Adobe Forms. Part 20. XML Integration – An Offline Scenario – 1
In real-time business scenarios, Adobe Forms provide immense flexibility and are highly effective for automating complex business processes. Previously, I demonstrated how to use JavaScript for dynamic layout changes and validations in Adobe Forms, as well as the implementation of Interactive Adobe Forms in different scenarios. Recently, I developed Adobe Forms using an XML schema to enhance functionality, allowing seamless data binding from an XML file while supplying driver data via XML. These forms are widely used when data is provided in XML format and needs to be converted into a PDF.
PDF to XML Conversion:
Functions of Adobe Document Services (ADS)
ADS enables the creation of PDFs and other print-ready documents using XML form templates and existing system data. Additionally, it allows extraction of user-entered data from interactive PDF forms for rendering and further processing.
Interaction with ADS
To simplify integration, SAP provides a single programmatic interface known as the PDF Document Object (or PDF Object). This allows developers to interact with ADS efficiently.
PDF Object in SAP
SAP offers both Java and ABAP versions of the PDF Object. In ABAP, SAP provides two key interfaces:
- IF_FP (Form Interface): Handles form-related functions.
- IF_FP_PDF_OBJECT (PDF Object Interface): Manages PDF-related operations.
Business Scenario:
This article uses an offline scenario as its business example, where a client can fill out bank information and submit it back to have it changed in the customer master.
- The form already has the SAP customer number and invoice number entered.
- The customer receives the form via email. The client fills out the form and returns it.
- The client master is updated after the data from the PDF form is obtained.
- Web Dynpro development, which is utilized for online scenarios for interactive Adobe forms, is not necessary for this.
Process Flow Diagram:
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