SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe and

SAP Forms by Adobe

Peter Barker, SAP

PUBLIC
Disclaimer

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Agenda

Introduction and overview

SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe (hybrid) calling from on-premise systems

SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe calling using REST API

Continuous improvements

Summary

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Introduction and overview
Forms: Three basic scenarios today

Form Printing Online Interactive Forms Offline Interactive Forms

▪ ‘Classic’ form processing, ▪ SAP system access is available ▪ No SAP system access available
not interactive ▪ Fully integrated into Web Dynpro ▪ Static value help, static user
▪ Output documents are printed, for Java and ABAP input validation, arithmetic
e-mailed, archived, or faxed ▪ Context-sensitive value help and calculations
online checks based on ▪ Self-contained portable PDF
business logic (XML data + layout)

Email Print Archive

Browser with
Adobe Reader Adobe Reader
plug-in offline

Down/
Email/HTTP
Upload

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Features and benefits

Features Benefits
An SAP product in the SAP landscape Integration in SAP design times and runtimes
Interactive forms are pre-fillable Saves time, reduces number of errors
Bar codes Data such as addresses, IDs stored digitally
Digital signatures Improve security
Archiving using PDF/A Stores documents + fonts, improves compliance
Adobe Reader as front end Ubiquitous, free-of-charge, no training required
Forms as electronic documents Improves sustainability, reduces costs
Built-in syntax checks Reduces number of errors

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On-premise licensing: SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe

Print forms are always free-of-charge. Even if you create new print forms they are free-of-charge.

For interactive forms you need an SAP Interactive Forms license.

▪ Licensing is user-based.
▪ The material code is 7018985.
▪ For pricing please contact your account executive.

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SAPscript, Smart Forms, SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe and SAP Cloud
Platform Forms by Adobe

SAPscript & Smart Forms SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe and SAP
▪ Mature technology, available since 90’s Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe
▪ Maintained as long as the SAP ▪ Standard SAP forms technology for cloud and on-
Business Suite premise solutions for Suite and S/4HANA
▪ Technology available in SAP S/4HANA ▪ Both print and interactive forms
on-premise, but new SAP standard ▪ Utilizes strength and continuous innovations of
forms only as Adobe Forms Adobe Reader, LiveCycle Designer & Adobe
Document Services
▪ Graphical elements
▪ PDF/A support for archiving
▪ Rich partner eco-system including Arch, LRS,
SEAL Systems and Softway

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SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe and SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe

Ideal for
No ABAP
extending
SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe (REST API) SAP cloud
stack
required
solutions

No local Always the

Java stack most up-to-
SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe (hybrid) required for date version
the ADS of the ADS

SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe (on-premise)

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SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe
(hybrid)
Making it easier to use forms services

Installing and maintaining your Use SAP Forms by Adobe hosted on

on-premise Java stack incurs costs the SAP Cloud Platform!

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SAP Forms by Adobe: The benefits

Save time and money (compared to pure on-premise solution)

▪ Avoid on-site installation of the Java stack
▪ SAP automatically patches the ADS and updates it to the newest version ADS
▪ Save money on hardware
▪ Reader rights are installed automatically

Delegate task of optimizing the landscape

to SAP (sizing, load balancing, hardware setup)
Profit from a simple, flexible and attractive licensing model
Retain transparency to
– Form designers and developers
– End users participating in forms-based processes ABAP

Used both by on-premise customers and in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Edition

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Licensing for SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe

There is only one relevant entity: A request to the ADS.

▪ If the page size can be determined, a billable request is limited to a maximum of 5 pages.
▪ Technical requests resulting in more than 5 pages are counted in groups of 5 pages, for example
6 pages are counted as 2 billable requests, 25 pages are counted as 5 billable requests.
▪ If the page size cannot be determined, all requests are counted once independently of the specific transaction type,
for example digital signatures.
▪ Requests are always counted whatever the usage scenario, for example also for print previews.
▪ Requests are always counted whatever the customer’s system type, for example, also for requests created in test
systems.

SAP Forms by Adobe is available with CPEA (the Cloud Platform Enterprise Agreement) or from the SAP
Store. Please ask your account executive for details.

You can find information about CPEA on the following pages:

SAP Cloud Platform Web Site
Wiki on SAP Community

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SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe
REST API
SAP Forms by Adobe REST API

Application SAP Cloud Platform

Adobe
Document
Services
request

Application Template store

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SAP Forms by Adobe REST API: The benefits

▪ SAP Forms by Adobe REST API has all the benefits of SAP
Forms by Adobe (hybrid) as well as the following additional
benefits:
▪ Put everything on SAP Cloud Platform
– SAP Forms by Adobe can be used by non-ABAP applications,
that is, by cloud solutions. An ABAP back end is no longer
required.
– Develop your own Java or SAP UI5 application on the SAP
Cloud Platform and call the SAP Forms by Adobe REST API to
generate PDF forms

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Continuous evolution
Typical continuous improvements

Type of improvement Specific Benefit

Improvements to Designer Keyboard shortcuts, tooltips, set paper orientation

More fonts MICR fonts and OCR fonts

Additional symbols Rupee symbol

New platforms Native Itanium Support IA64 on HP-UX

More bar codes Japan post bar code, GS1 data matrix

Support for languages/currencies Hindi/Turkish lira

PDF/A New versions; conversion PDF -> PDF/A;

ZUGFeRD

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Summary
Adobe Forms
Product road map overview - key innovations

Recent innovations 2020 – Planned innovations 2021 - Product direction

SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe and SAP SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe SAP Forms SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe and SAP
Forms by Adobe by Adobe Forms by Adobe
• Enhance ADS monitoring capabilities • Continuous improvements • Continuous improvements
SAP Forms by Adobe SAP Forms by Adobe SAP Forms by Adobe
• Provide admin UI for template store • Provide support for Cloud Foundry • Continuous improvements
• Support SAP Cloud Platform ABAP Environment
S/4 HANA S/4 HANA
• ISO- und SOC-certify SAP Forms by Adobe
• Maintain Forms Template App • Continuous improvements
– Download, change, translate S/4 HANA
• Fiori UI for managing customer fonts

This is the current state of planning and may be changed by SAP at any time.
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Further information

SAP Public Web

SAP Community Interactive Forms Page: https://www.sap.com/community/topic/interactive-forms-by-
adobe.html
SAP Community Printing Page :
https://www.sap.com/community/tag.html?id=334558737810127171897316045257708
Documentation on IFbA:
https://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/en/35/84138ddf464826b6e719b384c8e938/frameset.htm
Documentation on Forms by Adobe: https://help.eu1.hana.ondemand.com/ADS_HCP/frameset.htm
Trial version for SAP Forms by Adobe: Trial for SAP Forms by Adobe

SAP Education and Certification Opportunities

www.sap.com/education
BC480: PDF-Based Print Forms
BC481: SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe in the ABAP Environment
BC482: SAP PDF Forms Workshop
HR280: Smart & Adobe Forms in HCM

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Summary: Three things to remember

“SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe” and “SAP Cloud Platform Forms by Adobe” are
SAP’s go-to solutions for print forms and interactive forms.

We support you in adopting a cloud approach whether hybrid or only SAP Cloud
Platform but you can remain on-premise if you prefer.

We continue to invest in our forms solutions both in innovations and continuous

improvements.

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Thank you.
Contact information:
Peter Barker
Product manager
peter.barker@sap.com