms easier and less time-consuming Flexibly adjust forms-based business processes Maintain familiar look and feel to enhance usability

SAP/Adobe Partnership Overview

SAP/Adobe Strategic Partnership
Partnership signed in June 2002 Solution available with SAP NetWeaver 04

Adobe provides
Open technology, de-facto standard for forms Benefits of combination of PDF with XML

Benefits of SAP/Adobe collaboration

Integration of Adobes PDF technology into SAP solutions Adobe Reader delivered 500 million times worldwide User-friendly design tool lowers cost of operations
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 6

Reuse of existing PDF forms Natural look and feel of forms Close linking of processes and forms (real integration)

Solution in SAP NetWeaver 04

Interactive Forms based on Adobe software

Generate forms that contain data extracted from core systems Use dynamic or static forms Complete forms online or offline Allow users to print forms Accelerate forms-based business processes Automate paper-based business processes

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 7

Technology is already extensively used in mySAP ERP Human Capital Management and Financials (approx. 25 processes)

Full Integration into SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver
PEOPLE INTEGRATION Multi-Channel Access Composite Application Framework Portal Collaboration Life Cycle Management

INFORMATION INTEGRATION Bus. Intelligence Knowledge Man.

Master Data Management PROCESS INTEGRATION Integration Broker Business Process Mgmt

APPLICATION PLATFORM

J2EE
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

ABAP
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

APPLICATION PLATFORM Java ABAP

Adobe Document Services

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 8

DB and OS Abstraction

DB and OS Abstraction

What Does it Look Like to the End User?

Paper-like layout
Self-explanatory Natural look and feel

User Handling
Save locally
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 9

Background Services
Structured data in XML Pre-filled application values Pre-filled list boxes, help values, Automatic data extraction and integration in application

Distribute via email / Portal Apply digital signature Print locally

Key Capabilities of Interactive Forms I

Exchange data with people and systems, anytime, anywhere

Leverage the power of XML to create interactive forms containing both business logic and data Available online (with system connection) and offline (locally) Available anytime, anywhere with ubiquitous Adobe Reader

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 10

Maintain process familiarity to ensure user adoption

Enable document-based business processes that are intuitive and familiar Maintain visual integrity and fidelity

Key Capabilities of Interactive Forms II

Share information more securely for better collaboration

Authenticity of origin Content integrity

Ensure compliance to meet increasing regulatory pressures

Meet visual regulatory document format requirements
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 11

Deploy multiple digital signature options for sign-off and approval processes Create secure archives of all form submissions in Adobe PDF Support audits by tracking form-related events

Introduction into Forms Requirements Business Scenarios Technology Demo

Scenario 1: Structured Correspondence (On/Offline)

SAP Application

Employee Generates sets of data at different times Processing Electronic dispatching (e-mail, portal) as PDF file (with individual editing rules) Printing

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 13

Automatic selection of documents or sets of documents Automatic filling of corresponding fields

Return Processor Interactive Forms Fully automatically Via employee

Scenario 2: Forms for Data Acquisition (Online)

Prefilled according to location and worker

SAP Application Example: Assembly line worker

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 14

Bill of material, material properties, Q forms, ...

Scenario 3: Support for Sales Force (Offline)

@ Sales Representative

Generate customer visit out of campaign Send filled PDF to sales representative

Complete form with customer Print out for customer as meeting minutes Forward form to SAP system

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 15

Automatic processing of next steps (e.g. order posting) mySAP CRM

@ SAP

Example: Human Resources

Interactive Forms in mySAP ERP Human Capital Management (SAP Self-Services)

Customer Expectations
Quick adaptation of forms-based business processes when process changes Fast design and implementation of forms (IT and business process owners) Reuse of existing customizing technology (ISR) and forms Possibility to print out forms
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 16

Interactive Forms in SAP Self-Services

Business Scenarios
Personnel Change Requests (e. g. Position Change, Change Employee Group and Subgroup, Change Working Time,) online & print Requisition Request online & print Request equipment repair, equipment loss and equipment reassignment online & print Request adjustment posting for cost centers or internal orders online & print Salary Statement print Time Statement print Total Compensation Statement print

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 17

Design Time

Run Time

Example: mySAP ERP Operations Interactive Forms in mySAP ERP Operations

Many processes in logistics are still paper-based due to Limited system access for employees Requirement to add explanatory data Missing process support in applications (e.g. processes across various systems and transactions) Need of a final approval step before entering data into system

Customer Expectations
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 18

Replace error-prone and often redundant paper-based processes Improve process transparency and traceability by centralizing it in the system Direct (non-manual) data entry in the system

mySAP ERP Operations: New Product Request*

Business Scenarios
New Product Request (Create material master data) Product Change Request (Change material master data)

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 19

Design Time

Run Time

*The two Business Scenarios New Product Request and Product Change Request are only available for pilot customers with mySAP ERP 2004. They are planned to be general available with mySAP ERP 2005.

Introduction into Forms Requirements Business Scenarios Technology Demo

Interactive Forms Design Time

SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio

ABAP Workbench

SAP Web Application Server

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 21

Java PDF Object Adobe Document Services SAP J2EE Engine

ABAP PDF Object

Adobe LiveCycle Designer in Developer Studio

Designer Tools Palette Web Dynpro Context

Data Schema

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 22

Adobe LiveCycle Designer in ABAP Workbench

Data Schema

Designer Tool Palettes

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 23

Field Description

Interactive Forms Run-Time Architecture

Application Platform
J2EE
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

ABAP
Adobe LiveCycle Designer

Adobe Document Services

DB and OS Abstraction

SAP Web Application Server

J2EE Stack
Application Code (Java) PDF Object (Java) Web Services SOAP Web Services

ABAP Stack
Application Code (ABAP) PDF Object (ABAP) Web Services

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 24

Document Service EJB Adobe Document Services Core Components

SOAP

Related Technologies: Internet Service Request

Design Time
Customizing: ISR Framework in SAP R/3

Design Time

Form Design: Adobe LiveCycle Designer integrated in ABAP Workbench

Run Time
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 25

Web Dynpro application running in SAP NetWeaver Portal

Run Time

Internet Service Request (ISR) - Overview

Visualization Layer JSP

Interactive Forms
Integrated with Web Dynpro mySAP ERP 2004 RFC
Internet Service Requests Generic framework for Interactive Forms: Design the scenario Design the form easily Back-end connection

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 26

Business Logic Layer

ISR Adobe LiveCycle Designer Enterprise Core Component 5.0

Internet Service Request Runtime I

Roadmap Contextual Assistance

Interactive Form Object

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 27

Navigation Buttons

Internet Service Request Runtime II

Header Contextual Information Data Entry

Contextual Information
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 28

Data Entry

Related Technologies: Guided Procedures Guided Procedures is the process layer of SAPs
Composite Application Framework (CAF) in SAP NetWeaver
SAP NetWeaver

Offers flexible, highly functional workflow environment Enables users to easily set up and execute collaborative business processes Provides reusable templates for actions
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 29

PEOPLE INTEGRATION Multi-Channel Access Composite Application Framework Portal Collaboration Life Cycle Management

INFORMATION INTEGRATION Bus. Intelligence Knowledge Man.

Master Data Management PROCESS INTEGRATION Integration Broker Business Process Mgmt

Leverages existing systems Uses Web Dynpro user interfaces

APPLICATION PLATFORM Java ABAP

DB and OS Abstraction

mySAP ERP Operations: Guided Procedures and Interactive Forms

Guided Procedures: Lead through the workflow and enable tracking of the process Interactive Forms: Each step can be completed offline

1
Find form

2
Add data

3
Approve

4
Create Master Data

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 30

Requestor

Specialist

Manager

Enterprise Services Architecture

Notifications triggered by Guided Procedures

Introduction into Forms Requirements Business Scenarios Technology Demo

 SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 32

Demo

Demo

Summary

Interactive Forms based on Adobe software provide substantial benefits, because they
Automate and streamline forms-based business processes Are fully integrated into SAP NetWeaver Combine the benefits of the open technology standards XML and PDF Can be deployed in online and offline scenarios
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 33

Further Information
Public Web / SAP Developer Network
www.sap.com: Solution Brief SAP Manager Self-Service: Tools for Smart Decisions and Lower Costs www.sdn.sap.com Web Application Server Quick Link Interactive Forms: Featured Content Adobe: www.adobe.com/sap

SAP Service Marketplace

http://service.sap.com/adobe

Related SAP Education Training Opportunities

http://www.sap.com/education/ (SAP training courses for Interactive Forms coming in 2005)
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 34

Related Workshops/Lectures at SAP TechEd 2004

DM152, Creating Interactive Forms in Web Dynpro for Java, Hands-on DM151, Creating PDF-based Forms for Printing, Hands-on BPM101, Interactive Form-Based Processes in mySAP ERP 2004, Lecture

SAP Developer Network

Look for SAP TechEd 04 presentations and videos on the SAP Developer Network. Coming in December. http://www.sdn.sap.com/

SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 35

 SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 36

Questions?

Q&A

Feedback
Please complete your session evaluation. Be courteous deposit your trash, and do not take the handouts for the following session.
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 37

Thank You !

Copyright 2004 SAP AG. All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose without the express permission of SAP AG. The information contained herein may be changed without prior notice. Some software products marketed by SAP AG and its distributors contain proprietary software components of other software vendors. Microsoft, Windows, Outlook, and PowerPoint are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IBM, DB2, DB2 Universal Database, OS/2, Parallel Sysplex, MVS/ESA, AIX, S/390, AS/400, OS/390, OS/400, iSeries, pSeries, xSeries, zSeries, z/OS, AFP, Intelligent Miner, WebSphere, Netfinity, Tivoli, and Informix are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. UNIX, X/Open, OSF/1, and Motif are registered trademarks of the Open Group. Citrix, ICA, Program Neighborhood, MetaFrame, WinFrame, VideoFrame, and MultiWin are trademarks or registered trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. HTML, XML, XHTML and W3C are trademarks or registered trademarks of W3C, World Wide Web Consortium, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Java is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. JavaScript is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc., used under license for technology invented and implemented by Netscape. MaxDB is a trademark of MySQL AB, Sweden.
SAP AG 2004, SAP TechEd / DM101 / 38

SAP, R/3, mySAP, mySAP.com, xApps, xApp, SAP NetWeaver and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries all over the world. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Data contained in this document serves informational purposes only. National product specifications may vary. These materials are subject to change without notice. These materials are provided by SAP AG and its affiliated companies ("SAP Group") for informational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind, and SAP Group shall not be liable for errors or omissions with respect to the materials. The only warranties for SAP Group products and services are those that are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services, if any. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.